She took another step back, putting more space between us.“I didn’t really mean to.It was a spur of the moment thing.”
“Like my ship?”
Her cheeks flushed red.“Look, I think my sister is missing.I have to find her.”Her gaze flicked between me, the screen, and the door.
“We’re in the middle of nowhere,” I reminded her.
“On a ship,” she ground out.
“Do you know where to look?”
“Maybe,” she said after a long pause, her expression wary.
Why did I have the feeling I wasn’t going to like what she said?“Start at the beginning,” I demanded.“Why do you think she’s missing?”
“Because of that.”She gestured at the terminal.Her sister’s face was frozen on the screen, caught mid-sentence.“That’s her fail-safe.And now I have it.The only way that happens is if she misses two check-ins.”
Leaning against the wall, I crossed my arms over my chest.This sounded more like a plot from a spy movie, not real life.Then again, one woman stealing my ship sounded very much like an adventure movie too.
Knowing I was going to regret it, I asked, “Why would your sister need a fail-safe?”
13
Lacy
I rubbedthe data chip between my thumb and forefinger like a talisman as I followed Dax onto the bridge.My stomach had made a very loud, embarrassing gurgle while I’d tried to decide how much to tell him about my sister.He’d huffed out a laugh and then ushered me out of my room.My room.At least for now.
I’d grudgingly followed him to the dining hall where he’d heated up two packaged military meals.Gross.But beggars couldn’t be choosers.If he had a fully stocked pantry, or utility closet, those things would just be for true emergencies, not everyday dining.
He took the captain’s chair with a smile.A smile that read triumphant to me, like he’d beaten me at something.
Whatever.Little did he know that I could pilotFortunafrom almost any console on the ship.If he did, that smile would be gone in a trace.
He pointed at the navigator’s seat and I sat.
“Veggie Surprise or Poultry Party?”
“What?”
“Which one do you want?Veggie Surprise,” he held up a shimmery green pouch, “or Poultry Party?”He held up the shiny pink pouch.
It was impossible to keep the grimace off my face.
“Here, take the veggies.”
I grabbed the bag he extended toward me.“Um, were any actual vegetables harmed in the making of this?”
He shrugged, his broad shoulders shifting up and down under his black shirt.“Would you really want to know?”
“Good point.”I opened the pouch gingerly, then sniffed the steam that escaped.It didn’t smell too bad.
He handed me a fork and then tilted a bottle of hot sauce toward me in offer.“It helps,” he said with a smile.Just a little half-smile, but it was enough for me to see the hint of a dimple.
Dax Cooper was really fine.His clothes hinted at a nice body, but when I’d had my arms around him?Well, it had felt like heaven.I’d felt warm and protected.
Dashing away those thoughts, I accepted the hot sauce, our fingers brushing in passing.I sighed.
“Something wrong?”
