“It’s just that I…”
She drew back, knowing she should tell him. He thought she was a mere mechanic, and he was, perhaps, willing to cross that social divide. But to be both cyborg and Lunar? To be hated and despised by every culture in the galaxy? He would understand in a moment why he needed to forget her.
More than that, he probably would forget her just as quickly.
Her metal fingers jerked. Her right hand was burning hot beneath the cotton.
Pull off the gloves and show him.
She mindlessly reached for the hem, fingering the grease-stained material.
But she couldn’t. He didn’t know. She didn’t want him to know.
“Because you kept going on and on about the stupid ball,” she said, cringing at her own words.
He dropped a cursory glance to the gold box in his hands. The tension melted until his arms dropped to his sides. “Stars, Cinder, if I’d known you were going to embargo me for asking you on a date, I wouldn’t have dared.”
She cast her gaze skyward, wishing he’d been at least a little annoyed with her response.
“All right, you don’t want to go to the ball. Got it. I won’t mention it again.”
She fidgeted with the fingertips of her gloves. “Thanks.”
He set the box down on the table.
She shifted uncomfortably, unable to reach for it. “Don’t you have something important to be doing? Like, running a country?”
“Probably.” Leaning forward, he flattened one hand on the desk and leaned over, straining to see into Cinder’s lap. Her heart jolted and she scooted herself closer to the table, thrusting her foot as far out of his line of sight as possible.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Are you all right?”
“Fine. Why?”
“You’re usually the prime example of royal etiquette, but you didn’t even stand up. And I was so prepared to be the gentleman and urge you to sit back down again.”
“So sorry to steal that proud moment from you,” she said, sinking lower in her seat. “But I’ve been here since dawn and I’m tired.”
“Since dawn! What time is it now?” He reached for his portscreen.
“13:04.”
He paused with his hand on the gadget at his waist. “Well. It’s time for a break then, right?” He beamed. “Might I have the honor of treating you to lunch?”
Panic sparked in the back of her head and she sat up straight. “Of course not.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m working. I can’t just leave.”
He raised an eyebrow at the piles of neatly organized screws on the table. “Working on what?”
“For your information, I’m expecting a big parts order to come in and someone has to be here to receive it.” She was proud that the lie sounded so believable.
“Where’s your android?”
Her breath snagged. “She’s…not here.”