Author:
Cindy Spencer Pape firmly believes in happily-ever-after and brings that to her writing. A multiple award-winning author, she has published almost sixty novels and stories. When not hard at work writing, she can be found restoring her 1870 house, dressing up for steampunk parties and Renaissance fairs, or with her nose buried in a book. Visit her website: www.cindyspencerpape.com.

Computer science professor Eric Gordon has to find the hacker responsible for a virus on campus. When his investigations show some sort of reptile may be living in the steam tunnels under campus, he turns to biology professor Lori Tremain for help. 

Lori’s life is crazy with her tenure review looming, but she’s too curious and way too attracted to turn down Eric’s request.  Together, Lori and Eric uncover things that their scientific minds can barely imagine, along with a passion they never expected.  She doesn’t have time for love or dragons, but adventure and romance find her anyway.

Dragon in the System

Lori's night had also been restless. She yawned widely as she slid into a seat next to Wesley at the Biology Department Staff meeting Wednesday morning. She wasn't late - quite. Dr. Vandecar shot her a quick look of reprimand as she sat down only seconds before he called the meeting to order. Lori just smiled back sweetly and took another swig of Dr. Pepper. This was one of those mornings when she wished she could stand the taste of coffee. It was her firm belief that non-coffee drinkers were gravely handicapped in the American workplace. She tuned out Vandecar's annoying drone as she guzzled her ever-present bottle of diet soda, the only form of caffeine her taste buds could tolerate and replied to Wesley's sharp whisper.


"Did he spend the night? You look like you didn't get any sleep."


Lori flushed. "No!" she whispered fiercely. "He went home after dinner." At Wesley's reproving expression, she added archly, "But I'm seeing him again tonight."


Chapter 26