Moonbeams and magic by Janelle Taylor Page A

in an attempt to lure her into a casual sexual encounter, though he must be fighting a fierce battle to resist her Kalfan mat-

    ing scent. Cypher had prepared the pheromone and mixed it with an exotic floral aroma, and she had appHed it sparingly for this first encounter. Four men who were regular patrons asked her to dance or to join them, and she told them she was waiting for a companion to arrive. After a fifth, a stranger to Tochara, proved difficult to discourage for a while, she turned and asked Dagan, "Would you mind sitting with me while I have my drink so I can enjoy it without being bothered again?"
    Dagan was taken off-guard by the request, spoken in a sof^ and polite tone. "I'm comfortable here, but you can join me if you wish. I assure you you'll be safe and untroubled at my table. Conversation is by your choice."
    Yana took the seat across from him and smiled. "Thank you for the assistance. May I buy you a drink out of gratitude?"
    "Later, if you're here when I finish this one. Name's Dagan Latu."
    "I'm Yana. Have you just arrived? I don't recall seeing you before."
    Dagan lowered his glass, and his gaze met hers. Mysteries intrigued and challenged him, so he would play along with her ruse, because he was convinced she had intended to join him from the preon she had arrived. Perhaps she worked for Tochar and he was being studied. "That means you must be a regular in here during stopovers or you live in Tochara." It was a statement on his part, not a question.
    "Both. Is this a visit for you or a move here?" [
    "I'll be around for a long time. I just hired on to work I for Tochar." I
    Yana lifted her light-brown brows and widened her gaze ;| to indicate surprise. "Every man in the settlement craves \ such an elite position, so you must possess many skills to catch Tochar's eye. He hires only the best."
    He changed the subject abruptly. "I thought I caught your eye for a while there, but I guess I was mistaken."

    I
    That was not the response she expected, but her wits did
    not scatter for more than a few moments. She lowered her long lashes and smiled before meeting his gaze again. "You did, but I don't approach strangers and normally do not accept their invitations to join them."
    "Unless you require one's assistance or protection." He watched her eyes brighten and her lips give way to another radiant smile as she nodded.
    "I don't like to cause noisy scenes and Radu doesn't tolerate trouble. In a settlement where men vastly outnumber women, it is difficult to be left alone when I only want to relax and have a drink."
    "Even if females outnumbered males, you would have that problem. What do you do in Tochara?" he asked, wording his query with care.
    "Very little. I'm only staying for a short time longer. There was a situation I had to escape and decided this was the last place anyone would search for me. I didn't realize Tochara was so . . . primitive. Fortunately, I know how to protect myself and to survive even under crude conditions." She laughed when he sent her a doubtful grin. "I meant, defend myself during perilous situations. Men like those five are nothing more than nuisances who need to be sent away quickly and quietly to avoid drawing unwanted attention and embarrassment to myself Or to them, since men do not take such predicaments well. As soon as matters are settled and it's safe, I'll return to where I came ft-om."
    Dagan leaned forward, propped his arms on the table, and ventured, "Which is the Asisia Galaxy."
    She feigned a look of dismay to lure him into her spell. She reasoned that a man like him would be drawn to a woman in danger, snared by a challenging mystery, not to mention highly responsive to the sensuous image Yakir had given her, and weakened by the captivating fragrance. "You know me? Were you sent to locate and retrieve me? I rarely

    talk with anyone, and when I do, it's to the wrong man. Your vile task will not be easy; I have sanctuary here."
    Dagan grasped her hand and kept her