“Please let me sign today...”
He let go of the door and dropped his arms. The outside vanished at his back.
“Do you need money, Clara?”
She took a slight step away from him and he couldn’t blame her. Reid had his walls up for a reason. But there was something about the way she smelled—fresh and alluring—and when she turned her big violet eyes toward his, he found himself drowning in their depths. He wanted to close the short distance between them and nuzzle up against her.
“I... err, what?”
Reid flicked on his wristcon and brought up his personal finances—not the facility’s, but his. “How much?”
“I’m not taking money from you.”
“You need the time to think.”I have plenty to spare.He kept his eyes off of hers.
“I don’t. I really don’t. If you need to give me time, give me twenty minutes, an hour, I’ll stay here in reception and think about it. I’ll make a pro-con chart.”
“Would you still say that if I told you that youdidhave to have sex with a Cyborg?”
He told himself it was to send her away, to scare her off, and that it wasn’t because he yearned to know the answer.
She scrunched her features and checked him out. “Would it have to beyou?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
Reid sighed and walked toward the desk, bringing up the screen without questioning further. It was better that he didn’t know the answer.
“Sign here.” He stepped aside and indicated the projected document.
He watched as Clara visibly shook herself and approached it. She read over the clauses and signed the file, her lithe finger dancing across the air. His jaw ticked.Sign both of our time away, Clara dear.The next three months might be hard for her, but it would be hell for him.
Reid was already growing accustomed to her presence. The sound of her steps. The sway of her curves hidden behind loose clothing. Before long, if he wasn’t careful, he wouldn’t want to let her out of his sight.
He powered down the document. “Do you have a personal IP address?”
“Yeah.” She pulled out her network card and handed it to him. He noticed that she didn’t pull out a personal wristcon or tablet. It was almost unheard of to not have a device on hand.
Reid took her card, careful not to touch her fingers, and memorized it instantly. Her version of the contract was sent immediately toher... wherever or whatever device that carried her data.
“Everything’s been sent to you. Follow me.” He moved back toward the exit.
“You could be less demanding. Apleasecan go a long way.”
Once again he held the door for her. “No.”
“It would make you less of a jerk.” She stepped past him. “Where are we going?”
“To get your things. I’m not a jerk.”
“Hah!”
“I’m a realist. It’s not my problem you don’t like hearing the truth.”
Clara shot him a killing glare at his back, one he couldn’t see, but could feel.
Her vehicle was an age old, maybe even older than him. As he neared, he seeded into its mechanics and found parts that had, indeed, been around longer than he had. It was like the technology of Earth, where waste was no longer waste but only a set of materials that could be utilized in another fashion. Everything was recycled.
