Page 38 of Tamed By Her Touch

He frowned.

“I like scientifically useful lists.”

“This is scientifically useful because if we screw up our cover story, we're not getting anywhere near their scientific research,” she pointed out.

He was silent for a moment, then he sighed.

“Very well. Ask your questions.”

Clair grinned and shifted sideways in her seat so she could see him better. Kaelus continued piloting the shuttle, though according to him, now that they had passed through the fold in space, most of the trip was automated and there wasn't much for him to do until they approached Titus Four. Still, he kept his eyes fixed determinedly on the navigational display as though it required every bit of his attention.

“All right,” Clair said, looking down at her tablet. “First question is easy. Where did we meet?”

“In the laboratory,” Kaelus said immediately. “Commander Sylvan brought you there and informed me that I was being forced to share my workspace with you.”

Clair frowned.

“Okay, that's factually accurate but not exactly romantic.”

“It is what happened. There was nothing ‘romantic’ about it.”

“Yes, but if somebody asks how we met, you can’t say, ‘Commander Sylvan forced this irritating human woman into my lab against my wishes.’”

He shot her a look.

“I did not say I would call you irritating.”

“You were thinking it,” she accused.

“I frequently think it,” Kaelus admitted.

Clair gave him a hard look.

“See? This is why we need practice.”

Kaelus made a low sound in his throat, but Clair noticed that the corner of his mouth twitched.

“Fine,” he said. “We met when Commander Sylvan assigned you to my laboratory.”

“Better,” Clair said. “Then they'll probably ask what our first impressions were of each other. I'll say I thought you were rude, arrogant, overbearing, and extremely full of yourself.”

Kaelus turned to look at her.

“That is what you intend to tell people who are deciding whether they believe we are mates? I thought we were trying to be romantic.”

“Well, lots of couples don't like each other at first,” Clair pointed out. “It makes a good story—enemies to lovers.”

He shook his head.

“I don’t know what that means.”

“Never mind.” Clair smiled. “What did you think of me when we first met?”

Kaelus looked back at the flight display.

“I thought you were extremely distracting.”

Clair waited but when he said nothing else, she raised her eyebrows.