by Autumn Dawn
Cables hissed as the pilot retracted the grappling hooks. Normally a ship took off again after delivery, but to her surprise, the captain took the time to disembark. Curious, Gem followed Zsak and the others closer as a crewman and another man followed. Only as she got close did she recognize Blue.
She hadn’t been warned he was coming today. Her pulse started to race. With fear or excitement? She couldn’t tell, but the unfamiliar sensations made her stiff and awkward.
He seemed self-conscious, also. Like a teen with a crush, his eyes flicked to her, but he focused his attention on Zsak, who gave him a one-armed hug and carefully slapped him on his good shoulder.
“Hey, man, didn’t expect you so early! What did the doctor have to say?”
Blue gave his friend a half smile. He spoke as if playing to the audience of the pilot who’d flown him here: “You know how it is—guy gets a little scraped up and the docs want to bleed him dry with a long hospital stay. They gave me some healing accelerators and told me to take it easy. Truth be known, I’m itching to get to work.”
The pilot and his fellow crewman seemed pleasantly distracted as they looked Gem and her sister up and down. “Hey, you guys got quite the entertainment here. They exclusive, or do you share?”
Zsak took Blue’s bags. “You gotta be one of the club. Sorry.”
The pilot shook his head. “We don’t have time to stay, anyway. Speaking of which…we’d better get going.” He gave Blue and Zsak a sketchy salute, and both he and the crewman headed back up the ramp.
As soon as everyone was clear, the barge took off. Blue waited until the ship was gone to look at his pal. “Hookers?”
Zsak shrugged. A small smile lurked around his mouth. “Seemed to work.”
Blue looked at Gem. She eyed him carefully, saw that he was moving under his own power, if a bit stiffly, and said, “Hi. We were just having lunch. Are you hungry?” Struck by a sudden bout of self-consciousness, she didn’t know what else to say. The man hadn’t been in touch, and suddenly they were face-to-face, with lots of ground to cover. Maybe it was best to keep everything simple.
“Lunch would be nice,” he agreed, studying her as if he expected more.
“Great! I’ll see you inside,” Gem replied, then quickly retreated to the caves. Her nerves were getting the best of her.
Blue sighed as he watched Gem flee.
Zsak hefted his luggage. “Cheer up, buddy. Even that iceberg over there will thaw, given enough time.” He pointed at the ice that had been delivered, and laughed. “Now, let’s go see what’s cooking.”
Xera hadn’t fled, and she fell in readily next to the guys. “You’d have an easier time of it if you’d been in touch with her,” she pointed out to Blue.
“I know. It’s just that some things are easier said in person.”
Xera looked skeptical, but she changed the subject. “What did you do with Brandy?” she asked.
“Her doctors weren’t thrilled with her leaving the hospital, but she didn’t want to stay home with all that mess outside. I told her what to expect out here and she wasn’t excited at the idea, so we compromised. She elected to stay on a military ship for a short while with her nurse.”
Xera shook her head, flabbergasted. “She did nothing but complain last time!”
Blue shrugged, then grimaced at the discomfort. “She claims it’s quiet. Me, I think she likes the company.”
Xera tilted her head in suspicion. “Who?”
Blue looked innocent. “Azor is there.”
Xera stared, nonplussed. After a moment she chuckled. “I don’t think so.”
“He really is,” Blue swore.
“Sure, but there’s nothing to what you’re implying. Brandy hates that guy’s guts.”
Blue started walking. “If you say so.”
Xera opened her mouth and then shut it. After all, it was obvious he was teasing.
Blue didn’t try to have a serious talk with Gem right away; instead, he smiled at her and made small talk over lunch. She found herself coloring for no reason whenever he looked her way, and he did that often.
She was glad to see him, but uneasy, too. It was almost as if they were starting over again, testing their boundaries. He’d violated her trust, however good his motives might have been. They couldn’t just take up where they’d left off. He was going to have to prove himself.
Not that he was in a position to chase her around, she thought guiltily. He looked weary, and it was obvious that movement brought him pain. She had to wonder why the doctors had released him so early—or if he was still acting against orders.
As soon as she could get Zsak alone, she asked him about it.
“We’ve got a trained medic here,” he assured her. “It’s amazing what a healing accelerator and a good surgeon can do for a body,” he promised.
“But he doesn’t look good,” she fretted, glancing covertly Blue’s way. “You can tell he’s tired.”
“Look, darlin’, if you want to fuss over him, I’m sure he’d welcome it. As for me, I’ve got to make like a farmer and go raise some grass. See you at dinner.” Zsak took off.
Gem frowned after him, then looked back at Blue. He really did look weary.
Ignoring the sudden nervousness in the pit of her stomach, she squared her shoulders and marched up to him. “Come on, you need to lie down.”
He glanced at her sideways but didn’t make the obvious wisecrack. “I’ve been doing too much of that lately and my back is sore. I’d agree to sit down if we could find a comfortable chair, though.”
Now here was something she could handle! Encouraged, she said briskly, “I’ll find you something. We’ll get you a place to recoup. You need any medicine?”
He groaned softly as she helped him walk. “Had it.” But the meds seemed of minimal help, for his steps were slow as she steered him to a room he would share with Zsak for their stay here. She kept hold of his arm, afraid he’d falter.
He lowered himself to the edge of the bed with an expression of pain.
“I’ll be right back with some pillows,” she assured him, then hurried to rob the ones off her and Xera’s beds.
They made a nice stack against the wall, keeping him propped upright. She adjusted them until he was comfortable, and then he looked at her for a moment.
“I wish I’d had you with me when I was trapped in that hospital,” he said. “You would have made a good nurse.”
She flushed. “I…” Was what? Angrier then? Hurt? Her excuses sounded petty to her own ears. “Do you need anything?”
He dropped the subject of his hospital stay, clearly willing to focus on the here and now. “No, not really. Although…you could get the viewer out of my bag. I think there’s a book or two I haven’t read yet.”
“Right.” She fetched the device, glad to think of him relaxing. “I’ll be fixing dinner. Call me if you need anything else.”
She was feeling guilty and unsure. If she stayed, he might bring up her not visiting him in the hospital, and what could she say? She’d felt justified at one time, but now she just felt bad. He really hadn’t deserved her reaction.
She left, and he didn’t call for her. A couple of hours went by before she gave in to her instincts and looked back in on him.
“What?” he asked, glancing up from his book.
“Just making sure you’re okay,” she murmured, and ducked quickly out.
A little while later he made his way into the common room and quietly sat at a table. The location had changed, but she almost felt as if they’d stepped back in time to the days when he hung out in her taproom. It made her feel a little more relaxed, and she brought him a fruity drink—the same kind with which she used to tease him.
“You hungry?” she asked.
“A little. We got anything good around here?” He looked at his drink in surprise. “Hey, you brought this to me cold.”
Her smile was lopsided. “You always complained when it was warm.”
He grinn
ed. “That was just a ruse. I enjoyed showing off and you know it.”
Her smile brightened for a moment then faded. The silence in the room weighed on her. She’d put this off too long. “You…you should have told me you were a cop, Blue.”
He considered her seriously. “At what point would it have been appropriate?”
She frowned at his lack of repentance. “If you didn’t think you could share that information, you should have at least controlled yourself.”
“Yes, I should have,” he admitted. He looked her straight in the eye but didn’t apologize. “I wanted you bad then, and I still do. I’m not going to say I’m sorry for that.”
She didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t expected him to come out and admit something like this, but maybe she should have. He’d never been shy about expressing desire. “Being lovers would never be good enough for me. You know that.”
“But you want me,” he pressed. He considered her expression, waited to see if she’d deny it.
She sat back in her chair, challenged. Slowly she said, “I’m not going to compromise my honor, Blue. If that’s all you’re after, you’ll be disappointed. All I can offer you is friendship.”
“I’m not after friendship,” he replied. But that was all.
After a moment, not sure what he was implying, Gem stood up. “Right. I’ll bring you a snack.” There were times when strategic retreat was the only option.
“You look pale,” she told him after dinner. “Maybe you should go lie down.” She was trying not to hover, without success.
Blue grunted. It seemed as if fatigue had robbed him of any interest in further seductions. Now he looked just plain grumpy. “I told you, my back is sore from lying around. I’m sick of it.”
She looked at him and sighed, wondering about the wisdom of her next offer: “I suppose I could massage it for you.”
He considered her words without apparent enthusiasm. “You’d have a hard time, avoiding my shoulder and still doing good.” He looked about as excited as a young child given an early bedtime.
His mulishness made Gem annoyed—and all the more fixated on performing the massage. “I’ll be careful,” she promised. “I don’t think I need to worry about you getting ideas when you can barely sit up,” she added for the benefit of all listeners. She was getting some very speculative looks from the security detail—the downside of looking like a hooker, she supposed.
Blue smiled slightly. “No ideas because I’m tired? You don’t know men too well, do you? Lead on, however. You can just shoot me if I misbehave.” He stood up stiffly and slung an arm around her shoulders.
“Very funny,” she retorted as she let him use her for support. Then, avoiding Xera’s watchful gaze, she took him to his room and helped ease him onto the bed.
He settled facedown on the quilt with a grateful sigh. Only when he was lying prone did she realize how much easier it would be without his shirt.
He made a muffled sound when she suggested he sit up so she could remove it. Then he said, “Not worth it.”
She fought back annoyance. Nonetheless, she set to work on his back, careful to avoid his injury. She asked, “How long did they say it would take for a full recovery?”
“A month or more. Considering, that’s not too bad,” he said.
“Seems fast for all you went through.”
“The nanotech the military put in me helps. Amazing, what a nanobot can do for a hole in the body.”
“I thought that stuff was expensive.”
“Depends. Sometimes it’s cheaper than training a new soldier.”
She worked on him in silence for a bit longer, until she caught herself wistfully wishing he could remove his shirt. But maybe it was wise to keep all that skin covered.
Another minute passed. She bit her lip, wondering if rubbing through his shirt might be chafing his back. She didn’t want to hurt him, of course.
A few more minutes went by, and finally she worked up the nerve to slide her hands under the hem. Her pulse rose. His skin was so smooth!
He groaned and levered himself up. “I’d better get up before I fall asleep,” he remarked. He caught her confused expression and smiled faintly. “Thanks for the massage.” Then he left.
Gem simply stared after him, an unwanted yearning burning in her heart.
Zsak glanced sideways at Blue as he followed his friend into the pantry. “How’s it going, lover boy?”
Blue gave Zsak a sardonic glance but otherwise ignored him. He searched for a snack as his pal leaned against the doorway.
“I can’t help but notice that you seem spryer than you did earlier. Could it be you’re playing on that poor girl’s tender mercies?” Of course, for all his joking, Zsak didn’t seem too distressed by the possibility.
“Whatever it takes,” Blue replied. Seduction came in many forms, and he was playing for keeps.
“Just so you watch out for her sister. Xera’s on your side, but she won’t ignore it if you go too far.”
“Don’t worry—that’s not part of my plan. I don’t need her chasing after me.” Blue allowed himself a slight smile. It felt good to have Gem doting on him, finally. Yes, he was annoyed she hadn’t come around sooner, at least to talk to him, but he had loftier goals than just sponging up sympathy.
“I’ve finally got that girl figured out,” he remarked. “The cooler the reception, the closer she slides. At this rate, we’ll be married before she knows what hit her.”
They’d had a lot of time to talk while Blue was laid up, so Zsak wasn’t surprised to hear his friend’s ultimate plan. He did question the method, though. “Are you sure playing hard to get is the way to go? Isn’t that a girlish strategy?”
Blue’s annoyed glance was quelling. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Well, don’t take too long about it. The betting pool isn’t leaning in your favor, and I could use the money.”
That made Blue smile. “You’re betting on me?”
Zsak grinned back. “Couldn’t resist a sure thing.”
Chapter Sixteen
Xera cornered Blue the next day. She was waiting for him as he came out of his bedroom, leaning against the wall, her arms folded. He considered her and waved an arm back toward his room. “You want to talk in there?”
She gave him a look and led him to the empty commons. The rest of the supposed farmers, that is, the security team, had already eaten and were off working the rock.
She waited until they were seated and then said mildly, “What exactly are your intentions toward my sister?”
He raised an eyebrow, questioning her right to even ask.
She shrugged, realizing his intent. “Our father is dead. Somebody has to look out for her.”
“Are you asking me if I’ll marry her?”
Xera exhaled forcefully. “I already know you will. I’ve grilled Zsak—and I know about the betting pool. You’ll ask.”
“You don’t like it.”
Xera shrugged. “My sister’s getting older, has her future established in The Spark. She wants to get married and may think you’re the best she’ll get. Whether it’s true or not…Well, I’d hate for her to settle.”
He glowered at her. “Is that right?”
“Of course, it would all be all right if you loved her,” Xera added, nonchalant. “So many men just care about her money, which is all tied up in the inn, you know. Not much in loose change.”
Blue had to smile at such transparency. “I’m not after her money. I have my own.”
“How’s that?” Xera asked.
“Good investments, and I’ve saved some of my salary. That’s the way we working-class types do it.”
Her eyes narrowed. “So, you’re saying you love her. She’s not just another sort of investment?”
Blue leaned in. “I’m saying that’s between Gem and me. I’m not about to tell you how I feel when I haven’t even spoken to her. Now, if that’s about it, I’m hungry. Care to get me something from the kitchen
?”
Xera stood up and her eyes raked him. “You seem hale enough to me. Go find your own food.” Then she flounced out.
“What’s up with her?” Gem asked, looking over her shoulder at her departing sister as she entered the room. “Hey, are you hungry? I saved something for you.” Almost shyly, her gaze skated over Blue’s as she headed for the kitchen.
“Thank you!” He rose and followed, settling down at a table closer to the stove so he could watch. “Your sister doesn’t like me.”
Gem laughed. “What else is new? She likes to mow people over. It irks her when some of them don’t lie down and take it, don’t let her walk over them. She has her wonderful moments, for all that.”
“Maybe she can go back to the academy soon,” Blue suggested. He knew she was tired of being someplace other than where her career required.
“I think that will help.” Gem slid a plate toward him. “Any chance of it happening soon?”
He savored a bite of what she’d given him, considering. “Depends on Azor’s part of the operation. He’s close to an arrest that will take out the player who sent the hit men after you, but they’ve got a few things to tie up first. Once that happens, you can go home. Even if the results of the trial didn’t convince that smuggler to drop his grievance, your enemy will be too busy to trying to save his own sorry hide to worry about you. Most likely, the contract on you will be ignored once his assets are seized. No money, no service. Assassins don’t work for free.”
“Glad to hear it,” Gem said dryly. “Who exactly is my enemy, anyway? Are we sure yet?”
“Can’t tell you,” Blue said. He tried to keep his tone conversational. “Could you pass the hot sauce?”
