“Get some sleep. We need you to be sharp.”

“I will. Thanks for keeping me from landing on my face.”

“We can’t have that, now can we?” Nora waved and boarded the bus.

She must be starting her day. Mary practically floated back to the dorm. Within seconds of laying her head on the pillow, she drifted off. As she did, she had a vision of arrestingly beautiful blue-green eyes staring directly into her soul.

Nora was bone tired. The reports from the floor supervisors weren’t encouraging and Dr. Lawrence didn’t seem to be any closer to figuring out the cause of the calutron breakdowns than he had been the last time they’d met.

“If you don’t mind me saying so, you look like heck.” Del fell into step alongside her on the way to the bus stop.

“If you don’t mind me saying so, you need to work on tact.”

“Since when did speaking the truth equate to tactlessness?”

“Since you told me I look like something the cat dragged in.”

“That wasn’t what I said.”

“It’s what you implied.”

“Oh. Someone’s a little touchy today.”

“I’m sorry. I’m exhausted. I apologize if I sounded cranky.”

“Apology accepted.” He gave her a one-armed hug. “Anything I can do to make your day better?”

You can solve the glitches and get us on track. Although she couldn’t say that out loud, she knew he would understand what she’d left unspoken. The continued downtime of the Alpha-1 D units was why he and several of the other Berkeley Boys were back in Oak Ridge. “A good night’s sleep would do me a world of good.”

They arrived at the bus depot. “Walk you home?”

“Sure.” Whenever he was on site, this was their routine. She saw no harm in it. They’d fallen into a comfortable rhythm, and beyond an occasional hopeful comment, he never pushed her for anything more than friendship.

“Any chance I can coerce you into going dancing at the rec center tomorrow night?”

“You know I have two left feet.”

“I do. But I’m well-used to you stepping on my toes, so that’s nothing new.” Quietly he added, “You’re running out of excuses, you know.”

Fortuitously, they reached Nora’s dorm. “You’re a nice guy, Del.” She kissed him on the cheek. “You should find yourself a girlfriend and stop wasting your time on me.” She studiously avoided making eye contact, not wanting to see the hurt and confusion she knew she’d see in his eyes. Her focus needed to be on getting the job done, and for that, she needed a clear head. At least that’s what she told herself. She waved on her way into the dorm.

“Nora?”

She paused mid-step at the sound of the housemother’s voice. “Yes?”

“I’ve got a message for you.”