Okay, technically that was true.That was why I’d really hoped that theFortunawas empty.My getaway would have been so much easier.
I didn’t have an immediate counter to his claim and the awkward silence between us grew.My gaze darted around the med bay, looking everywhere but at Dax.Like the rest of the ship, it was almost a twin for the one onMako.The clinic wasn’t the smallest room on the ship, not by a long shot, but the walls were still closing in on me.
Until Dax had demanded I get a checkup, I’d successfully ignored the pain in my apparently dislocated shoulder from the impact with the window and the ache in my left hip from the landing.The meds hadn’t quite kicked in yet and now both injuries throbbed in time with my pulse.I didn’t know which I was more aware of: my aching body or the captain’s presence.
He was hard to miss, really, standing there glowering at me like he was.
Dax Cooper was ridiculously good-looking.Dark hair, adorably tousled.Dark eyes that tried to see into my soul.A body that said he hadn’t left his military PT behind him and a hint of five-o’clock shadow, perfectly matched to his tanned skin.I wanted to brush my palm against his cheek.
Compared to him, I must look like hot garbage.Self-conscious and exhausted, my control slipped and bluster came out.
“I was going to bring it back.”Probably.I actually hadn’t gotten that far in my plan.
“Oh yeah, when?Was that before or after you ‘fixed’ the coolant leak?”
Right.I’d forgotten about the supposed coolant leak.“After, obviously.That’s why I took the ship, because there was a coolant leak and we were all in danger.”
Oh my god.I was such a liar.And I was pretty sure he knew I was lying.One corner of his mouth quirked up, softening his stern expression.My stomach did a funny little swirl.Probably from not being able to finish my dinner.
“Why didn’t you call security?”
“Why?I didn’t need them to get on the ship.”I blinked at him.Why would I call security when I was borrowing a ship?
The sound he made was half sigh, half growl, and all sexy.Dammit.
“When the men broke into your apartment.Why didn’t you call security when you got away from them?”Curiosity filled his voice.And was that...concern?
I stared at him blankly.“Honestly, it never occurred to me.”Given my dad was wanted on a number of planets and in one entire sector, calling security wasn’t something we were taught.I shrugged and only half wanted to scream in pain.
“How the hell could it not occur to you?That’s what they’re there for!”Of course, the former military guy would believe in authority and security.Probably a whole bunch of other -ity-s, too.
“It happened so fast.”The attack replayed in my mind as I spoke and I shivered.
“Why did you jump out the window?”His voice was surprisingly gentle, lulling me into sharing.Or maybe it was exhaustion.
“The men were between me and the door.My neighbor’s a big guy and they tossed him to the side like he weighed nothing.How was I supposed to fight against that?So I did the only thing I could think of—I jumped out the window.”
“You could have been killed.”Horror coated his voice, but the tone was still gentle.
That startled a bitter laugh out of me.“Stay, go, could have been killed.There were no good options.At least I’d planned for the window.”
My eyes closed.I was so tired.That had to be the reason I was talking so much.
“You planned to jump out the window?”
Sure, when he said it like that it sounded kind of crazy.
“No, just how I would get out of my apartment in an emergency.Dad said always have more than one exit.”
“Sounds like a smart man.”
Barking out a laugh, I opened my eyes and stared at him.“You could say that.”If only he knew.
My eyes drifted closed and sleep beckoned.Instead of giving in, which every damn molecule of my body was demanding, I shook my head and brought it back to vertical.
“So, what now?”
“What?”I was losing track of the conversation.
