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.His muscular, lean chest.Evanna couldn’t remember when she had last seen a body that well defined.Everyone at the Lunar Ceramics Institute kept themselves in good shape, of course; despite the acquisition of artificial gravity technology fifty years before, allowing comfortable, normal-gravitied life, it was still imperative that anyone living in space exercise to ensure optimum health and motility.But no one exercised so hard that even their minor muscle groups could be discerned and identified at a glance.Usually, they had too much work to do to waste their time on such frivolous pursuits.Even his skin was somewhat tan, either naturally or enhanced by solar treatments.The courier made a colorful, eye-catching statement, surrounded as he was by the shades of gray carpeting, black table, matching chairs, and white-enameled walls framing the equally monochromatic view behind him.That view should have been arresting, given its stark, black, star-studded sky, the sliver of the Earth currently illuminated by the sun gleaming off to the left, and the white-gray-black landscape of the airless Moon.But no, the man captured her gaze first and foremost.Normally, she liked looking out this window.The landscape was crisp and clean.It reminded her of her work, straightforward and methodical.Neat and tidy.She had asked once, a handful of years ago, if the marks left by the institute’s construction crews could be covered up.Someone had cobbled together a grit-scattering machine, powdering over and filling in the boot prints and tire treads that had spoiled the view.But now, all she could see was a man with dark brown hair, light brown eyes, and copper-painted clothes.He didn’t look like a member of any courier company she was familiar with, not in that outfit.“Captain Amariei, this is Dr.Evanna Motska, who ordered the bismuth isotope.Dr.Motska, this is Captain Victor Amariei of the Închiriat, who is here on behalf of the Liberty Mining Corporation,” Amanda said to introduce them.Then—uncharacteristically—Evanna’s chief assistant retreated.The pneumatic door hissed quietly shut behind her, leaving the two of them alone.Evanna wasn’t used to being left alone with outsiders.She was always surrounded by people whenever strangers were present, whether it was assistants, lab workers, support services, or security personnel.I suppose Amanda has something to do, she allowed, lifting her chin a little as she moved forward.And Security will send someone here shortly, I’m sure.Besides, this is just a delivery.As soon as he hands over the isotope, I can have someone from Accounting pay him for his trouble.She almost hadn’t spotted the package; it was white and gray, and tucked into the curve of his left arm, blending into the rest of the room and its view of the Moon.An odd, sudden thought wafted across her thoughts.I think I’m getting tired of everything being soothing, pastel shades of white and gray.I think I want more color in my life.But isn’t color a distraction? Distractions were discouraged, because distractions weren’t productive.Evanna had been given the opportunity to explore her intellect; she knew she had an obligation to pay back all that the Lunar Intelligence Trust had done for her.So.No more wit-wandering.Pulling her wayward thoughts back into order, Evanna lifted her chin a little more.“Thank you for delivering the isotope, Captain.If you’ll hold out the container, I’ll release you from the security cuff, and you can be on your way.”His light brown eyes warmed with what looked like humor.They were very alive, flicking down over her plain white lab coat and the gray slacks visible beneath its mid-thigh hem.The rest of him looked like a molten copper statue, sculpted and still, but those eyes moved.So did his lips.“No.”That checked her mid-stride.Fumbling to a stop, Evanna stared at him.Not only had her assistant deviated from procedure, leaving her alone with this courier who didn’t look like a courier should, he had.he had said no to her.No one said no to her.Not when she was in charge! “What do you mean, no? I ordered the isotope, I am paying for the isotope, and I shall receive the isotope.Hold out the security cuff so I may receive the goods I am purchasing.”He shifted the arm cupping the oblong container, hitching it a little higher against his waist.Not protectively, just pointedly.“No.”She stared back in confusion.“Why not? You can’t go around forever with my purchase shackled to your wrist.It’s mine!”“No, I can’t.And no, I won’t.You will receive your goods,” he stated, his eyes flicking up over her hair, which she had pulled into its usual knot on the top of her head.A knot which she realized was coming loose, thanks to the unruly nature of the fine blonde strands.The corner of Captain Amariei’s mouth curved up.“In due time [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]