“What do you know about our company?”
“Not that much. Sorry.”
“I’ll give you the short version. The entire complex is right around 90,000 square feet with an R&D side and a testing and therapy side, where we are now. See that man?” Simon pointed to a man at the bottom of a steep portion of track. “They’re testing the traction of a new prosthetic foot on different terrains. Today it’s gravel.”
A woman knelt beside him, attaching something to his foot; another man and woman stood ten feet up the incline, both holding computer tablets. At their signal he began a sprint up the incline. He made it halfway before slipping.
“I’d fall, running uphill on gravel,” Paige said.
“Yes. But after we’re finished, he won’t. With the products we develop here, people who were once seen as having a disability become stronger, faster. Amputations aren’t limitations to the human body and prostheses aren’t seen as replacements, but improvements. That track is one-third of a mile long and loops around the testing division. We can change surfaces, inclines, et cetera.”
Paige listened as her eyes followed the suspended red track that rolled and looped around the rock-climbing wall. It dropped below another section on the other side and continued like an indoor highway system for people.
Casey’s eyes were wide and Paige could practically see her little mind filling with possibilities. “It’s amazing,” she said as they started walking again. And Simon was obviously proud of it and of his friend. “You’ve known Jake a long time?”
“Yep. A long time. He’s a genius, really. Not quite thirty and already sold six major patents to biomedical companies, three of which are being used exclusively by the military. And thus, the birth of Evolution.”
Paige stopped. “Wait. You mean he started the entire company?”
“We did, along with another friend, but it was his patents that funded it. Why am I not surprised he didn’t tell you?” Simon shook his head. “Anyway, there’s no other place like it.”
Casey moved away to peer through the Plexiglas.
“You know, sometimes adjustments can cause minor changes in muscle use and balance. Why don’t you bring her back? Let me do some circus training with her.”
“Circus training?” Casey beamed and Paige wanted to hug him for making whatever therapy he had in mind sound exciting.
“That’s nice, but”—Paige lowered her voice, though Casey had moved farther down the railing—“my insurance wouldn’t cover—”
“Not needed. Really. It’ll be fun for her and I’m happy to do it. And if I see that she needs another adjustment, you’ll already be here.”
And maybe she’d see Jake again?
Simon led them back to the front where they’d come in, stopping at the green line on the floor. He slid his card in front of a sensor until it beeped and a silver bar swung open like a subway gate. Patents, she remembered, growing more impressed by the minute. Not a common emotion for her where men were concerned. And even more incredible, Jake hadn’t taken credit for any of it.
They stopped at the front desk and worked out a time for Casey to come back.
“Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you later.” He winked at Casey and went back the way he’d come.
“I like Simon,” Casey said, as they walked back to visitor parking.
“Me too.”
“I like Jake better.”
Me too.
Chapter 4
Paige rounded the wide oak bar, almost running smack into Kali, carrying a tray full of drafts. “Sorry.”
Kali pressed her lips together. “Table five is asking for another pitcher of Bud Light.”
“Okay, thanks.” She stepped out of her coworker’s way and worked to get drink orders out. Kali was nice enough, but Paige was definitely the new girl at the Grille.
Not quite eight on a Thursday night and things were picking up. The Grille was more of a food place on weeknights, but they still got some after-work drinkers. Mostly men who didn’t have anyone at home, or did and came here to drink instead. Those were the ones you had to watch out for.
Scarred wooden tables dotted the floor area under dim lighting. The bar was nearly full with a few others standing, watching the Dodgers beat the White Sox.
Paige finished ringing up the current tab, then went for the pitcher. She’d already worked the afternoon at the diner and was midway through her four-hour shift here. The work was basically the same, only the trays were different. Black-rimmed with a cork bottom, serving two-for-one drafts instead of soda and milkshakes.
Over a week had passed since she’d seen Jake at Evolution. He hadn’t come back to the diner since the night he’d offered his help. At least not on her shift. She hated how often she’d looked for him every time the door dinged. It didn’t help that Casey talked incessantly about him and his magical legs and computer people.
She delivered the pitcher, then unloaded another round at the next table over. Careful not to make eye contact with the four men she was serving, she placed each of the eight beers down. On her last one, she glanced across the room and her gaze collided with the last person she expected to see.
Jake.
Her heart couldn’t have stopped, not literally, but it felt that way, and she bobbled the last glass, sloshing beer onto the table.
“Watch it now, darling. If you want me to take my clothes off, all you got to do is ask.”