Page 44 of Alien Burn

“That bad?”

“It was lovely when it arrived. I've spent too long admiring the surroundings.”

“I can have more brought.”

“You've been here half a minute and already found something to arrange.”

He looked at her.

This time the smile escaped.

It changed her face enough that he forgot, briefly, what she had said.

Then she lifted one brow, and he laughed.

“A fair criticism.”

“I wasn't criticizing.”

“You were. Rather well.”

She leaned back a little. The hand at her cuff relaxed.

“Do you spend much time here?” she asked.

“In this courtyard? Almost none.”

“Then I may know more about it than you do.”

“An alarming possibility. Tell me something.”

“The pool is warm enough to put your feet in.”

He glanced at her shoes.

“Not now,” she said. “Yesterday.”

“I wasn't accusing you.”

“You looked as though you were about to.”

“I was considering taking mine off.”

She laughed then, a small surprised sound she tried to hide behind the cup.

There it was again. That urge to stay.

“You must be allowed,” she said. “Being a Gol-Vett.”

“I'm allowed a great many things that would cause considerable discussion if I did them.”

“Feet in the pool?”

“Someone would have to write to my father.”

“Would he mind?”

“He would want to know why I'd left my shoes where someone could trip over them.”