Seducing the Stargazer Read online

  Seducing the Stargazer

  A Billionaire with Brains Book

  By

  Kim Carmichael

  Seducing the Stargazer

  Billionaire with Brains, book 1

  © Copyright 2016 Kim Carmichael

  Published by

  After Glows

  PO Box 224

  Middleburg, FL 32050

  AfterGlowsPublishing.com

  Digital ISBN: 978-1-944060-40-4

  Print ISBN: 978-1-944060-42-8

  Cover by Bound 2 Be Book Covers

  Formatting by AG Formatting

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  AfterGlowsPublishing.com

  Chapter One

  “T minus twenty minutes.” Dr. Winchester Carlsbad skidded her car to a stop outside the rocket test site of Personal Space, the newest private sector space exploration company.

  Her papers, the vital pieces of information she needed to halt the impending disaster, flew forward and scattered all over her car. Her purse followed suit, spilling her wallet, cell phone and her favorite bright red lipstick on top of her notes, creating a cherry on top of the sundae of chaos.

  The three-hour ride from Los Angeles to the hot Nevada desert hadn’t done her old jalopy any favors, and she struggled to put the transmission into park. With no time to spare, she grabbed the documents, then got out of the car and took off toward the huge building.

  After months of staring at one square of sky for her boss at National Jet Labs, she finally turned the telescope and found something notable three weeks before. What appeared as an insignificant speck on a screen, another run-of-the-mill asteroid, might have remained unimportant until she made further calculations.

  The Personal Space rocket scheduled to lift off in a few minutes was on a direct collision course with her unidentified flying rock. In a matter of months, the first privately funded mission to Mars would be nothing but space junk floating into nothingness. Millions of dollars lost in space.

  In order to gain access, Wynn flashed the badge from her employer to the guards at the door and rushed inside in search of the one man who needed her most, even if he didn’t know it yet. At last she would be in the position to get what she wanted. These extreme dramatics were her only option because he wouldn’t so much as take her call otherwise. After saving his Martian probe, he wouldn’t dare decline returning the favor by giving her the telescope time she needed for her pet project.

  “Personal Space is ready to launch our research probe, Maverick, the first of its kind with technology beyond imagination.” Dr. Garner Knox’s words echoed through the large warehouse. With that smooth, deep, distinctive voice, the man should have tossed his doctorate degree aside and been a voice over artist. “We are beginning a new era of space exploration.”

  Wynn listened to him spout off about the company’s greatness. What he neglected to mention were the failures. Every space agency had them, but Personal Space seemed cursed. Three times their missions hadn’t made it, and it was critical they get something in the sky. However, it was even more crucial they didn’t careen into an unforeseen asteroid.

  “Our world-class astrophysicists, astronomers, and engineers are ready to make space profitable,” he continued.

  Wynn shook her head. Her colleague wanted to turn space into a money-making endeavor, something to be bought and sold. In truth, the universe belonged to research, to science, to every being that dared dream they could discover something, not only to those with the most money. He always wanted to take the easy way out and now he would sell space.

  “Why?” An expert at creating drama, he paused.

  The floor-to-ceiling blinds along one wall slid up into a hidden compartment in the ceiling, bathing the huge warehouse in sunlight and allowing the gathered media, astronomers, and astrophysicists to look out over the launch field in air conditioned comfort. Off in the distance, the impressive rocket stood proud and ready for takeoff. A huge digital clock above the stage counted down the minutes to liftoff.

  “Why?” he repeated.

  Everyone, including her, turned back toward him.

  Even after five years apart, seeing Dr. Garner Knox up close and personal made Wynn’s breath catch. Like the rest of the world, she had watched the superstar scientist on his famous blog and on television, but nothing compared to seeing the man in person.

  Incredibly tall, confident and strong, he towered over everyone he met in stature, intellect, and charisma. No one who met him would be surprised he ended up as the media darling of the PhD set.

  Garner held his arms out. “Why?”

  The room silenced.

  “Because we can.” At his answer, he flashed a smile to rival the shine of any star in the Milky Way.

  Garner’s last statement said everything about him. Everything he did was because he could.

  As the room vibrated in applause, Wynn pushed her way to the front, gazing upon a man manufactured to be the perfect scientific specimen, the perfect Hollywood ideal of what a scholar should look like. In a casual suit, no tie, his dark hair a deliberate mess, he appeared as if he recently emerged from a lab or a space station with answers to solve any puzzle. No one there knew that the last peer-reviewed journal article his name appeared on was with her five years before. For all she knew the man probably hadn’t bothered looking through a telescope since then

  In hopes of catching his attention, she straightened up and crossed her arms, promising herself and the universe this would be the last time she ever found herself in this position. He would never look down at her again.

  “Questions before we go stare at infinity?” He used one of his catch phrases and scanned the room. Finally, his gaze skimmed over her and he blinked. Definite recognition.

  She slowly raised her hand. Her moment was upon her.

  His smile took on supernova proportions. “Winnie?”

  At his nickname for her, she balled her papers in her fist. After five years she would give back what he doled out. “Dr. Wynn Carlsbad.” In three words, she reminded him they held the same title and she raised her eyebrows in warning.

  His smile never wavered. “Dr. Carlsbad, you had a question?”

  “Yes.” She nodded. “I wanted to make sure you have adjusted the course of your rocket.”

  “Adjusted our course?” His smile faded. “Why would we need to adjust our course?”

  She reached into her pocket and held up a little gold plastic star they had bought together at some junk store back in graduate school. Whoever held the star could call in a favor at any time, and her time had come. No matter how useless everyone thought her research on the Martian moons was, she would never give up. Now she would use Garner as he had used her.

  “As of 4:37 this morning, based on the published flight plan, there is an asteroid on a direct collision course with your probe. The impact takes place in ten months.” She put her hand o
n her hip.

  Those around her gasped.

  Eyes narrowed and smile wavering, he squatted down. “Wynn, what are you doing?” he asked through clenched teeth.

  “Dr. Carlsbad.” From this day forward, he would never be allowed to address her by anything but her title. She held up her documented proof. “You better cool your jets.”

  “Dr. Knox!” someone called out. “Is this more smoke and mirrors from a company who can’t get into orbit?”

  Rather than glance at the papers, he took her hand and guided her up onto the stage with him, pulling her closer. “Are you one hundred percent sure?” he whispered.

  At his touch she shuddered. What she once longed for she had to resist, and she cleared her throat. “You have T minus fourteen minutes.” She stared into his eyes, those unforgettable grey eyes, and slipped the star into his shirt pocket. Yes, she would owe him one day, but not until he delivered first. “It’s time I cashed in.”

  “Your favor will have to wait.” He kept firm hold her of hand and pulled her off the platform, leaving nothing but the low mumbles of concern echoing in their wake.

  * * *

  In the course of a second, two unexpected objects crossed into Dr. Garner Knox’s trajectory. First, an asteroid that threatened to destroy his multi-million dollar space probe. Second, and possibly more shocking, was one Dr. Wynn Carlsbad whose appearance threatened to destroy him.

  He hurried through the back corridors toward the control room, before stopping short of the huge metal door. For one brief second he took in the woman who he had thought about more times than he cared to count. For all this time he had waited for her to reappear and call in her favor, he didn’t realize part of the deal was to do him in worse than she had the last time.

  She must have planned the moment down to the second to make sure she did the maximum damage, thus getting him back for his perceived wrong toward her. There she stood with her smug expression and the science behind her effort to take him down. He shouldn’t be thinking she looked more beautiful than ever with her dark, almost black hair pulled back from her face, showing off green eyes and a pouty mouth that always seemed to want to scold him or do something much more fun. Named after a rifle, Wynn wore her signature western wear, today consisting of a knee-length skirt, cowboy boots and a more than formfitting red gingham button-up highlighting some of her best assets.

  But he couldn’t afford to allow his previous attraction distract him now. “Did you leave your black hat in the car?” he asked.

  The woman never believed in him and before she answered, he vowed he would get her back for everything.

  Without a word she held up her documents.

  “You are a piece of work.” He snatched the hated papers away. Though it had been a while since he observed any telescope time, he quickly deciphered the images. The little glowing dot was indeed an asteroid, a small one, but one large enough to decimate a space probe that cost millions. “How did you find this?” he asked. More importantly, why hadn’t he or his team of astronomers found it?

  “A real scientist wouldn’t ask that question, Dr. Knox.” She rifled through the papers and showed him another image, this one with the asteroid orbit overlaid with the path the Maverick Probe.

  “T minus ten minutes.” The loud speaker rang out the time, a little detail he had requested for the benefit of the media. At the time, he figured it would add a sense of suspense, but right now it seemed to be counting down a major failure.

  Heat encompassed him, starting in his core and radiating throughout his body. They might both have a PhD behind their names, but she always thought of him as a lower life form because he took a different route on his dissertation. She was strictly science while he was the one with personality that melded business and entertainment “This goes beyond a friendly competition. You are going to ruin people’s lives with your games.”

  “Who said anything about being friends?” She threw the papers at him. Her proof floated to the floor.

  “T minus eight minutes.” The electronic computerized voice grated through him.

  “And you conveniently brought the star with you and waited until I was in front of several hundred colleagues and the media.” He invaded her space until they were nose to nose. The same perfume she wore in college wafted around him—flowers, fresh and feisty. “You timed this perfectly for maximum impact. Pun intended.”

  “I suppose I could have called you personally, but I lost your number long ago. I came here as soon as I was sure. Consider it a professional courtesy,” she told him.

  “You and I both know that National Jet Labs should have contacted Personal Space. What do you want, Wynn? What favor do I owe you?” He might as well cut to the chase.

  “Maybe we should discuss what I want after you stop your rocket.” As if she didn’t have a care in the world, she glanced down at her pretty polished fingernails. “Don’t forget to thank the person who saved your mission,” she added.

  At the moment her motives didn’t matter. Above everything, he knew she would never lie about facts. Science was her life and the course of the rocket had been recorded with National Jet Labs, where she worked. Perhaps they were keeping tabs on each other. Yes, fine, he followed her career through the years. The woman had a résumé longer than a dissertation. Never one to play by the rules, but always one to stand by her convictions, she had been let go from multiple positions, probably because she couldn't stop herself from firing off.

  “T minus six minutes.” The dwindling time echoed around him, counting down the moments to yet another failure for his company.

  “They’re going to be starting engines soon.” She squared her jaw and held her ground. “Rocket fuel is expensive.”

  Running out of time, he needed make a decision and he turned to enter the combination on the control room lock. The door opened and he dragged her inside.

  “Garner! What are you doing?” Jim Strand, the head of mission control, sped over to them. “You need to be with the media.”

  “Abort the launch immediately!” Garner pointed up to the clock. “There’s no time to discuss this. That rocket cannot go up today.”

  “It’s almost time! Who is she?” Jim glanced between the two of them. “We are not aborting the launch, we can’t have another failure.”

  “Don’t worry about her. Listen to me. In a few months our rocket is going to be nothing but space junk floating somewhere between here and Mars. Trust me, we are on a collision course with an asteroid that will destroy Maverick and if that happens, we’re done. Abort the mission now!” His voice overpowered the countdown telling them they had five minutes left.

  “Are you sure about this?” Jim asked.

  No, he wasn’t sure. He could only go on his gut and what he knew about the woman standing next to him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Wynn. Maybe if he would have acted on his gut five years ago, she wouldn’t be glaring at him in challenge now, but he couldn’t be in a relationship with someone who thought he was nothing but a joke with a lot of letters behind his name. “Shut it down. I’ll spin the PR angle.” How he was going to do that, Garner had no idea, but he had no choice. They either dealt with the fall out of another failed mission now or handled a much worse disaster in ten months that would cost much more money.

  “T minus four minutes.” The voice came through loud and clear.

  “We’re ready to start the final pre-flight check,” one of the engineers called out.

  Jim jutted his jaw out and faced the room of people who had spent years making this moment happen. “Abort the mission!” He dashed across the room and hit a big red button on his console.

  Almost like the vintage sci-fi movies Garner spent his life watching, alarms went off, lights flashed and everything wound down. With a push of a button all the hard work of the scientists, engineers, and astrophysicists disappeared. In another world he would have been the one making the calculations, doing the research, find
ing anything that could get in the way of their goal. But long ago his course had been plotted, when he chose the route of fame, pop culture and publicity, something one Dr. Carlsbad would never let him forget.

  “Get out of here and go do your job.” Jim shook his head. “We have investors and we can’t lose the money. We’ve already presold research time on the Maverick probe.”

  Garner needed to address the media, make it better, do his job, and spin the story. His job was to calm the public, the media, and their investors—somehow explain the science and do it all with a starry-eyed smile.

  “You need to fix this.” Jim picked up one of the papers Wynn brought with her and shoved it in Garner’s face. “Start by getting whoever that woman was back here.”

  Garner spun on his heel and looked down the empty hallway. Wynn was nowhere to be found. “We don’t need her.”

  “I say we do. We need some fresh blood in here. Fix our mess and get that woman,” Jim barked. “Get out of here, Garner.”

  Head held high, smile in place, he straightened his collar and walked down the corridor. The mission was destroyed before it ever began, exactly like his relationship with Wynn. He put his hand on his shirt pocket. The outline of the star reminded him he owed her on more than one count.

  Chapter Two

  Wynn zigzagged through the back hallways of the Personal Space launch site, put her hand to her chest and shook her head. While she may have saved Garner’s career, she also detonated his dreams. Still the man didn’t take one second to thank her or even introduce her to his colleagues.

  She didn’t know why she expected anything different of him. Apparently, since setting eyes on him last, she forgot. Sort of like how she forgot the pain of burning her hand on the hot plate in her first college apartment when she pressed her palm right on the surface, or how she forgot that anytime she ate strawberries she broke out in hives. Somehow she still always wanted a taste of the little red fruit.