Starry Eyed

"Grimorph is a scientist or inventor from the Moon Colony," said Hiro.

Visions of white lab coats with pocket protectors, big dark-framed glasses, and a receding hairline entered Cassie's head. She could just picture the absent minded professor guy as he wandered around a Tom Edison lab filled with bits and pieces and invented useful items on a regular basis.

"She is the most amazing woman. She helped produce the system that feeds the entire Moon Colony. Her mother was Japanese-American while her father was a Native American who fled the reservations," Hiro continued. His voice was soft, dreamy. His eyes were all sparkly and focused on some distant point.

Cassie's vision disappeared and she was faced with the reality of Hiro's infatuation with Grimorph. And in the next instant she was struck by her own infatuation with Hiro. But she wasn't Japanese. And she wasn't a powerful person who saved colonies. Cassie was the person who was so stupid that she walked through forests and was attacked by serial killers. No wonder Hiro was infatuated with someone like Grimorph and no wonder, as well, that she was infatuated with someone like Hiro.

Infatuated, at least in her case, was probably not the right word. Lust might be better. Cassie saw Hiro as virile, masterful, and yet touched with kindness. He was willing to enter into the fray in order to save her. Apparently that is what Samurai did and it had nothing to do with her as a person. It was just his job.

Cassie was suddenly feeling a need to flee. She wanted to just be gone. Alone in her misery. She hadn't been that aware of her wish that Hiro would see her not only as a responsibility or liability, but as a woman with possibilities. She was probably just some pain in the ass to him.

Cassie was fiddling with her drink, rolling the sweat-slicked glass around in circles on the table. She hadn't even tasted it. Should she gulp it down and run? She looked up to see Hiro staring at her. She tried to smile, but instead felt the blush start at her neck and bloom upwards to her hairline. She was on fire.

"Let me get my fax number for you." Hiro leaped up out of the chair and left the room, apparently to get pen and paper.

Cassie wondered if she could just creep out while he was gone and then realized that would be even worse. How could she have done this to herself? How long had she been fantasizing about Hiro? Of course he wouldn't be taken with an American. He was Samurai, all bushido and katana and Japan. But he was so compelling. He was wise and strong and handsome and luscious. And it would feel so wonderful to have those muscled arms pulling her close to the massive expanse of his chest, lifting her face to his as he gently placed a kiss on her tremulous lips.

"Here is the number," said Hiro as he walked back into the room.

"Thanks." Cassie put the paper into her pocket and tried to think of a way to get out of there gracefully. She picked up the drink and took a gulp. "Jesus, what is this crap?"

"It's a mixture of healthful nutrients. Very good for after a workout. It replaces, um, things, um, whatever it is that you lose when you exercise for long periods. It recharges and re-energizes you. Grimorph developed it."

"It tastes horrible," said Cassie honestly, "and it's an ugly color."

"It is supposed to be good for you," Hiro defended the drink, or maybe just the inventor.

"Thank goodness I haven't been exercising then. Do you have any plain water?" Cassie was already feeling a little less intimidated by the unseen Grimorph, inventor of food stuffs that were not all that tasty. She might have to get a look at this Grim person.