Free A Kiss to Seal the Deal by Nikki Logan

returning to the world.
    â€˜So when do farming lessons begin?’
    His voice was still tight but his body looked more relaxed than when he’d first entered. You’d have thought he was being escorted to the gallows. She’d given him one last chance to opt out if he was that reluctant to have her lab in his house—or maybe to help her project out, after all—but he hadn’t taken it. And, although he’d been painful about helping her move her stuff in, he was certainly applying himself and all those compounding muscles admirably to the task. Super-quick, in fact. Like he couldn’t wait to get out of here.
    Kate sighed. It would be easy to trust him and believe that he had the Atlas colony’s interests at heart; that he was trying to offer a compromise that meant they both got what they needed. But at the end of the day that was navïely futile. No way could they both walk away from this situation equally happy. Grant was going through the motions out of courtesy, but everything in his manner said he couldn’t wait to be out of here. After the rocky start they’d had, courtesy was something, but just because she was starting to like the man didn’t mean it was mutual.
    This was Leo all over again. Look how long it had taken him to warm to her—although once he had it had almost been like becoming family. When the McMurtrie men bonded, they really bonded.
    Which was not something she should be thinking in Grant McMurtrie’s presence. Not when he stood between her and her nicely ordered world, her nicely ordered future.
    So when should farming lessons begin—if at all?
    â€˜Without the travelling time I should have a few hours each evening,’ she said carefully. Dinner. Conversation. The intricacies of sheep castration. Nice and neutral. ‘Could that work for you?’
    â€˜Night school…’ Jade eyes considered her. ‘I like it. It’ll fill those long evenings.’
    Right. Another subtle reminder that this was business to him. As it should be to her.
    â€˜Would you mind if we postponed Friday night’s tutorials? I was hoping to go into Castleridge.’
    His reply was immediate. ‘Into town? Sure. I’ll come in with you.’
    That brought her head around. ‘Why?’
    Charming lines furrowed his brow. ‘Uh…’
    Kate smiled. ‘Getting used to the company, Grant?’
    He slid one last box onto the work bench. ‘Maybe I’m looking for a better class of company.’
    She would have been offended if she’d thought for a moment that was true. While she might not be the best reader of men on the planet, she did know sharp conversation when she found it, and her discussions with Grant so far had been diverse and free-flowing. Almost scintillating. Especially when you threw in the healthy dose of chemistry that zinged around between the words.
    In between remembering they were on opposite sides of this awkward situation.
    Her smile widened into a full tease. ‘Well, then, perhaps we’ll both get lucky in that regard.’
    He muttered something she couldn’t hear but then decided she didn’t want to. She’d kid herself a little longer that there was a mini-friendship brewing here; she wouldn’t go bursting her own bubbles just yet. Life had a way of doing that for her—with terminal impact.
    â€˜I’ll come along to keep you out of trouble with the locals.They might not take kindly to a conservationist in their territory.’
    Kate grinned. Finally something they agreed on. ‘If there’s something I know all about, it’s territorial mammal behaviour. Especially the bulls.’ She kept her gaze innocent and open, but his narrowed eyes told her she wasn’t fooling anyone. ‘Do you think we’ll need some kind of secret signal if I get in trouble?’
    â€˜No need,’ he assured her, a tasty twist to his full lips.