Worth It All (The McKinney Brothers #3) by Claudia Connor Read Free Book Online

“I’m the guy who makes sure what JT designs actually works.”
    “How do you do that?”
    The elevator doors opened and they stepped out. “Well…this”—he made a sweeping gesture with his hand—“is the fun side of Evolution.”
    The three of them moved to a Plexiglas railing that overlooked the floor two stories below and was open to another two stories above. A massive rock wall with several climbers rose up into the center of the open space.
    Individual rooms with glass fronts like racquetball courts lined the sides of this level and the level below. Some had treadmills and computer stations, others had large blue mats on the floor and various equipment she assumed was for physical therapy. It was beautiful. Clean lines, colorful markings, and full of natural light from the top floor that was mostly windows.
    “What do you know about our company?”
    “Not that much. Sorry.”
    “I’ll give you the short version. The entire complex is right around 90,000 square feet with an R&D side and a testing and therapy side, where we are now. See that man?” Simon pointed to a man at the bottom of a steep portion of track. “They’re testing the traction of a new prosthetic foot on different terrains. Today it’s gravel.”
    A woman knelt beside him, attaching something to his foot; another man and woman stood ten feet up the incline, both holding computer tablets. At their signal he began a sprint up the incline. He made it halfway before slipping.
    “I’d fall, running uphill on gravel,” Paige said.
    “Yes. But after we’re finished, he won’t. With the products we develop here, people who were once seen as having a disability become stronger, faster. Amputations aren’t limitations to the human body and prostheses aren’t seen as replacements, but improvements. That track is one-third of a mile long and loops around the testing division. We can change surfaces, inclines, et cetera.”
    Paige listened as her eyes followed the suspended red track that rolled and looped around the rock-climbing wall. It dropped below another section on the other side and continued like an indoor highway system for people.
    Casey’s eyes were wide and Paige could practically see her little mind filling with possibilities. “It’s amazing,” she said as they started walking again. And Simon was obviously proud of it and of his friend. “You’ve known Jake a long time?”
    “Yep. A long time. He’s a genius, really. Not quite thirty and already sold six major patents to biomedical companies, three of which are being used exclusively by the military. And thus, the birth of Evolution.”
    Paige stopped. “Wait. You mean he started the entire company?”
    “We did, along with another friend, but it was his patents that funded it. Why am I not surprised he didn’t tell you?” Simon shook his head. “Anyway, there’s no other place like it.”
    Casey moved away to peer through the Plexiglas.
    “You know, sometimes adjustments can cause minor changes in muscle use and balance. Why don’t you bring her back? Let me do some circus training with her.”
    “Circus training?” Casey beamed and Paige wanted to hug him for making whatever therapy he had in mind sound exciting.
    “That’s nice, but”—Paige lowered her voice, though Casey had moved farther down the railing—“my insurance wouldn’t cover—”
    “Not needed. Really. It’ll be fun for her and I’m happy to do it. And if I see that she needs another adjustment, you’ll already be here.”
    And maybe she’d see Jake again?
    Simon led them back to the front where they’d come in, stopping at the green line on the floor. He slid his card in front of a sensor until it beeped and a silver bar swung open like a subway gate. Patents, she remembered, growing more impressed by the minute. Not a common emotion for her where men were concerned. And even more incredible, Jake hadn’t taken credit for any of it.
    They stopped at the front desk and worked