Beginner's Luck (Chance of a Lifetime, #1)

by Kate Clayborn

It is awkward to a high degree, and let me tell you what, you don’t spend your life around a bunch of experimental scientists without getting a real skewed sense of what’s awkward.

“I’ve got everything I need here,” I say, but at that exact moment yet another handle from the already-dilapidated steel cabinet falls off, clattering on the peeling, faded linoleum. “I mean except for functional handles.”

But that’s ridiculous, completely ridiculous and needy, and also inappropriate given that what I’m most interested in from Ben Tucker is for him to leave me alone about his stupid job offer. And that I get to look at his doorknobs, or whatever.

“Would you want to see inside?” I blurt, and then, in my mind, I dump the entire glass of ice water I am holding over my head. What is wrong with me? First I ask him to my lab, now my house? I certainly hope my vagina doesn’t have a mind to issue invitations, but honestly the way Ben looks, it’s not entirely unlikely that she’ll speak up in the next five minutes or so.

Now this mother, I doubt she’s operating at full capacity, keeping a piece that rare right out in her living space, but I don’t judge.” River slides his eyes over to me, and I stifle a grin. The only thing my dad does judge people about is how they treat their furniture.

“Is this a haunted house?” I ask. “Because I am not into that.” He chuckles. “It’s the dead of summer, Kit.” “So? A house can be haunted any time of year. Ghosts don’t take vacations.”

“Let me tell you what,” says Vera, reaching over to ruffle River’s hair, “He’ll make some woman a wonderful husband someday!” “Vera,” Frances says, “that is an incredibly heteronormative thing to say.” “Oh my God,” River says. “I’m going inside.”