“Almost.”She slid a quick glance in Ellard’s direction and intercepted a scowl.
Blast the man with an explosive.She had no idea why her feline insisted on this grumpy cat.After her initial surprise and rush of hormones during their first meeting, she’d tried to keep her distance.That had worked for all of two mins.Something inside her compelled her to check on him, to speak with him, and generally annoy him until he noticed her in return.
Blatant hadn’t worked, so she needed to tamp down on the urgent instincts coursing through her mind and use subtle.She’d step away—apart from the kiss.She didn’t intend to forgo her kiss because a bet was a bet.A point of pride.
“I’m ready,” she said.
Niran smiled in the way Jannike and Camryn smiled at her if she’d done a good job.As she watched, Ellard’s room vanished, and a new one appeared in its place.
“Well?”she demanded of Ellard once he’d surveyed the suite of rooms she’d imagined.
“I’ll take the room in here,” Ellard said, after checking both rooms from the doorways.
“The bathing facilities are between our rooms,” Gweneth said.“There are locks on the doors, so neither of us need to fear a disturbance.”
Ellard dipped his head in a decisive nod.“Are our bags here yet?”
“They’re not necessary.”Niran offered another of his approving smiles.“I took the liberty of stocking the clothing replicators.You’ll find everything you require within your rooms.”
“I’ll use the sanitizer first.”Ellard disappeared into his room, closing the door behind him with a click.
“Well done, child,” Niran said.“You’ve made your move, made him aware of you.Backing off to give him time to process is a good plan.”
Her chin jerked upward, but she left the mental barrier in her mind down as she regarded him.“I will be claiming my daily kiss.”
A delighted chuckle burst from him.“I think that is fair.After all, a bet is a bet.”
“Exactly.”Gweneth stepped into her suite room, the musical sound of his laughter still ringing in her ears as she closed the door.
The business center of Narenda was much smaller than that of Viros.It consisted of a main cobblestone street, a central market square with cover from the constant heat and a series of small specialist shops lining the street.
Gweneth’s heart sank.First impressions didn’t bode well.The shops were so small.What could they sell that would appeal to festival visitors?Her hand tightened on her compad, disappointment a sour taste on her tongue.But, mindful of her duties, she went through the motions and used her compad to record the sights.
“Ransom, do I have permission to take depictions of the shops, the market area, and the goods on sale?”
He radiated approval.“Thank you for asking.General shots are fine.Please check with each store owner, though.”
“Of course.Can I take a group shot of us in the marketplace?I would like to send it with my daily report.”Top marks today, scoring endorsement from everyone except the man she desired.
“I will see your report before you send it,” Ransom ordered.
“Of course you can,” Gweneth said.“I understand the need for security.King Lynx suggested I discuss my report with you before I sent it to him.He wants allies as his neighbors rather than enemies.”
“I think a depiction over there would work well,” Ransom said.
Before she could blink, he had everyone arranged in a grouping in front of a decorative pond surrounded by red-and-white plants.Gweneth set the timer for the remote and her compad floated from her hands to a position in front of them.Secs later, a distinct click and whirr sounded then the compad returned to her.
“It is perfect.Now the shops.I would like to purchase a pretty outfit to take home to Viros.Sable, where would you suggest?”
Sable froze—a sort of a cat-spots-prey kind of freeze.“I…I…people stare,” she finished miserably.
A whoosh of sympathy struck Gweneth.She knew how it felt to have people stare at her, how it felt to be invisible in a crowd and to feel small and insignificant.She’d experienced rejection.She tucked her compad in the satchel she’d discovered in her room and stalked over to Sable.
“Not today.”She took Sable’s Stores arm.“I think we both deserve a new outfit.What do you think?”
“I d-don’t have any credits,” Sable whispered.
“I have plenty of credits,” Ransom offered into the resulting silence.
