It seemed like everyone was having bairns these days. Dougal’s gaze shifted back to the monitor showing Leah and Abby. Even Abby and Gregori were starting a family.
Laszlo entered the lab, sporting a fresh white lab coat, a striped shirt, and a bright red bowtie. His hair was neatly combed, and his round face gleamed a rosy pink, as if he’d scrubbed it too hard. The two women glanced up at him and smiled.
Dougal’s prosthetic hand tightened around the bottle, and he glared at it. Doona act up tonight. He finished the bottle and tossed it into the recycling bin.
The office door opened, and Gregori sauntered inside. “Hey, dude. What’s up?”
Dougal inclined his head. “Good evening.”
Gregori peered at the monitor showing the lab and grinned. “Laszlo’s looking less nerdy tonight, don’t you think?”
Dougal shrugged.
“I made an appointment for him with Wilson,” Gregori continued.
Dougal wondered if he should do the same.
“And I gave him some advice on how to charm the ladies,” Gregori added. “The most obvious way to win a woman’s heart.”
It didn’t seem so obvious to Dougal. He waited, but Gregori was entirely focused on the monitor.
“Isn’t Abby beautiful?” he whispered. “She’s practically glowing.”
“What is the way?” Dougal asked. When Gregori gave him a blank look, he added, “The obvious way to win a woman’s heart.”
“Oh, that.” Gregori waved a dismissive hand. “It just takes a sense of humor. You gotta make the lady laugh.”
Dougal swallowed hard. “Laugh?”
“Yep. Let’s see if Laszlo pulls it off.” Gregori turned the volume up on the lab.
“ . . . an alarming amount of genetic mutation,” Leah was saying, pointing at a printout.
Laszlo sat next to her at the table. “I’ve always found genetics fascinating.”
Leah nodded as she read.
Laszlo twisted a button on his lab coat. “Before I was transformed, I was a student at the University of Vienna. I was able to visit Gregor Mendel a few times in Moravia.”
Leah turned to him, her eyes wide. “You knew Gregor Mendel?”
Laszlo blushed. “Yes. He was very kind. He would discuss his theories with me for hours.”
“Holy crapoly,” Leah whispered. “I can’t believe you knew him.”
“That is so cool!” Abby added.
“And he would invite me to sup with him.” Laszlo fumbled with another button. “Of course, we always had pea soup.”
Leah and Abby laughed.
Gregori punched his fist in the air. “Way to go, Laszlo!”
Dougal’s prosthetic hand clenched.
Laszlo’s blush deepened. “I-I was serious. Mendel had over twenty-nine thousand pea plants.”
Abby and Leah chuckled.
The office door opened, and Freemont sauntered inside. “What’s up, dudes?” He nodded at Dougal. “Finished my rounds. Everything’s clear.”
“Good.” Dougal ordered his fist to relax and it slowly obeyed, making a few clicking sounds.
“Your robot hand is so awesome.” Freemont grabbed a donut from the box on the sideboard. “You look like a Terminator.”
Dougal winced inwardly. “Thank you.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Gregori told him. “Abby is expecting you to see her tonight, so she can examine your hand. She wants to do an X-ray or a CAT scan, I think.”
Dougal stifled a groan. “ ’Tis fine now.”
“Orders from Angus.” Gregori gave him a wry look. “And you don’t say no to big Mongo.”
On the lab monitor, Abby rose to her feet. “All this talk about pea soup is making me hungry.” She nudged Leah. “Why don’t we head to the cafeteria for some supper?”
“Okay.” Leah stood. “I could use a break.”
Laszlo eased to his feet, a hopeful look on his face as he twisted a button.
“We’ll be back in about thirty minutes,” Abby told him as she strolled toward the door.
“Bye.” Leah left with Abby.
Ping. Laszlo’s button popped off.
“Damn, Laszlo,” Gregori muttered. “You missed your chance.” He adjusted his tie. “Well, I need to get to work. Though I might stop by the cafeteria for a few minutes.” He grinned.
“I’ll come with you,” Dougal said. He wasn’t going to miss his chance. When Gregori gave him a questioning look, he added, “I need to make the rounds.”
“I just did that.” Freemont stuffed half a donut in his mouth.
Dougal’s jaw shifted. “I need to set up an appointment with Abby.”
“Oh, right.” Gregori slapped him on the back. “Well, let’s go.”
As Dougal marched toward the cafeteria, he resolved to impress Leah and win her heart. According to Gregori it was simple. He only had to be charming and make her laugh.
His prosthetic hand clenched. He was doomed.
Chapter Eight
Leah was drizzling more dressing onto her grilled chicken salad when Abby looked toward the cafeteria door and grinned.
“Gregori’s here!” Abby set down her soup spoon and jumped to her feet.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Gregori hugged her, then motioned to her bowl of potato soup. “Don’t let me stop you. You’re eating for two now.”
Leah concentrated on her salad to give the two lovebirds some privacy.
“I missed you,” Abby whispered.
“I missed you more.” Gregori nuzzled her neck. “I woke up from my death-sleep, and you were gone.”
So the Vamps called it death-sleep? Leah took a big bite of salad. Was Dougal awake now, too?
Abby swatted her husband’s shoulder. “I told you I was coming to work early and bringing Leah.”
Gregori seemed to notice her for the first time. “How are you today, Leah?”
“Fine,” she mumbled, her mouth full of lettuce.
“Oh.” Abby glanced toward the door. “I didn’t see you there, Dougal.”
Leah stiffened. He was alive! She gulped down her food, then swallowed some water, her eyes watering. She peered over her shoulder and saw him coming toward them. Alive. And as handsome as ever.
She turned back, focusing on her salad.
“I think I need more food,” Abby said. “I’m going through the line again.”
“I’ll go with you.” Gregori accompanied her.
Leah pushed her salad around with her plastic fork. He was still behind her, staring at her, she could feel it. His presence seemed to engulf the room.
“Good evening,” he said in a deep, lilting voice that caused a delicious little shiver to run down her back.
“Hi.” She looked up as he moved to stand beside her.
He leaned forward, his nostrils flaring, then he straightened, his mouth curling into a slight smile. “How are you?”
“Fine.” She paused. “How are you?”
“Well, thank you.”
She fiddled with her plastic fork. If only she could come up with something brilliant to say. Would he want to hear about the research she did for her doctorate degree? Probably not. “Would you like something to eat?”
“I had a bottle when I wakened at sunset.”
“Right.” He doesn’t eat, dummy. She slapped herself mentally. Her gaze drifted to the window, where she could see the basketball court outside and the game still in progress. “I recognize Angus, Roman, and Tino, but who is the man they’re playing with?”
Dougal glanced at the window. “That’s Carlos. He’s a were-panther.”
“Another killer cat?”
“We could give him a CAT scan to be sure.”
She winced.
With a sigh, he shifted his weight. “I doona have the gift of blarney.”