Since I Saw You (Because You Are Mine #4)(67)
“Don’t apologize for a thing,” Jason murmured, not leaning back for a moment. “The result was more than worth the wait. You’re stunning, as usual.”
“Thank you,” she said. Her smile wavered slightly and she hesitated when she transferred her gaze to Kam. With a slight jerk, as if she’d had to jumpstart her actions, she put her hand on Kam’s arm and craned up to replicate the kiss of greeting Jason had given her.
“Kam,” she murmured.
The fabric of the dress was cut out on her shoulders, leaving them bare. He touched her there, feeling exquisitely soft, cool skin. He turned his head, interrupting her intention to kiss his jaw. Her kiss landed on the corner of his lips, his on hers. Using his hold on her, he kept her in place for an additional second, sliding his lips against hers, aligning them. He felt the tiny puff of air that signaled her surprise, and then the slight give in her lips as she ever so briefly molded them against his. That tiny gesture on her part gratified him. It was a fleeting kiss, but it was far from being the typical dry peck of greeting. He was getting a little fed up with all this cloak-and-dagger business when it came to the fact that he and Lin were more than just business associates. As a result, he didn’t regret Jason’s slight scowl when they separated.
He didn’t regret it a bit.
Lin stepped back. “Have you two had much of an opportunity to talk yet?” she asked, her voice smooth and melodious, even if a delicate pink hue was spreading on her cheeks.
“We had just introduced ourselves when you arrived,” Jason said. “I’ve been looking forward to this meeting ever since I read your article in the Journal of Electrical Engineering,” he told Kam. “Your invention is straight out of a science fiction novel.”
“Oh, it’s a very real—and brilliant—thing. Yes, thank you,” Lin said when a waiter paused next to them with champagne. She started to reach, but Jason was already placing a flute in her hand. “Thank you,” she said. “Yes, Kam programmed me today for a demonstration of his device, so I got a firsthand display of the reality of it all.”
Klinf’s dark brows went up in dry amusement. “‘Programmed’ you, did he? That does sound interesting.” Lin’s smile faltered at Klinf’s sly dig.
“What do you mean by that?” Kam asked quietly, holding Klinf’s stare. Jason blinked disconcertedly.
“It was interesting,” Lin said brightly, as if to erase Kam’s glare. “I know I’m not an expert like the two of you, but it is starting to dawn on me how game changing Kam’s invention really is.”
“I do have questions about the practicality of the typical buyer of the watch being able to gather their own baseline readings. Do you really think it’s possible, Reardon?”
Kam scowled and saw Lin shift uncomfortably in her high heels when he didn’t immediately respond. He glanced at her face, guilt flickering through him at the hint of anxiety in her eyes.
“It’s not complicated. If an individual can read at the fifth-grade level, and if they have access to a computer, we should be able to provide a protocol that’s easily followed. There are several feedback mechanisms included, so a user will automatically be alerted if they are doing something wrong,” Kam said.
Klinf smiled broadly. “I can’t wait to see the demonstration. Especially since you’ve acquired the most lovely test subject,” he added warmly, leaning in closer to Lin. Irritation tightened Kam’s muscles when he saw Klinf’s gaze lower to Lin’s beautiful breasts. He opened his mouth to say something, but immediately closed it, his annoyance mounting. This was precisely one of the reasons why he didn’t want to participate in this whole damn process. Kam despised pretending to be something he wasn’t. If he said what he wanted to say—and do—in that moment, however, it would upset Lin.
Lin nodded in the direction of a distant archway. The crowd had begun to worm its way toward it. “It looks as if we’re going in.”
Kam frowned when Klinf was suddenly at Lin’s side, taking her arm. Slippery little eel, he thought. Klinf certainly seemed more interested in flirting with Lin than he was with Kam’s invention.
Not that Kam cared. He was in the habit of making quick but firm first impressions. There was no way in hell Jason Klinf was ever going to touch his device, let alone use it for his company.
• • •
Their seats were in the first row of a box on the mezzanine level. Lin paused before following Jason down the aisle.
“Perhaps you two would like to sit together so you can talk business before the opera begins?” she asked.
“Nonsense,” Jason replied, grabbing her hand and pulling her after him. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk at dinner. Nothing against you Reardon, but a beautiful woman next to me is a must for full appreciation of the opera.”
Lin settled uneasily in her seat. What had gotten into Jason? Yes, he was typically a flirt, but usually more tastefully so. He seemed determined to insult Kam. His behavior confused her, given his former professed fascination and interest in Kam’s invention. He’d certainly never woo Kam this way, she thought nervously, noticing Kam’s expression as he came to sit on the other side of her; Jason would undoubtedly be felled by his scowl if he were bothering to glance in Kam’s direction. Instead, he had leaned in to speak to her, his face just inches from her temple.