Page 51 of Masquerade

“Close but no cigar.” Kate pretended to puff on an imaginary cigar, then flick the ashes onto the woman’s shoes.

Selina looked her up and down, her eyes narrowing in speculation. Kate thanked all the gods in the universe she was wearing her sister’s fine-wool, black, wide-leg trousers and turquoise, self-patterned vintage shirt. Her boots were French—if anyone asked—and she’d spent a lot of time creating her sister’s deliberately tousled, come-hither hairstyle. Tonight, she equalled Ms. Sleek in the glamour stakes.

“I’m Niall. We met briefly.” Liam slipped into a strong Irish lilt and slid an arm around Kate’s waist, his fingers finding bare skin. He pinched her gently, another silent communication uniting them. “At my Da’s funeral. I came back from Ireland for a few days.”

“I remember.” Selina frowned.

“I’m sure you do. That was around the time Liam discovered you’re a liar. He was probably too polite to tell you you’re a cheating bitch with the morals of pond scum. And that’s doing pond scum an injustice.” His voice was low, without inflexion, yet the words carried the weight of his contempt. Kate gave him a silent cheer.

The woman’s shoulders stiffened, but her plastic smile stayed pinned to her lustrous, berry-rich lips, making it clear she wasn’t about to go away empty handed. “What are you doing here?”

“Photo shoot.” Kate rolled her eyes as if to sayhaven’t you been listening, honey. “We’re the Genosearch dream team.”

“Genosearch?”

“I’m Anna.” Kate introduced herself. “Genosearch is a medical research company. They do research on twins and are running a campaign to raise money for more.”

“Sounds fascinating.” Selina’s flat tone said she found it as fascinating as watching paint dry.

“Anna talked me into it.” Liam flashed her a smile before placing a kiss where her shoulder and neck joined. Her gonads started an Irish jig.

“Are you in town long?” Selina asked.

Kate scored the woman highly for persistence, but she wouldn’t have risen to her current position without absorbing worse insults than Liam had thrown at her.

He gave a relaxed shrug. “As long as it takes to check out those photo shoot locations.”

“You were at the community meeting.” Selina’s gaze zeroed in on where Liam’s hand had disappeared under Kate’s shirt. Her smile would have curdled fresh cream.

“Not that it’s any of your business”—Liam glanced across to where people were spilling into the main bar from a side room—“we dropped in. Billy Kelly was at school with me. Said he’d be speaking.” He took a sip of his beer. “We stayed a while, but it’s not Anna’s thing. Is it, sweetheart?”

Kate admired his easy explanation. She’d been with him in the meeting, listening to the arguments to get a sense of the community’s mood. Liam had edged her out of the room about half an hour ago. He’d been propping up the bar ever since, absorbing any scuttlebutt he could. But admitting to being in the meeting made sense. Selina might have been here for five minutes or fifty-five minutes.

“I’m not into politics.” Kate wrinkled her nose in distaste. “We’re here for the photo shoot. And oh”—she helped herself to his beer, running her tongue where his mouth had been before swallowing a mouthful. She passed his glass back—“you said you’d hunt for some recycled timber while you’re here.”

“You’re the carpenter.” Selina stared long and hard at the hand holding his drink. “Say hello to Liam for me.” She waited for an answer, which didn’t come. Dismissed, Selina walked away.

Liam caressed the side of her neck.

“What are you doing?” Kate’s blood hummed.

Swivelling on the bar stool, he drew her between his thighs.

“I’m reinforcing your impression we’re an item.” He pressed his mouth to her temple.

Steady girl.

Kate drew a shaky breath.

He’s doing it for effect. He’s having an effect.

She’d lost the capacity to see straight. His sweet-spicy scent undermined her resistance. His hands on her hips coaxed her body into relaxing against him. She didn’t dare move in case she forgot she was working and stepped further into his embrace.

“We’ve got quite an audience in this bar.” She placed a hand on his chest. His heartbeat was steady and reassuring, and she absorbed his body warmth through the soft cotton of his shirt. She got solidity and loyalty from him. Plus, a mischievousness she hadn’t guessed at in George’s boardroom.

“Is that a problem?” He started a circular movement on her hips, part caress, part kneading and all seduction.

“It might be for our twins.” She apologised silently to Anna. Her sister would find it hilarious.

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