Read Online Sometimes It Is Rocket Science by Kara Thorpe - Free Book Online

children, they’d bonded over the isolationism of being the children of wealthy, famous parents and the tribulations that went along with genius.  In college, they’d commiserated about expectations and overprotective fathers.  After Robert’s MIT graduation, he’d gone to Oxford for an additional year of study.  Their friendship faded to emails and brief visits during the holidays.
    I also know you wouldn’t have passed that Elements of Software Construction class without my help,” he continued.
    Georgiana shook off the melancholy to glare at him.  “Oh?  And who was it that helped you with that Statistical Physics class when they were, oh I don’t know, in high school ?”
    Robert’s rumbling laughter bounced off the elevator’s metal walls.  “You are aware that when you say ‘high school’ it does not mean the same as it would for anyone else, aren’t you?”
    “Yes,” she grudgingly admitted.  Though she’d technically been enrolled in a private high school, she’d been in an independent program taught by local college professors.  “Truce?”
    “Of course.” 
    Robert extended his arm for a handshake.  As soon as Georgiana’s palm brushed his, he folded his long fingers around her hand and slowly drew her towards him.  The orange-and-lemon tang of her perfume filled his head.  He lowered his chin so that his breath stirred the tendrils of hair near her temples.  “I sincerely look forward to rekindling our relationship, Georgiana.”
    “Ms. Collier!”
    Georgiana jumped, swallowed a squeal.  On trembling knees, she slowly turned away from Robert’s intensity to face the speaker in the wall panel.  Her hand slid free from his grasp.  “Y-yes, Yvonne?”
    “Is everything okay?  Maintenance has performed a diagnostic on the elevator and hasn’t found any problems.  Do you need them to open the hatch?”
    “N-no.”  She smoothed her damp palms along her jacket and hit the emergency button.  “I just needed a moment of privacy with Mr. Norwood.  We’ll be in the cafeteria if you need me.”
    When they stepped out on the first floor, she studiously avoided looking at any of her employees.  It might have been her imagination, but she swore she heard snickering from the security station.  Her heels clicked on the polished floor as she sped to the small coffee shop attached to the main employee cafeteria. 
    The enticing aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans soothed her.  It was her territory.  The shop had been her idea back when she’d assumed she would do nothing more than liaise with Norwood Systems or work for Norwood’s R&D department.  Her father had approved the project and provided the baker with a few of his mother’s pastry recipes. 
    The shop was crowded.  Georgiana led Robert to a small square table in a cozy corner bracketed by bookshelves.  She slid a one-sided laminated menu across the table.  Robert moved to stand in line at the counter, but she stopped him with a hand on his wrist.
    “I can text in my order along with the table number.  They’ll deliver.” She grinned up at him.  “What’s the point of having a building full of cleverness if you can’t use it to eliminate pesky things like lines?”
    They didn’t have to wait long for their coffee and breakfast.  Receiving prompt service was one of the perks of running the company.  Georgiana stirred a packet of artificial sweetener into her coffee-and-chicory blend and surreptitiously watched Robert chew a mouthful of his sour cream coffee cake.  She wrapped her fingers around the warm mug to keep herself from brushing the crumbs off the corner of his lips.
    Bringing Robert up to speed on the latest contract wasn’t difficult.  Collier Analytics had won a bid to create a tracking and targeting system for Norwood Systems’ latest unmanned combat air vehicle.  Collier Analytics had created over sixty-five percent of the computer systems Norwood Systems used.
    “R&D’s giving a