Stark Pleasure; the Space Magnate's Mistress (The LodeStar Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

would sure be nice though.  
    “Your people must be proud of you,” he said, changing the subject yet again. “A business of your own.”
    “Don’t have any people.” She took another drink, swallowing the chill of things she didn’t think about.
    “Ah.” He nodded as if her admission explained something. “Your stand is in a tough area of the space port.”
    “What I can afford. Rent there is stiff enough. Astronomical in the new area. MoonPenny can afford that. I can’t.” Especially now. Panic beat at her, and she drained her glass, drowning it momentarily.
    “But you’ve plans to expand?” he asked. His calm reached out to her in a soothing wave. The man could hire out as a psych therapist, the way he controlled the mood around him.
    She set her glass down. “Eventually. I’m good with numbers. I watch the markets, buy my beans at discount. Took over the stand cheaply too. You should have seen the mess it was in. I cleaned it, fixed it up, called in a few favors from friends.”  
    He nodded. “Your hard work shows. You’ve made it stand out in the surroundings. I do wonder how you make a profit, however, when you give away your product.”
    She stared at him and he shrugged. “I watched you hand out coffee to two passersby in several moments. Kind, but not good business.”
    “Not like they have the credit to buy anyway. Just flotsam and jetsam of the port, with no one to care. Least I can do is give them a hot cup of java once in a while.”
    He picked up another leaf, but instead of eating it, he held it out to her, a new warmth in his gaze. “I see. Here, have another. Our dinner is on the way.”
    She opened her mouth to let him slip the treat between her lips. She chewed and swallowed. “You look like you just closed a great business deal.”
    “I never feed my business partners.” Not with his own hand, anyway. The unspoken words hung between them, reminding Kiri that he was no uncomplicated man with partying on his mind.
    Her dinner was set before her. “Breast of Pangaean pheasant,” the waiter murmured. “Sauced with a light balayti cream. Pureed root vegetables, crisp yam and moonberry compote.”
    It looked delicious and smelled heavenly. Stark’s plate held the same selection.
    “We’ll have a light wine,” he told the waiter. “Not too sweet.”
    Kiri spread her napkin in her lap, her eyes on the food. She was going to eat every bite, slowly, so she’d never forget this meal. The waiter set a basket of rolls and a small bottle of oil on the table. Stark broke a roll for her and trickled oil over it. Her mouth full of succulent pheasant, Kiri nodded her thanks.
    The food was as delicious as it looked, the flavors and textures blending perfectly. Kiri hadn’t eaten real meat or fowl for longer than she cared to recall, so she was glad the sauce wasn’t too rich, hiding the flavor. The bread was tender and flaky, the oil a tangy enhancement.
    Not until she’d worked her way through most of the food on her plate did Kiri surface from her haze of pleasure to realize that she hadn’t spoken to her host for several moments. She picked up her wine glass and took a sip, looking at him. He was doing quiet justice to his own meal and didn’t seem to notice her preoccupation.  
    The wine burst on her tongue, mellow and faintly sweet, perfectly complementing the food, with echoes of flavor that filled her mind’s eye with a sunny vineyard like those she’d seen on holovids. She gave a hmm of pleasure.
    “Good?” he asked, taking a drink as well.
    “Wonderful, thank you.” She picked up her fork, determined not to leave a bite.  
    Stark poured her more wine and went back to his meal. Finished, Kiri sat back with a sigh that was nearly a groan.  
    “Dessert?” Stark asked, wiping his mouth with his napkin.
    Kiri shook her head regretfully. “No, thank you. I couldn’t eat another bite. But you go ahead.”
    He shook his head. “I don’t often eat