Fall from India Place (On Dublin Street 4)

By the time coffee and dessert came around, she realized she’d been foolish for feeling the need to bail Kam out of a crisis. He clearly was not uncomfortable with what he’d asked, and why should he be? If the issue of availability of his product to the majority of people was important to him, then clearly it was relevant for discussion. She wasn’t here to make sure he sold his products to the Gersbachs or any of the representatives from luxury watchmakers, but to assist him while he explored whether this was a transaction he wanted to undertake or not.

Elise arrived at their table during dessert, pleasantly distracting Lin from her concerns. They all thanked her for the wonderful meal. Lucien’s wife wore her chef’s smock, her lovely face radiant either from the heat of the kitchen or good spirits or both. After repeating a request for Kam to stay with Lucien and her, and being politely refused yet again, she shrugged good-naturedly, clearly recognizing a losing battle.

“He doesn’t even want to stay at our hotel, why should he want to stay with us at our home?” Elise jabbed Kam fondly, grinning at Lin.

“Oh . . . that’s my fault,” Lin blurted guiltily. “I thought he might be more comfortable near Noble Tower.”

Elise waved her hand with matter-of-fact elegance. “Nonsense. I was just teasing him. Kam knows it. He’s not comfortable in most places in the city.” Lin glanced at Kam, worried Elise’s frankness had embarrassed him. Instead, Kam wore a sheepish grin. Lin really should talk to Lucien’s irrepressible wife about her handling of Kam sometime.

Elise beamed at the entire table in with that patentable Elise charm. “But we’ll get Kam wherever he wants to go eventually,” she told Brigit with a confidential, significant nod. She winked at Otto Gersbach. Otto blinked as if targeted by a stun gun. “Because he’s brilliant, but more importantly, he’s family. And family is very important to us,” Elise said simply, blessing them with one last smile before she bid them good night.

Otto muttered unintelligibly under his breath after Elise left them; the only phrase Lin caught was that charming, golden ray of sunshine. Lin was having trouble disguising her smile. So was Kam, she noticed when they shared a glance of amusement. By the time they finished their dessert, Lin was feeling much more at ease.

“The showing must be over. There’s Lucien, Ian, and Francesca,” Kam observed for Lin’s ears only as the waiter returned with their receipt for the bill. Lin had already noticed the subtle shift in the atmosphere, and knew Ian had entered the room. The energy of a place always amplified when he arrived. She’d been keyed in to Ian’s movements, his desires . . . his very presence for so long now. Of course she sensed it not only in herself, but also in others around her. A youngish-looking man standing at the periphery of the restaurant aimed a camera at Ian, who was escorting Francesca to their table. Lucien grabbed his wrist swiftly, forcing the camera downward. Lin saw Lucien utter a few quiet words to the would-be photographer, and the young man blanched. He walked out of the restaurant of his own volition. She gave a tiny sigh of relief. Lucien was an accomplished pro at keeping his patrons’ experience private and comfortable while they were in his establishments.

She felt Kam’s gaze on her profile and met his stare. “You don’t miss much when it comes to Ian, do you?” he said, his gaze piercing, his voice a low rumble.

“It’s my job.”

His eyebrows went up in an expression that might have been interpreted as politely interested or subtly sarcastic. Lin couldn’t say which. “Do you need to go and speak with him?” he asked.

Lin Soong and her work are practically synonymous.

His question had made his statement from earlier today spring into her brain.

“No,” she replied in a hushed, non-carrying voice, her eyebrows raised in a subtle challenge. “I’m done with work for the day.”

His nostrils flared slightly. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and Lin felt that familiar dip below her navel. It felt so strange to experience that familiar awareness of Ian across a crowded room and yet at the same time to feel a distance from it. It was hard to focus on the everyday with the exciting novelty of Kam so close.

“I think we’ll be making our way back to our hotel,” Otto said. “All I can think about is bed after that delicious meal.”

Lin started guiltily, realizing too late she’d been staring at Kam, and he’d been staring back with that hot gleam in his eyes.

“I look forward to seeing a demonstration of your mechanism, Kam,” Otto said as he set his napkin on the table.

“I was wondering if you’d be willing to let me see Gersbach’s operations and facilities in return?” Kam said, making Lin blink in surprise.

“I’d be delighted to give you a tour myself,” Brigit interrupted, leaning forward and catching Kam’s gaze. “And you must stay with us at our home.”

“We both would be delighted to have you,” Otto clarified. “Brigit and I are returning home at the end of next week. When do you think you might be able to visit us in Switzerland?”

“There are still quite a few things that I need to settle here,” he glanced at Lin. “And we’re still in the process of setting up a demonstration, right? We have to program for a test subject.”

“I’m working on that part,” Lin assured. By “subject,” Kam meant someone from whom they could gather baseline physiological data to import to Kam’s chip. His invention included the technology that personalized the device for every individual owner’s unique body. “But we’re set up for the demonstration at Noble Enterprises next Wednesday,” Lin said, reminding Otto of the schedule she’d provided his assistant.