Fall from India Place (On Dublin Street 4)

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.

“How is Ian doing with fatherhood soon approaching?” he murmured.

“Oh, very well. He’s very excited,” Lin said, trying to speak loud enough to include Kam in the conversation and dilute Jason’s intimate manner.

“I would have never thought I’d see the day when Ian Noble settled with one woman so happily,” Jason continued, his voice volume very low. She glanced uneasily at Kam, but he was staring stonily out at the filling, gilded auditorium. As usual, she had the distinct impression he missed nothing about what was happening, however, despite Jason’s clandestine manner. “Do you think it’s possible now that Ian is finding so much contentment on the home front there might be the slightest opportunity that he’d loosen the reins on you, Lin?”

She blinked and turned to stare at Jason in amazement.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I was wondering if you would reconsider my offer about coming to work for Klinf. For me,” he said, his dark eyes moving over her face.

She smiled stiffly. Oh no. She’d thought he was over this. “Thank you again for the offer, Jason, but my answer hasn’t changed.”

“But your situation has, surely?” He noticed her bewildered expression. “Ian won’t be half so proprietary over you now that he’s so involved with his wife and future child. And for you, surely the appeal of being at his beck and call every second of every day has dimmed as well.”