Desire Disguised (10 page)

Ben selected a fork from the newly dried assortment and took a bite of the pasta. Chewing slowly, he nodded a few times. “This is good. Not quite on the same culinary level as orphillian, but I think that’s a plus. What you did last night was good too. Why did you give me two portions?”

Cara shrugged and leaned against the counter, positioning herself so she could see Mat and still keep an eye on Zashi. “I didn’t want to leave anyone out.”

“You didn’t. It’s just me.” He sipped his water and narrowed his eyes at her. “We might have a problem.”

Her stomach fluttered, and she gripped the counter. “What’s a problem?”

“Local fellow is suspicious of you. He told me he was going to find out more about you. I tried to send him on another track.” He ate another bite of pasta and chewed it steadily. “But he’s persistent and has a lot of free time. I need to know what he might find out.”

Cara glanced at Mat and considered her options. “Ask me a question, and I’ll try to answer.”

Ben twisted his lips and shook his head. “You mean you’ll try to think up a quick lie, or you’ll be too vague for anything useful.”

Cara could have acted insulted by his statement, but it was true. “I’ll do my best. That’s all I can promise.”

“Who was your father?”

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mat look up at them. Her throat went tight. “I can’t tell you that. You know I can’t.”

“What sort of people might be coming after you?”

This she could work with. “Not criminals, if that’s what’s worrying you.”

“It was worrying me. But since they’d be perpetrating criminal acts against you, they would naturally
be
criminals.”

“Not gangster-type criminals. I’d say political extremists.” That was a good way to describe the opposition forces. They were fanatical enough to murder the entire La Torre family and their most loyal retainers, like her father.

“Fanatics. That makes me much less concerned.”

Cara smiled at Mat to reassure him, and he returned to studying a display of some sort of complicated propulsion system. Ben ate some more pasta and was quiet enough to make her wonder if he’d been satisfied.

He was a good-looking man. That irrelevant thought shot through her brain like a missile. Why hadn’t she noticed it before? Nearly black, close-cropped hair, honey-colored skin, and those eyes full of awareness. His body was very nicely proportioned. She’d never been one to pay much attention to muscles, but Ben’s were hard to ignore. She watched his strong hands as he ate and thought about the times he’d touched her. She was too inexperienced with men to know what they found attractive, but she did know she liked this man, despite knowing she should be cautious because of his profession and how easily he’d extracted so much information from her.

“You said they’d found you before. How long ago was the last attack?”

“A little over two years ago.”

“Any idea how they tracked you down?”

“Soren thought I might have said something to the wrong person. I didn’t, but he’s sure it was me.” Cara tried to push down the guilt and shame.

“Who did you talk to?”

“A young man. He was nice to me, and I liked him, and we spent some time together, but I never said anything specific enough to have gotten us into trouble.” She was sure she’d been discreet. Cameron had been charming and had flirted with her enough to make her respond more than she ever had to an outsider. He’d given her a few quick kisses, which she’d allowed to satisfy her curiosity, but she knew she’d never said a word about anything vital. She, Mat, and Soren had been settled in a small house, and she’d gotten to know Cameron at the market. He’d worked in his family’s vegetable stand, and once he’d come to recognize her, he had recommended specific produce, given her recipes, pulled her aside to chat whenever she’d come by with her basket. Soren had noticed her attraction and warned her off, but she’d been feeling lonely and rebellious and had defied him. Then the death-dealing men had come, and they had fled. The year they’d spent in that house had been so good she missed it to this day.

Ben used his napkin and stood up with his now empty plate. He rinsed it and washed it as she watched his broad back. A strange impulse to rest her hands against his shoulders and feel his muscles move welled up in her, and she gulped in a surprised breath.

“Did you tell him what you’ve told me?”

“No. None of that.”

“Then there’s no way he would have been able to guess. Stop feeling guilty.”

Cara felt a warm wave of gratitude wash over her at his words. Such a simple thing to say, but his reassurance dissipated some of her regrets over what had happened. Ben turned and leaned against the counter.

“What are you doing for funds?”

“I have access to an account.” Nerves tightened in her belly again. She also had recovered several bundles of marks when they’d retrieved their luggage so she wouldn’t have to undertake remote banking for a long while. Their companions had set up a circuitous route for managing their assets, and even though both she and Mat had been instructed on how to use them, along with a huge number of safety precautions, she never had before and wasn’t anxious to start now. Soren would recover before she ran out of marks.

Ben nodded and walked back to her, reaching out and grabbing a slice of fruit then popping it into his mouth. Cara watched him chew and glanced away. Mat was fine. The windows and doors were secure. Why did she feel so flustered?

“What sort of flower do you like?”

The completely off-topic question caught her off guard. “Is that a standard interrogation query?”

Ben shrugged and ate a berry. “This isn’t an interrogation.” He quirked an eyebrow and waited for her answer as he worked his way through the fruit bowl. Cara’s skin heated and nerves squirmed in her belly.

“I like violets.” She remembered them from her childhood. Some vague image of a bright green lawn studded with tiny purple and white blooms. They weren’t showy and anxious for attention, and she’d always been charmed their modesty and gentle scent.

Ben nodded as if she’d confirmed something he’d already known.

“That’s enough for tonight. I don’t think Myltin will have much luck. Your public records are solid. Very sparse but good enough to not raise suspicion in anyone other than a nosy person like him. And you don’t have any criminal records, not that he could access those. Thanks for dinner. It was good.”

Cara nodded and moved her hands around on the counter. She wasn’t surprised he’d checked on their identities. It was his job. Even though he made her nervous, she wanted him to stay a little longer. It was nice to talk with someone other than Mat. With a shake of her head, she remembered Cameron and all the ensuing drama. No more chatting with attractive men. It was just too dangerous.

“It was a good dinner. Take a compliment.” Ben gave her a tiny smile as he said goodnight to Mat who mumbled something back. He turned and walked toward the door, and Cara trailed along behind. He left her apartment and opened his own door but paused on the threshold.

“I’ll do my best to keep you and Mat safe. Anything you tell me isn’t going anywhere.” He was quiet and serious as he stared at her. She wanted to believe him with a bone deep desire that made her ache. To have someone help, to advise her, would be such a blessing, but it was a gift she couldn’t accept.

Before she could answer, a feminine voice rang out from farther down the hallway. Cara turned to see a beautiful woman with golden-brown hair calling out for Ben as she lugged a packed case behind her. He smiled and rushed to her, and she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. Stifling her memory of how good it had felt to be held by Ben, Cara couldn’t decide if she should stay and say hello to his friend, or give them some privacy. Ben snatched up the woman’s case and led her over to Cara.

“Cara, this is my friend, Lia, Liliane Frei. She used to work here.”

Lia smiled and held out her hand to shake, and Cara took it carefully. Good manners were something the companions had insisted upon, even if they rarely made the acquaintance of anyone new.

“I’m here for a quick visit. I’m making the grand tour,” Lia said with good humor. “I’ve been through three jump rings today, so I’m feeling a little dizzy at the moment. What do you do here, Cara?”

Ben spoke up quickly. “She’s one of the survivors of a crash that happened a few days ago.”

Lia’s face fell with concern. “Oh, I’m so sorry. Are you injured?”

Cara shook her head and glanced at Ben, uncomfortable for multiple reasons. Lia noticed and smiled even more broadly. “Well, with Zash here, he’ll render all assistance possible. You can rely on him.”

“I do,” Cara managed to say before she made her goodbyes and shut her door on the couple. He’d said he was alone, but not anymore. The two were obviously very happy to see each other and expressed great comfort and familiarity with the other. Her gut twisted as she realized Lia was going to share Ben’s living space for the course of her visit.

* * * *

“Oh, Zash, she’s lovely.” Lia took a quick circle around the living area and collapsed in a heap on his sofa.

“What? Who?”

“Cara over there. She’s beautiful.”

“I guess.” She was but he didn’t need to comment on it. Confirmation would only encourage the gleam of matchmaking fever he saw in Lia’s wide eyes.

“You
guess
,” Lia scoffed as she pulled off her boots and rubbed her toes. “I always feel as if I lose sensation in my extremities when I jump. Anyway, what was I saying? It’s mommy brain I tell you, I lose track of so much now.”

Ben doubted that. Lia was the most squared-away person he knew.

“Right. Cara. You don’t fool me you know. Strong and silent my numb left toe. How’d you manage to move her in right across from your place? Into my old suite no less!”

“It was available.”

“Ha! You and I both know a staff suite is not the same as standard housing.”

“Her brother is with her, and it seemed more logical to keep them together rather than sending them to the barracks’ dorms.” There was no way he was going to reveal to Lia he’d made up the difference in price between an austere barracks room and the suite the Belascos now inhabited. She’d crow with delight, thinking she’d found a chink in his armor, when all he’d done was try to give the shaken siblings some additional comfort. They deserved it. That’s all.

“Is her brother injured?”

“No, both of them are surprisingly well. The man travelling with them is still in medical but should recover.”

Lia nodded and stood up again. It seemed she was still worked up from the jumps. Some people suffered nausea, some were sleepy for days, and a few became agitated. She walked over to his piano and ran a finger down the keys, and the clear notes nearly glowed in the air. “You still play?”

“When I can.” Ben shifted her luggage around. Not much of it. Lia always packed with extreme efficiency. “Why didn’t you send your things over with a bot?”

“I couldn’t wait to requisition a bot. Too excited to see you. What’s for dinner?”

Dinner. Damn. He’d forgotten all about having a meal with Lia once he’d started eating Cara’s delicious pasta. “Ah, we could go out.”

Lia shook her head and inspected a painting on the wall as she walked his way. “Not Joli’s! I don’t recall her sharple pie with any fondness. I don’t need to eat yet. I’m still unbalanced from that ride. Just thought you’d be hungry.”

Ben shook his head. “I already ate.”

“Really?” A knowing look passed over Lia’s features, and she grinned as if she’d discovered a deep, dark secret that she could use for blackmail. “Ah, you already ate with your pretty neighbor, didn’t you? Don’t deny it; I can see it written all over your blank face. Is she a good cook?”

“Yes.”

“That’s excellent news. Colan seduced me with his cooking, you know. I still blush whenever I eat tomato jam.”

Ben shook his head, hoping she wouldn’t elaborate. He’d been aware of the attraction between his friend and the surly planet surveyor from the moment they’d met and battled on the landing deck outside Pearl, but he didn’t want to know any of the details of their courtship. Friendship only went so far.

“So, what about it?”

He couldn’t pretend he misunderstood her when she smiled that smug way. “No.”

“Why not? She’s interested, and I have no idea why you wouldn’t be. Don’t tell me you didn’t notice how crushed she was when I showed up? You’re losing your observational skills.”

“I have my doubts.”

“She likes you.”

Ben couldn’t tell Lia why nothing could develop between he and Cara, or he’d reveal too much. Cara had fed him and talked with him in the most circumspect manner, but that didn’t mean anything. She was far too guarded to allow herself to desire a man who could alert the authorities as easily as him. She’d be leaving as soon as possible, something she’d made abundantly clear, so neither of them were going to act on any misguided feelings.

“If she does like me, it’s only because I rescued her from the crash.”

“Oh, that’s so romantic!”

“You wouldn’t say that if you were on board a malfunctioning ship. It’s hot and sweaty and scary as death.” Ben remembered how vulnerable Cara had been as he’d helped her from the crash foam. She’d been shaky and uncoordinated, frantic with worry for her brother. Not romantic at all.

Lia shrugged. “How long is she going to be here?”

“About a month.”

“You better move quick then.”

“I’m not moving anything anywhere, Lia.” Ben tried to sound forbidding and in command. His friend just rolled her eyes.

“Why not? Enjoy your life a little.”

He searched for another excuse. Getting involved with someone who had as many problems as Cara Belasco would not necessarily be enjoyable. “She’s too young.”

“Bah. How old is she? Twenty? Twenty-one?”

“Almost twenty-one and that’s far too young.”

“By what standard? She’s an adult and you seem to be in shape for a thirty-three year old. Can you still run like you used to?”

“My shoulder has been bothering me lately, probably arthritis.” Ben rotated his arms and tried humor to distract her. It didn’t work.