Page 71 of Masquerade

“Maybe not every room tonight,” he panted.

The deal was to keep things lighthearted. For now, she could give him that. “Don’t tell me sitting in your ivory tower has turned you soft?”

He gave a strangled laugh and looked down.

“Not completely. But this time we’ll use a bed.” He hoisted her into his arms and started shuffling towards the guest bedroom.

Later, as they drifted off to sleep, he pulled her into the curve of his body and held her close. “Stay with me tonight?”

He asked every morning and again every night, making no assumptions. They weren’t living together. A day at a time, an unspoken rule they’d agreed. She loved him and couldn’t tell him. Did that make their lovemaking a lie as well?

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Being late was anotherof Kate’s seven deadly sins. Although her rational mind calculated multiple reasons for Suzy Cornish’s delay, Kate had scheduled transport-related gaps between the library, Galena and Co. and Liam. Still, the door to her editor’s office remained stubbornly closed. Kate sighed. Much longer and she’d have to ring Liam to tell him she’d be late.

Long minutes ticked away, and Kate’s mind circled back to Liam. Her lover had a trust issue.

So do I.

Her plan A was based on establishing a rock-solid foundation of shared truths with Liam. When he’d vanquished Selina, negotiated a sustainable outcome on Greentree Passage and realised he had a glorious future in environmental law, she’d tell him about her dreams and her three-book contract.

“A devil’s bargain,” she said under her breath. Kate couldn’t continue the affair with lies between them. Massaging her temples to relieve the tension building behind her eyes, she jettisoned plan A.

Time to stop second-guessing Liam’s reaction when she told him about her parallel life. She was driving herself crazy because he hadn’t given a sign he wanted more than an affair with her.

He loves me; he loves me not.

He might tire of her tomorrow.He might not, whispered the voice of optimism. Liam made her hopeful. Explaining the reason for her disguise, her secret, everything would be a blessed relief. She embraced plan B.

The screen in the waiting room switched from a lifestyle program to breaking news. Liam appeared on the screen, looking every inch the corporate lawyer, his severe suit hiding the relaxed charm of her lover tousled in his bed. She forgot Suzy and her appointment.

Three people fronted the camera. The Premier of the State, a diminutive woman with dark hair and a permanently fixed smile was flanked by her Minister for Agriculture on one side and Liam on the other. Odd, Liam hadn’t mentioned the interview this morning.

The wide-screen TV was set to mute, so Kate read the captions for the Premier’s short statement:

“We’re pleased to announce a proposed change to the protection order for state-significant agricultural land at Greentree Passage. The clause enabling the use of the land for public buildings will be revoked to ensure, in perpetuity, the land remains a viable size for farming.”

“What’s that mean, Premier?” The reporter wasn’t in the shot.

“I’ll hand over to my Minister for Agriculture.” The Premier gestured to the sleek, hair-gelled suit to her right who looked like a Daniel Elliott clone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for coming this morning. Greentree Passage is important to the agricultural future of this state.” His voice was as bland as his personality.

“Then why are you building a hospital on it?” read the caption.

“A thorough and transparent investigation for a new hospital to serve the fast-growing community identified a portion of the Greentree Passage land as the only financially viable and centrally located site.” The Minister’s mouth drew wide in an ingenuous smile. He held up his hand. “However, the community’s been worried excising this small area of land for such an important project might make the rest of the land vulnerable.”

“Is it true Daniel Elliott had his hand in Futureproof Mining’s pocket and had to step down from the government?” The challenging words appeared on the screen.

“Vulnerable to what?” The questions were relentless.

“The government”—the Minister for Agriculture spoke as if there had been no interruptions—“has responded to community concerns by drafting an amendment to the protection act to prevent any further sale of that land except for farming. It’s critical we ensure our state can produce the food it needs on the best productive land we have.”

“Has Daniel Elliott resigned? Yes, or no?”

The Premier stepped forward. “Mr. Elliott is taking leave from his position pending inquiries. Thank you for coming. We’ve achieved an excellent outcome for the state today.”

The cameras switched back to the studio. A panel of experts were dissecting the implications of the Premier’s surprise statement. Kate thanked modern science for the speech-to-text service.

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