Page 13 of Snowed In With the Maverick
Seth nodded, satisfied. “Do you have any contacts you can put me in touch with?”
Andrea paused, and for a moment he wondered if he’d overstepped. “I can suggest some names of people to reach out to.” She moved some dirt with her shoe, then scanned the area of land in front of them. “I read the news articles you sent me about the discovery,” she said. “It seems like they haven’t identified the species yet, but in this area, there’s a decent chance it’s from the theropod family. Maybe an ornithischian.”
“Imagine our luck if it’s a T. rex,” Seth said. “Now that would really put us on the map. But don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t be disappointed with a triceratops.”
“You really know your stuff,” she said, eyebrow lightly raised. “And here I thought I was wowing you with my professor-speak.”
“Glad you think so.” She felt him studying her. “And you are. Impressing me. Thanks for coming out here. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s exciting,” she said. “I hope everything pans out for you.” The second the words left her mouth, she wanted to take them back. It hadn’t taken much for Seth to draw her into this project, and she wanted him to keep her in the loop. But distancing herself was the right thing to do. For so many reasons.
* * *
Not only was Seth feeling buoyed by the notion that this idea of his might have legs, but he was also relishing Andrea’s presence in the early stages of the project. There was no way he wanted to do this without her.
Her smile when she’d spoken of the species that were common in the area was the smile of someone who was in her element. Despite what had happened to her with that loser at the museum, it was clear Andrea had a passion for paleontology.
It was only a ten-minute drive back to her place. Seth eased his foot off the gas, letting the car roll a little slower than necessary. Every extra moment with her felt like a small victory, even if it was only a minute or two more.
“So, you’re basically working two full-time jobs, it sounds like,” said Andrea. “Can I ask—why is it that you’re looking to take on a project of this scope?”
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by dinosaurs,” Seth said. “My childhood bedroom was basically a shrine to the Cretaceous period. I had every dino memorized, and Barnum Brown was my Michael Jordan.”
He looked over to see Andrea smiling. “I can relate,” she said. “Although I was more of a Sue Hendrickson fan myself.”
“Speaking of T. rexes,” Seth said.
“Exactly. I was five years old when she found that near-complete T. rex in South Dakota. I remember reading about it inHighlightsmagazine with my mother one night before bedtime. I tore it out and kept it in my bedside table until I moved out to go to college.”
Seth grinned. “I think I remember that edition. I read it in the waiting room of my dentist’s office.” He looked over at her to find her still smiling.
“So you’re a real superfan,” she said playfully. “A fossil fanatic.”
“You’ve got it. I guess this project would be a chance for me to live out a childhood dream. Give me an excuse to geek out in a highly productive way.”
Andrea laughed. “Alright, that makes sense.”
“And I’m hoping,” Seth said, glancing sideways again and admiring how the late afternoon sunlight lit up her beautiful features with a golden glow, “that you’ll want to geek out with me.”
“Personally, I resent the termgeek,” Andrea said.
“But it’s a yes?”
She was quiet for a few seconds. “It’s a… It’s an I’m not sure yet.”
Seth didn’t want to push too hard. But the idea of doing this without Andrea’s involvement was…somehow less appealing. He wanted her woven into the fabric of the project. “Do you miss it?” he asked. “I mean, since you’re not at the museum or teaching anymore?”
He had to tread lightly here. It had been obvious that she’d been a bit…surprised when he’d called and revealed he knew about her work. But he didn’t want to let on that he now knew why she’d left Denver. The truth was, he could hardly blame her, after what sounded like a hack job on the part of the museum’s HR department. But if he could appeal to her mutual love of dinosaurs, the subject of her life’s work, then maybe he could get her to agree.
“While you were plastering your childhood room with dinosaurs, I was dreaming about outer space,” she said. “I was absolutely obsessed with the night sky growing up, but we lived in the city, and so with all the light pollution I never got to indulge in that interest. So, living out here, where it’s pretty much a celestial show every night, I suppose I’m now living out a childhood dream as well.”
“I’m sure I can find someone with expertise in that area around here,” Seth said. “If you’re ever interested.” There was something deeply satisfying about the idea of bringing her joy, of being the one to help make something she cared about a reality.
When he approached the turnoff to Andrea’s ranch, he was almost tempted to drive right by. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye, not yet. What he wanted to do was stay on the highway, right on into Bronco Heights, and take her somewhere nice, maybe The Association for dinner. Order steaks and a bottle of Bordeaux and get to know every detail about Andrea Spence. Likes, dislikes, hopes, dreams for the future. She was not only stunning, but her intelligence and sense of humor were like a magnet for him, and the idea of saying goodbye with no clear idea of when he might see her again left a strange feeling in his chest that he wasn’t sure how to shake.
* * *
When Seth pulled up her driveway, Andrea was surprised to discover she wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. She’d enjoyed the afternoon more than she’d expected.
