The books mentioned herein are real books, according to Amazon. No copyright infringement intended.

.o.o.o.o.o.

He's a scientist, which means that in his world, there is nothing to be known that can't be learned from research or a book. And since research isn't an option in this case—it's a field he's not any kind of expert in—that leaves books as his only option.

He visits a local bookstore to stock up on reading material; normally he'd order off the Internet, but then his order would be delivered to the front step of the lair, where any of his employees could see it, and he's determined to keep his purchase secret. So he buys the books one afternoon when he's in town and sneaks them back into the lair, and by that evening he's already read one cover to cover. And it's interesting; it changes the way he's thought about a lot of things. At first he's not sure he wants to make the effort to test these ideas, but he feels that he's got to give them a try. After long thought, he resolves that he will apply these concepts at the first opportunity.

But of course—perhaps inevitably—the books don't stay secret very long. His partner has a knack at getting into things she isn't supposed to, and when he gets out of the shower the next morning, she's standing in the hallway over his bookstore bag, laughing hysterically at the titles contained therein.

"Flirting 101: How to Charm Your Way to Love, Friendship, and Success? How to Make Someone Fall in Love with You in 90 Minutes or Less? Geez, Doc, you're a regular self-help seminar for the socially awkward, aren't you?"

He can feel his face flushing, which he knows from experience interacts with his blue skin to create a very unattractive color, so he darts to his room, grabbing the bag on the way.

Her voice floats after him. "Who's the lucky girl?" He's inclined to ignore her but he remembers chapter one from the book he read last night: Be Confident. And he remembers his resolution to put what he's learned into practice. So he stops, and for longer than he'd like to admit he stands in his doorway, his back to her, trying to muster up the courage to respond.

He thinks it might be a miracle that he's finally able to force out words. "You are," he says in a tight voice, fairly certain that being unable to look the girl in the face when he uses his smooth lines on her is not going to earn him any points in Flirting 101. It's a testament to the strength of his feelings for her that he was willing to put himself out there like that at all. And he braces himself and waits for her to laugh.

But instead there's a moment of stunned silence, and then she says in a voice he's never heard her use on him before, "Really?"

He finds himself turning around. There's a smile darting across her lips, as though she's trying to fight it back, and she's fiddling with the ends of her hair, and he remembers both of these behaviors from chapter six: Watch the Other Person's Response. He's fairly sure that the book said that they're positive responses, so he chokes out, "Really." Shoving his hands in his pockets to stop himself from wiping his sweaty hands on his coat, he continues, "So I was wondering if you'd like to get together sometime . . ." He finds he's quoting chapter eight verbatim, but it's too soon—he thought he'd have more time to memorize it—and the words aren't coming.

Luckily she doesn't have that problem. "And get dinner?" she finishes his question. "Maybe tonight?"

His heart is pounding, partly from nerves and partly from delight that she's responding like this. "Would six-thirty work?"

"Six-thirty is perfect," she says, and leaning forward she places a kiss on his cheek. That's chapter four, Break the Touch Barrier. "It's a date."

"It's a date," he replies dazedly, and as she walks away he places the bag of books reverently on his bed. Clearly these books are worth their weight in gold.

.o.o.o.o.o.