“What kind of adventure?” he wondered. “As in blowing up your work station?”

He spoke mildly, with good humor in his deep voice, but Becca blushed all the same at the reminder of how she’d lost her last chemist position. She had an incredible amount of book smarts, always had. But what she more than made up for in IQ, she seemed to lack in good, old common sense. It had gotten her into trouble more times than she liked to admit.

And had lost her more jobs than she cared to think about.

Thankfully she’d had a really good interview with Kent, and he appeared to believe in her. But she didn’t want to press her luck. Outlining her new plan for an exciting personal life might scare him off. Actually, it would scare off anyone that knew her. “And that particular incident with the explosion didn’t count,” she said defensively. “I didn’t mean that kind of adventure.”

“Ah.” He nodded sagely. “So this time you’re going to do it on purpose.”

“Yes. No!” But she laughed at herself because what else could she do? “This has nothing to do with work. I’m talking about my personal life.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s…fine.” She rolled her eyes. “But it’s so boring I can’t think of a thing to say about it. That’s going to change.”

“Should I be worried?”

“Of course not. I’m not your responsibility.”

Thankfully, he let that go. “Saw your report on the TD virus,” he said. “Fine job.”

Fine. There was that word again, and though she tried to not take it personally, she wasn’t entirely successful. “Could you think of another adverb?”

“But fine is the one that fits.”

“I hate that word.”

“Because…?”

“Because it’s as boring as the rest of my life is!”

He blinked slowly. “Which brings us back to this change thing, right?”

“Yes.” She glared at him. “So if you don’t mind, please don’t tell me my work is fine.”