As his gaze traveled down my body and back up again, leaving a trail of sparks in its wake, he took a breath and said, slowly, carefully, “You’re wearing the dress.Thedress. Do you know that you’re wearing the dress? I mean”—he cleared his throat, sliding his hands into his pockets—“this time, tonight, did you…mean to wear it?”
I nodded, my breath catching in my throat as he took a step toward me, the fire in his eyes close to singeingthedress straight off my body. “Are you sure you want to work tonight?” he asked. “The ship is passing the Spiral star cluster. We could go to the observatory.”
“Is that a pretty one?” I asked, feeling him move into my space, heating it up like morning shifting into afternoon.
He leaned in close, his lips brushing over my ear as he whispered, “Gorgeous.”
“Garran would never forgive us,” I protested weakly, myconviction teetering, my hands fisting at my sides when he pressed a kiss onto my neck. “Besides, after yesterday?—”
“Mm-hmm.” His voice was a seductive rumble, his breath a soft caress on my skin. “I remember yesterday. I can stillfeelyesterday.”
“Stop,” I gasped when his fingertips slid over my hip.
“Stop what?”
“StopJoshuaing me.” Summoning all the willpower I possessed in my entire body, I placed my hand on his firm chest and pushed him back a step. “We need to focus. We’ve got a job to do, and it doesn’t involve making out like teenagers in this hallway.”
He feigned a silent gasp. “Making out? I was only suggesting we spend the night looking at some stars.Ahem, eyes up here, sweetheart.”
My gaze snapped up from his pants. “Stars above. I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”
“I do,” he said with a raised brow and flawless timing.
I snorted, almost a guffaw. This was terrible. “Can we go now? Please?”
“One moment.” He disappeared into his pod, returning with his mask in hand. He looked good tonight. Dark-gray suit, black shoes, black tie, hair expertly coiffed. He was very well put together, and all I wanted to do was take him apart. But not tonight. Tonight, we were working.
Falling into an easy, comfortable silence, we made our way to the Argosian restaurant on deck fourteen where Garran had planned to take Kasa.
“Uh-oh,” Freddie said, pointing his chin at the pair. They sat on opposite sides of a square table, not speaking, barely making eye contact. “That’s not good.”
As we slid into a booth at the far end of the restaurant, I frowned. “Agreed. Let’s patch in.”
I commed.
Despite my warning, the big man’s head whipped around while he knocked over the saltshaker, spilling his glass of water when he tried to right it. Unimpressed, Kasa scowled at him.
he commed back, wiping his suit pants down with a napkin.
Having joined in on the comm, Freddie muffled his laughter with a hand over his mouth.
Garran pleaded.
My brow ticked up. “This sounds like a job for you, Mr. Charming.”
Interlacing his fingers to crack his knuckles, Freddie gave me a wink and said, “I do love a challenge.”
While I wondered ifIwas the challenge he was referring to, Freddie said over the comm,
Through our shared channel, we heard Garran say, “Kasa, you look beautiful tonight.”
Looking directly at me, Freddie said,
Reaching up, I brushed my fingers over the small black clasp holding my bangs back. I commed, staring back at Freddie.
There wasn’t much to Kasa’s hairdo, a simple braid pulled tight and trailing down her back. But her smile after Garran’s compliment was luminous.
Freddie commed.
