Mosaic - Jeri Taylor [64]
"How about you? Is it William?"
"I'm usually called Wit."
"Then Wit it is."
"I'm surprised we've never met. We're in the same class; you'd think we'd have run into each other before this."
That's because I've gone out of my way to avoid you, thought Kathryn, but she simply smiled and said, "I've been on a science program. We've probably just been in different classes."
"I hear you landed the Scorcher for your junior thesis."
"Is that what he's called? I'd never heard that."
"He leaves only scorched earth in his wake. No prisoners."
"He's demanding, but I thought he was awfully nice. Very devoted to his family. Are you doing a junior thesis?"
"I'm focusing on exopaleontology. Someday I want my own ship, and I think a broad educational base with an emphasis on the evolution of galactic cultures is the best background I can have."
"Your own ship-as captain?"
."...Right.gg*thorn],
Kathryn was impressed. You didn't often hear people with those lofty goals expressing them so comfortably. She had no doubt that Wit Riker would get what he wanted.
"I've never had any interest in command. I'd like to be the science officer on an exploration into deep spacesomeplace no one's seen before. That would be thrilling."
He smiled easily at her. "Maybe we'll end up together. You as science officer on my ship."
There was nothing arrogant or self-involved about Wil Riker. He was low-key, comfortable, easy to talk to. Charming, as Lettie had said. Dangerous.
Already, she'd been drawn into amiable conversation with him, her guard dropping in spite of herself. His blue eyes held her like lasers, and she realized she didn't want to look away. Her fingertips began to tingle. Time to take control.
"My thesis is on massive compact halo objects. Are you familiar with them?" A long dissertation on her part about a dimly understood space phenomenon would put him to sleep. Hardly the subject for sparkling conversation and certain to dissuade any desire for him to see her again. But, to her amazement, he was nodding. "A little. One of my science teachers at home in Alaska has done some study of them. She got me interested. What tack is your thesis taking?" Kathryn was genuinely flustered now. Beyond his charm, beyond his good looks and courteous demeanor, he was also a serious student. She stared at him, wishing she could find warts on his nose, something, anything that would make him something other than the most attractive man she'd ever met. Because she wasn't going to get drawn into something as potentially painful as another love affair. There was too much to do, to learn, to accomplish, to waste emotional energy like that. Feeling panicky, she rose. "I'm so sorry-I just remembered, I'm supposed to be at my terminal in twenty minutes to retrieve some research materials I've requested from the astrophysics laboratory." She was vaguely aware of the bewilderment in Wil's eyes, Lettie's shocked face, her friend Howie's surprise. She knew she was babbling, but kept at it, hoping to sound plausible. "It's on gravitational lensing, and I can't risk losing the transmission, it's a part of my proposal and I don't dare turn it in to the Scorcher"-a goofy smile toward Will at this-"without that research. You understand. Well, so nice to meet you, and I wish you the best. I'm sure you'll get that ship. Goodbye. Howie, Lettie-thanks for everything. It's been delightful. Truly."
She was backing away as she went through this litany, smiling and nodding as though what she was doing was the most natural thing in the world. Only the three faces she was retreating from told her otherwise.
Kathryn's back was to the door of the dorm room; she was hunched over her terminal, doggedly inputting information. The doors opened and she heard Lettie enter.
"How could you? How could you have embarrassed everyone like that? I can't believe it-it's not even good