Page 93 of Love and Gravity

“When I catch that thief…” He shook his head with a disgruntled grunt. From his clenched jaw to the determined look in his eyes she didn’t need him to explain to her what he intended to do. The man was absolutely ready to go to war for them—for her—and she felt her breath catch.

“Thank you,” she told him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. He started to speak but did a double take at seeing her sniffle.

“Grace?” He swallowed hard, eyes going wide, and held out his hands. “Are you crying? I don’t—if you cry—look, don’t cry. We will get the data back. I don’t know how, but I’ll do it.”

She laughed. “Are you that terrified of me crying?”

He didn’t hesitate for a second. “Absolutely,” he said and then he paused, giving her a sidelong look. He caught her hand and pulled her with him, away from where the rest of the physicists gathered. “About what you said before…”

“About loving you?” She followed behind him and did her best to hide her grin.

He snapped his fingers. “That’s the one. About that….” His voice trailed off as he led them into Lou’s office and shut the door behind them.

“What about it?” she asked.

He stepped away from her, walking into the middle of the office, and crossed his arms. He cleared his throat and looked up at her. “I love you too.”

“Oh, Anton.” She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. “Please don’t feel pressured to say it back. I mean—back there I kind of just dropped it on you. It’s not fair to-”

“Grace. Shh.” He pulled back and looked down at her. “I love you. Was head over heels for you before I even saw you. In case you haven’t noticed, you’ve got me wrapped around your finger. I love you. You saying it first doesn’t change that. And anyways, time is a construct. Who cares how long it takes for us to say it.”

Of course he had to say something sort of science-y.

He smoothed a hand over her hair before tucking a lock behind her ear. “I’m in love with you. You saying it first didn’t make me say anything I wasn’t ready to say, so get out of your head and accept my damn feelings.”

“Consider your feelings accepted,” she said, and then added, “You’re bossy sometimes, you know?” He snorted and she went on speaking, “I love you,” she said again testing it out and the smile on his face was just the balm she needed to recover from that morning’s theft.

“Good. Keep saying it. I like hearing it. Now kiss me,” he retorted, earning him an eye-roll.

She tilted her head back, lips already parting in anticipation when he leaned close and pressed his mouth to hers in a tender kiss. It was the type of kiss that spoke of tomorrows, and promised her all the time in the world to continue to get to know the man she had given her heart to.

twenty-two

“Gravitation is notresponsible for people falling love.” —Albert Einstein

Grace and Anton were still pressed close, their hands roving over one another as they continued to kiss, when the door burst open. She growled in frustration while he continued to kiss her, undeterred by the new arrival. Grace swore that she was taking a personal day as soon as things returned to a semblance of normal at the labs.

“Hey, knock it off,” Lou cried, hands on her hips.

“Mother’s home,” he laughed, finally releasing Grace.

Lou stood in the doorway, and if she had been wearing pearls, Grace was very certain she would have clutched them in horror. “This is myoffice,” she exclaimed with a little stamp of her foot.

“Sharing is caring?” Anton tried, giving her a lazy smile.

“STOP PAWING AT MY BEST FRIEND,” Lou shouted, and then continued on in a quieter voice, “I have news to share.”

Grace and Anton shared a look before their eyes shot back to Lou.

“What kind of news?” Grace asked, feeling a thrill of excitement. There was something hopeful in Lou’s expression that had her willing to bet a good thing had happened.

“We caught the thief!” Lou screamed, raising her hands over her head.

Anton gaped. “Already?”

Grace’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? Please be serious.”

“Oh yeah, I’msoserious, and you’re never going to guess who it was.” Lou gestured for them to follow her back into the labs.