I don’t know what she saw on my face when I looked at her, but she apologized immediately.“Shit, I’m sorry.I can’t believe we just fucked everything up.”
“It’s my fault.I was the one who said you stole our ship.”
Lacy’s laugh carried a hint of tears.“I’m the one who stole it, though.”
“Then it’s both our fault.”After I put away her leftovers, I stood by her seat and offered my hand.“I’ll do what I can to rectify the situation.”
“Sure, whatever.”She sighed, placed her hand in mine, and stood.
Hand in hand we walked the short distance to the crew quarters.Her body radiated tension, like she was waiting for another attack.This one physical.
I’d protect her if that happened, but I was pretty sure that both Finn and Burn were waiting for me on the bridge.
When we stopped in front of her door, she looked up at me.“I bet you regret the night I came on board.”
“Never.”I squeezed her hand and pressed my forehead to hers.“We’ll figure it out,” I said again.Then I lowered my voice.“I’m leaving your access in place, but please,please, stay in your room, unless there’s an emergency.”
“Okay.”Her agreement was a whisper of sound.
“Thank you.”I brushed a kiss over her temple then waved my hand over the door lock.Her door whooshed open and, after the briefest hesitation, she stepped through.
“I’ll be by soon.”I reluctantly released her hand.The door whooshed shut between us.I pressed my palm against it, for just a second.Drawing up to my full height, I straightened my shoulders and braced for a fight.
As expected, Burn and Finn were waiting for me on the bridge.
“You should have told us!”Burn was still pissed.
“I know.”I ignored both of them to check our course.The last thing we needed was to screw up on our first delivery.Once I was satisfied everything was as it should be, I turned to face them.
“I understand your anger,” I said.“I’ve been there.Lacy stealing our ship was a problem, a big one.We lost the chance at cargo.But things are turning around.We’ve got this delivery.”I gestured vaguely in the direction we were going.
“If she stole our ship and cost us cargo, why the fuck is she still here?”That was the first non-accusation question Finn had asked.
“She’s useful.Lacy has made minor repairs.She’s taught me—and Burn—about the ship and about cargo.She has more knowledge about this business than our whole crew combined.”
“And you want to fuck her,” he muttered.
“Watch it,” I warned.No matter how Lacy had come to be on the ship, there were only so many insults I could take.“Yes, I’m attracted to her.No, we haven’t slept together.”I was so fucking tired of justifying my love life.“Like I told Burn, even if I were, it’s none of your goddamned business.”
“Attracted to her?”Finn sneered.“She’s a fucking honey pot.”
Burn gasped at Finn’s vile words.
My fists clenched and my shoulders tensed.I wanted so badly to take a swing at Finn.But doing so could fracture our whole team and destroy our business before we even got started.
Gritting my teeth, I counted to ten, then twenty, until I had calmed enough to speak clearly.And to not hit him.“No.More.Lacy is not a honey pot.She is not a plant.She’s a talented mechanic and a resourceful woman who got herself out of a troubling situation.”
Finn’s mouth opened, no doubt to spew more disgusting comments, but Burn spoke before he did.“Have you told us everything?”
“Have a seat.”
Burn sat in the navigator’s chair.Finn remained standing, his arms crossed over his chest.His expression was dark like a thundercloud.“So you can tell us more lies?”
“So I can bring you up to speed.”
No way was I going to be sitting when Finn exuded such threatening vibes.I wanted to be able to move if I needed to.
I quickly recounted everything that had occurred, from the moment I woke up to find Lacy had taken our ship to the scene in the med bay to leaving Rigel Naught.Even the kiss that we’d shared in the engine room.
