Page 49 of Masquerade

“That’s where Rory comes in.” Rosie smiled at the pain in the butt. “He was our secret weapon. Until we got you.”

“My area of expertise is making farms more sustainable. Keeping people on the land.” Rory brought up a new screen with a detailed flowchart, showing inputs and outputs. “Using technology to harness the latest meteorological and scientific information to manage everything from how much and when to water crops to when to harvest. Use the latest academic research, underpinned by public funds, to trial a model for future farming.”

“Put bluntly,” Billy interjected. “Our counter deal is to get the valley signed up to Rory’s plan as a research project, if we can get the right sponsorship and funds.”

“What’s stopping you?” Liam met Kate’s gaze. Her infinitesimal nod was silent support for his approach—a bond he hadn’t anticipated.

“Time. And we have the sense it’s running out,” Billy thumped a frustrated hand on the table.

“It takes time to lodge a request for the area to be considered a special farming region, for the application to be considered by government and for the money to start to flow.” Rosie reached across to cover Billy’s clenched fist with her smaller hand.

“And active sponsorship by Daniel Elliott.” Kate voiced Liam’s conclusion. “How’s that playing?”

“He’s stalling. And a Futureproof Mining vehicle has been seen cruising the area,” Billy reported. “Not that that’s conclusive. Just suspicious. Futureproof has been smart enough not to visit specific properties.”

“If Futureproof is sniffing around it complicates the picture.” Liam stared at his hand flat on the table. Futureproof hadn’t come up in their preliminary searches. His gut clenched. He looked up to find Kate’s gaze on him. Clear, steady, guiding him through the sudden fog of memories.

“How long are you here?” Billy asked.

“About four days, so five nights. I’d planned to meet sometime tomorrow before we have to show ourselves off a bit. But we’ve covered a lot of ground tonight. Tomorrow night’s probably still safe for a meeting. Maybe you could come to us,” Liam offered. “I’ll cook, and we can talk some more. We have to devote some time to maintaining our cover.”

“What’s the model thing all about?” Rory’s gaze played over Kate.

The covetous expression irritated the hell out of Liam, and he’d been vaguely indignant at Rory’s attempts to keep Kate close all night. Liam had thought she was his secret. The modest librarian whose taste was becoming an addiction. Kate practised being invisible, and despite Kate giving him no encouragement, this cocky activist watched her as if he’d like to swallow her whole.

“Kate’s sister and my brother are the faces of Genosearch, a medical research company promoting itself.” That wasn’t a lie. “Serendipity and perfect cover for us.” Liam passed around his tablet so they could check the pictures.

“I just thought you’d let your hair down.” Rory studied the image for a long time, switching between it and the woman beside him. “But there’s more.”

A studio photograph, but Rory assumed he was looking at a photograph of Anna, and the sisters were identical. But sweet Mary and Joseph, Liam silently cursed. If the man was such a blind eejit he couldn’t recognise Kate, he knew zip about her.

“You’ve adopted your sister’s style. She’s flashier,” Rory concluded.

Kate giggled, and the sound went straight to Liam’s groin.

“She’d kill you if she heard you say she’s flashy. Sophisticated. I’ll save up ‘flashy’ for when I really want to get under her skin.”

“If you’re based in Sydney, are you back living with her?” Rory asked.

How the hell did Rory know about her living arrangements?

“I raided her wardrobe for this little excursion.”

“She has lovely taste in knitwear.” Rosie rolled the cashmere between her fingers and sighed.

“Then you still have your cosy, little cottage outside Stroud where you go to hide?” Rory’s eyes lit up as if in remembrance.

“I was based there when I worked for you. Now it’s my occasional bolthole,” she admitted.

Liam gritted his teeth. Rory’s behaviour urged him to do a little alpha male jostling of his own. Not his style. He had no good reason to be envious of Rory’s past with her, except they’d passed the turnoff to Kate’s bolthole on the way here, and she hadn’t mentioned it.

The candles burnt low, more coffee was served and Rory leaned closer. Liam watched the play of candlelight on Kate’s face, her mobile mouth and dancing eyes. He could understand the man’s fascination. She was beautiful, witty and good company. A private satisfaction to know no one else saw Kate Turner in the billboard image. His immediate recognition of her probably explained his possessiveness when he wasn’t a possessive man.

“What’s for dinner tomorrow night?” she asked, as they retraced their steps towards the apartment.

“I’ll check what ingredients are available and decide then.” Liam linked his arm with hers. Her blue eyes were alight with amusement. “Did you think I was dobbing you in? Mum insisted we take turns at cooking dinner.” A useful skill in the last few years, another cost saving. “You can stand around and look decorative.”

“I rejected all the decorative clothes Anna offered me.”

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