But at the end of the day the science didn’t matter. Because Austin Mitchell had that look on his face. The sexy, knowing smile. Knowing exactly how much he affected her.
Maybe it was the fact he wasn’t in uniform? While the bright blue flight suit did crazy things to his eyes, it always made her remember the distance between them. Today, in dark blue jeans and a short-sleeved white shirt, Austin Mitchell could be any regular guy on the planet.
If regular guys looked this good.
The waitress appeared again and took their order. Austin was still watching her with those hypnotic blue eyes of his. She wasn’t going to look at them. She just wasn’t. It was too much trouble.
She sucked in a breath and tried to bring some normality back to the situation. ‘I’m not used to being kissed by guys I hardly know. Why don’t we try and remedy that situation?’ She gulped. That had come out a little more direct than intended. It was almost an invitation to tell her a little about him and see what could happen next.
She twisted her feet under the table. He couldn’t see her squirm there.
Austin sat back a little. He just looked amused by everything she said. ‘You’ve read my file. What else do you want to know?’
She shook her head. ‘I’ve read your medical file. I haven’t read your general file. I had no need to. So, unless we want to discuss your blood work, eye tests or chest X-ray, I really don’t know much about you at all.’
He leaned back against the leather seat. ‘You know I was a Top Gun instructor.’
‘And that’s all that defines you? A Top Gun instructor?’
‘It’s enough for most women.’
She shook her head. ‘Why did you join the navy? Why be a pilot?’
He looked a little more thoughtful, and his answers were more measured. He spoke slowly. ‘Let’s just say it’s a family tradition.’
Now, she was finding out a bit more. ‘Your dad was a pilot?’
He nodded. ‘My father, my grandfather and my great-grandfather.’
‘Wow.’ She paused for a second. There was something a little strange about the way he said it. ‘So, Top Gun wasn’t your dream?’
His eyes darted off to the side. She smiled. He was formulating an answer.
‘Yes...and no.’
She tapped her fingers on the table. ‘Now, what does that mean?’
He met her gaze with such an intensity she caught her breath. ‘Space. Space has always been the dream. I knew that one of the best ways in was to be a pilot. That’s why I was happy to follow the family tradition.’ He paused for a second. ‘My father was on the shortlist for astronaut training thirty-five years ago. Then along came a baby that gave him scarlet fever and then measles and those plans went out the window.’
‘Wow, talk about a guilt trip.’
He shrugged. ‘What can I say? My father was never a baby kind of guy. First proper conversation we had was when I told him I was joining the navy and planned on being a pilot.’
‘He approved?’
‘You could say that. He spends his life telling the world how well his son is doing. As for this?’ He held up his hands. ‘On the one hand he can’t wait to tell folks his son is an astronaut candidate, and on the other...’ His voice tailed off a little. ‘I think he still feels a little bitter about missing out on the opportunity himself. He asks detailed questions about some of the assignments, then proceeds to tell me how he could have completed it easier and faster than me.’
She sucked in some air. ‘So, you’re treading a fine line between fatherly approval and fatherly jealousy?’
He gave a wry smile. ‘Maybe. But some things I get to keep to myself.’ He met her gaze. ‘If it’s not astronaut or Top Gun he’s really not interested.’
But she was.
She leaned across the table towards him. Austin Mitchell was getting a whole lot more interesting.
‘So what are you keeping to yourself, Lieutenant Commander Mitchell?’
She wanted to laugh out loud. She was blatantly flirting with the guy. But he made it so easy.
He raised his eyebrows, then leaned across the table towards her too, their faces only inches apart, and waved his hand. ‘Space has always been the goal. But there’s more than one way to get there. I loved science at school. If I wanted to go to space, I should really have focused on physics. But it was biology I loved—microbiology. Things down at a cellular level. Plants, animals and humans, but mainly just the science.’
She smiled. ‘So, that’s why you did your degree too?’
He nodded. ‘It made sense.’ He gave her a cheeky smile. ‘Men aren’t supposed to like multitasking, but I did.’ It was a quip about her remark at the pool that day and she couldn’t help but smile. ‘Astronauts are selected today not just because they have one skill. I decided to give myself the best chance of selection, increase my chances.’
‘So you can pilot the craft and do the on-board experiments?’
‘Exactly.’
Interesting. This guy had been absolutely determined to go to space. She couldn’t even begin to think about what he would have done if he hadn’t been selected.
The waitress appeared and set down their order. Corrine didn’t wait. She picked up her fork and took her first taste of the cake she loved. It looked kind of odd. Austin with his megaburger and her with a piece of cake.
‘What about you?’
She looked up. She shouldn’t be surprised. It was only fair. She’d asked him some questions, so he had to be allowed to do the same.
‘What about me?’
‘Why are you at WSSA?’
She smiled. ‘I guess we’re not that dissimilar. I always wanted to work at WSSA.’ She pointed to the sky. ‘But I never dreamed of going into space. I always wanted my feet to stay firmly on the ground.’
‘Why WSSA?’
She took a few seconds. ‘Because it’s where dreams are made. The science of sending someone into space is fascinating. There’s still so much we don’t know—and can still find out. Wouldn’t you like to think that there’s life on another planet somewhere?’
He looked surprised. ‘You believe in aliens?’
She laughed. ‘Absolutely. They’re green with big heads.’ She shook her head. ‘No, seriously. I have mixed feelings about all that. I know, statistically, with the size of our universe, it’s possible. Do I really think there’s something out there? I just don’t know.’
Now she was curious. Astronauts could be divided on this. ‘What about you?’
He shook his head. ‘I’m more of a believer of the fact that we’ve done serious damage to our planet and in future years we might need to live in space—or somewhere else.’
She sat back a little. ‘You think you’ll end up living in space?’
He shook his head. ‘Not me. But our children. Our future generations.’
There was just something about the way he said those words. The way he looked at her as he said them. Our children. She knew he didn’t mean it that way. But her body didn’t seem to understand that. Every tiny hair she had was currently standing on end and her mouth had gone inexplicably dry.
He didn’t seem to notice the effect his words had on her. He was on a roll. ‘I was probably born five hundred years too early. I really want to be living in the time of space travel that we see on TV and in movies, with all their technology. But hopefully I’m going to help us get there.’
She smiled. Lots of the astronauts had been inspired by TV series. Particularly the science. ‘I’d be really grateful if you could make me a Tricorder. Just think, I point something at your body, scan and it tells me exactly what’s wrong with you. Think how brilliant that would be.’
He shook his head. ‘Get in line. I’ll only make you a Tricorder once I’ve developed the tr
ansporter. I want to press a button and beam to another planet.’
She laughed. ‘You want all your cells reduced to atoms and molecules and scattered throughout space?’
‘Only if we can put them back together in the same order.’ He gave her a wicked look. ‘I’d hate to find some parts of my anatomy missing...’ he raised his eyebrows ‘...or find any part of you misplaced.’
She shuddered. ‘I can’t even think about that.’ She sighed. ‘I’d just love to be able to study the science of sending humans to Mars. Long-term missions. That kind of thing.’ She stared off into the sky for a few seconds. ‘But it’s kind of scary. Especially if the journey is only one-way.’ She looked back at him. He was watching her with a strange expression on his face. ‘Would you sign up for something like that?’
He took a few seconds to answer. ‘I might,’ he said carefully. ‘That kind of journey is going to be inevitable at some point. Every astronaut will have to ask themselves that question. I guess it all depends on what they leave behind.’
He couldn’t possibly realise how cold those words sounded to her. How alone. She didn’t even want to have this kind of conversation with Austin Mitchell. When he was in front of her all she really wanted to think about was the here and now. Not the future. Especially when the aloneness of it sent a shiver down her spine. She decided to change the subject.
She nodded at his megaburger. ‘I hope you know I’m secretly keeping note of your eating habits.’
‘I hope you remember that you recommended it.’ He smiled. Mars forgotten.
‘Smart answer.’
He gave her a careful glance. ‘That’s a nice house you’ve got. Kinda big for one person.’
‘What are you asking me?’
‘You know exactly what I’m asking you.’ He was getting straight back to point. Seemed as if his mind was on the here and now too.
‘Lieutenant Commander Mitchell, I’m shocked. You kissed a girl without finding out her availability?’