“So?”If my time in the space corps had taught me anything, it was that people were capable of far more than we gave them credit for, good or bad.
“I just didn’t expect it.My father taught us both to fly, but she never seemed to care, one way or another.”
Interesting.
I turned my attention back to the star chart and considered what Lacy had told me.I’d told her the truth: I didn’t believe in theQueen of Starstale.If it had really existed, if it had really been sent, someone would have discovered it by now.The early search teams would have at least found a debris field.Later explorers would have found a trace as they’d pressed farther and farther out into the unexplored edges of the galaxy.Someone would have found it.And yet...
“You think she found something.”
Lacy gasped.“What?No, I...”She trailed off, which was just as well, because I wasn’t sure there was an argument she could make that would change my mind.
I dismissed the star chart with a flick of my wrist.This wasn’t more important than picking up my team, but it felt...momentous.Like it deserved my full attention.“You think she found something,” I repeated.
Lacy started pacing again, her fists opening and closing at her sides.“I don’t know.She could have taken off for any number of reasons.A library, a pickup for our dad, a...a date!”She threw her hands up in the air.“I.Don’t.Know.”
“What does the chip say?”
She shrugged, reached the far side of the bridge, and whirled back to face me.“I haven’t watched until the end.It could just be her research.”Her worried tone said she didn’t believe that.
“Then let’s find out,” I said.
15
Dax
Lacy stared at me,indecision written on her face.She shoved one hand in her pocket.That was probably where she was keeping the data chip.
“Look, Lacy.You’ve told me a lot of stories since you stole my ship.And you’ve cost me a lot of money.If you want even a chance of me believing anything you’ve told me, show me what’s on the chip.”
Her stare turned into a glare and she stomped over to the navigator’s seat.She dropped into it with a huff and flashed a silver data chip at me.
I grabbed her wrist as she reached toward the data port.“Wait.How do I know you aren’t trying to plant a virus or something?”
“You don’t.”Her eyes narrowed to slits and her lips curved up in a mean smile.
Damn if I didn’t find that attractive.
When she tugged her arm free, I let her go.I didn’t trust her, but I was confident that I’d be able to keep an eye on her and make sure she wasn’t screwing up my ship.
“Fine.Use that one.”I pointed to an unused console in the corner of the bridge.It was connected to the ship’s system, but it wasn’t as crucial a station as the navigator’s.I hoped.
“You’re the boss.”With a deep sigh, she moved from one chair to another gracefully.She was definitely comfortable on my bridge.
I followed her to the station, wanting to watch every move she made.Lacy glared up at me.I stared back.
Her gaze flickered over my biceps as I crossed my arms and I thought I saw a flare of interest there.I allowed a small smile, then smoothed my expression again.
Lacy turned her attention to the console and flashed the data chip again.She made a big show about slowly inserting it into the slot.This woman was such a pain in the ass.
I braced my hands on the back of her chair and her spine snapped ramrod straight.Leaning closer, I said, “All right.Let’s see this evidence.”My breath feathered the hair around her ear.
She shivered.
My gaze wandered to the pulse point by her ear.It fluttered beneath her skin.
My attraction to her was damned inconvenient and couldn’t go anywhere, but I was glad that she wasn’t immune to me.
The system accepted the chip and then, with a few keyboard commands, the chip’s directory appeared on the screen.It was there and gone before I truly had a chance to study it, but I was left with the impression of folders organized by year.Her sister really had been chasing theQueen of Starsfor a long time.
