As her fingers touched the smooth fiber of the little paper heart, Dr. Olga Park felt a forgotten twist in her stomach. Paper was rarer than gold in the Martian colony, almost as rare as Olga’s romantic partners.

“You are beautiful,” the heart said in tidy printed letters, and she smiled. Who would’ve thought that at 41, she would have a secret admirer? There were over 2,000 people on Mars, and many of them were single. Who could it possibly be?

It was someone with access to paper, she decided. The executive committee, or the school, maybe. She had seen colorful art projects on the hallway walls outside the colony’s schoolroom. But what adult had access? The teacher, Ed Wu, did, and the teaching assistant, Gemma, something. 

Ed was a widower, but his wife had died on an expedition less than a year ago. He was an attractive man, short, but with thick, dark hair and a kind smile. She wouldn’t mind a relationship with him. He had a young son, but he would likely want another child. Everyone on Mars needed to do their part to raise the next generation. Even Olga wanted children someday, if she had the right partner. With the anti-aging treatments, there was no rush.

“Computer, who has been in my lab in the last twelve hours?”

“I cannot help you as I am not able to monitor Martian citizens in personal spaces.” The computer answered in its calm, feminine voice. Offices counted as personal space, and for the first time, Olga found herself annoyed by the policy. 

***

The next morning, another paper heart appeared on her desk. “I think you are nice and smart.” As the head of Martian Geology, Olga had to be brilliant, but she had never been called nice. Her stomach twisted in excitement. Should she try and record the admirer, or let it play out?

***

The third heart was the most exciting. “Meet me in the classroom at 8 pm tonight,” it said. Olga laughed. It had to be Ed, who else had access to the school room after hours? He had smiled shyly as he passed her in the cafeteria, and seemed sweet. Olga’s heart raced, and she decided to meet the kind, good-looking man. 

***

The lights flicked on automatically as Olga opened the schoolroom door. She had taken time to do her hair and still arrived fifteen minutes early. She sat at one of the desks and waited impatiently for Ed to arrive. At five minutes to eight, the door opened, and a tall, gray-haired man entered the room. His big shoulders filled the door, and a tight black shirt stretched over enormous pectoral muscles. Olga looked with surprise at Commander Jacob Bradley’s stern face.

“It’s you?” Olga asked, looking into the confused gray eyes of the Commander of the entire Martian colony. 

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Someone has been leaving me notes…” he trailed off.

“Someone has been leaving me notes, too, but I thought it was Ed.”

“I figured Gemma.” The man entered and sat down in a too-small chair near hers. “So, who did it?” His thick legs overflowed into her space, and heat radiated off him. 

“It had to be the children. Who else would dare?” 

“You’re probably right,” he grinned, and Olga couldn’t help but notice that the older man had dimples. She worked with him occasionally, but she had never seen him smile. He was pragmatic and decisive, but she had never thought of him as a romantic partner. He was just there, like the biodome or the red Martian dirt.

Olga held up a finger. “Computer, show me any files the children are working on relating to love or relationships.” 

“You mean Project Matchmaker,” the computer said, flashing a chart on the wall-screen. It was a list of one hundred Martian citizens. Columns next to the names rated factors like intelligence, attractiveness, and loneliness. Near the top of the list was her name, paired in turquoise with the Commander’s. 

“This is not what I meant when I told them to work on real-world projects,” the man growled. Olga snorted a laugh, and his expression softened. 

“We both have such high loneliness ratings.” Olga studied the chart. “I’m not sure their scale is particularly scientific.” 

“Well…” Commander Bradley trailed off, and Olga turned. His face flushed, and he glanced at her. For a moment, she wondered if he had thought of her romantically. 

“Being the boss of an entire planet must make it difficult to date,” she said quietly. 

“I could never use my position to coerce anyone into a relationship.” He looked wistful, and Olga’s respect grew for the large man. Someone else would have to make the first move with him. Why not her?  

  She hesitated, anxiety twisting her stomach, then, with a brave impulse, Olga leaned in and kissed his stubbled cheek. Her aim was slightly off, and she landed on the corner of his lips. He pulled back, as if startled. Embarrassment flooded her, and her cheeks flushed. 

“I’m so sorry.” She slid back, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, kissing her with a fervent desire that caused Olga’s heart to skip a beat. His lips were smooth and firm, and moved hungrily against hers, and she responded with a desire she had almost forgotten in the long hours of work and loneliness. Jacob pulled her closer until she sat on his sturdy knee, feeling protected and safe. She pulled back to catch her breath and studied the friendly wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. 

“Maybe the children’s methods were more scientific than I thought,” she said. 

“I should give them projects more often,” he agreed as he leaned in for another kiss.