“Too busy in this place in the middle of nowhere?” Candace asked.

“Well, I guess it’s more that I’ve been preoccupied,” Kevin admitted. “A lot has been happening.”

“Like what?” Candace asked, suppressing a smile. She liked this shy, unassuming researcher.

Kevin made some fumbling gestures with his hands while his face flushed. “All sorts of things,” he said finally.

“You academic types crack me up,” Candace said. “But, teasing aside, I’m happy to report that Mr. Winchester is doing just fine, and I understand from the surgeon that’s largely thanks to you.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Kevin said.

“Oh, modest, too!” Candace commented. “Smart, cute, and humble. That’s a killing combination.”

Kevin stuttered but no words came out.

“Would it be out of bounds for me to invite you to join me for lunch?” Candace said. “I thought I’d walk over and get a hamburger. I’m a little tired of the hospital cafeteria food, and it would be nice to get a little air now that the sun is out. What do you say?”

Kevin’s mind whirled. The invitation was unexpected, and under normal circumstances he would have found reason to decline for that reason alone. But with Bertram’s comments fresh in his mind, he wavered.

“Cat got your tongue?” Candace asked. She lowered her head and flirtatiously peered at him beneath arched eyebrows.

Kevin gestured up toward his lab, then mumbled words to the effect that Esmeralda was expecting him.

“Can’t you give her a call?” Candace asked. She had the intuitive feeling Kevin wanted to join her, so she persisted.

“I guess,” Kevin said. “I suppose I could call from my lab.”

“Fine,” Candace said. “Do you want me to wait here or come with you?”

Kevin had never met such a forward female, not that he had a lot of opportunity or experience. His last and only love other than a couple of high school crushes had been a fellow doctorate candidate, Jacqueline Morton. That relationship had taken months to develop out of long hours working together; she’d been as shy as Kevin.

Candace came up the five stairs to stand next to Kevin. She was about five-three in her Nikes. “If you can’t decide, and it’s all the same to you, why don’t I come up.”

“Okay,” Kevin said.

Kevin’s nervousness quickly abated. Usually what bothered him in social circumstances with females was the stress of trying to think of things to talk about. With Candace, he didn’t have time to think. She maintained a running conversation. During the ascent of the two flights of stairs she managed to bring up the weather, the town, the hospital, and how the surgery had gone.

“This is my lab,” Kevin said, after opening the door.

“Fantastic!” Candace said with sincerity.

Kevin smiled. He could tell she was truly impressed.

“You go ahead and make your call,” Candace said. “I’ll just look around if it’s okay.”

“If you’d like,” Kevin said.

Although Kevin was concerned about giving Esmeralda so little warning he’d not be there for lunch, she surprised him with her equanimity. Her only response was to ask when Kevin wanted dinner.