He stood and shrugged. “Whatever you say. If you’re up to mischief, I’d recommend against it. If you make enemies with someone out in space, there really is nowhere to go to get away from them. Especially on a ship like this. It’s sizable until you try living on it, then it’s a fucking prison. Come join me and Pigeon for a drink at the port bar? Pigeon’s meeting me at the hatch in five.”
“There’s a bar here?”
Raul’s lips turned up into a smile. “Oh, Dear… There’s a bar on every space terminal. You’re so green it’s almost cute. Alcohol in space is top-notch, and the gravity shifts play with your head. Getting wasted every time you make a landing is tradition for people in our field.”
“Are we allowed to leave the ship during a job?”
“Sure, we’re not needed right now. He doesn’t give a damn what we do in our free time. The ship isn’t taking off until tomorrow morning—the reactor needs to cool down—so as long as we’re all here and doing our jobs, our time is our own. You really are new to this whole space traveling thing, aren’t you?”
One thing Alexa learned growing up, especially with the childhood she had and the world she lived in, there were far more things to worry about than being offended over the small stuff. A drink sounded great, but she couldn’t let her guard down.
Alexa leaned forward anyway, an idea forming in her head. “Is Daniels going?”
If the whole crew was leaving the ship, then she’d have free rein. For the first time since take off, a real opportunity presented itself to search for information. Real information. The kind that could either destroy Hysterian or give her a lead in how to kill him.
Raul pressed his hip to her desk and crossed his arms. “He might be going. Why?”
“No reason,” she said. “Curious, that’s all.”
“He’s not your type.”
Her lips flattened. “Really? How would you know?”
Raul laughed. He always laughed. It was annoying. “Dear, we’ve been working together, practically sleeping together for the past week. Daniels is harder, colder than you, and that’s saying something. You two together would be like glaciers colliding. There’ll be a lot of ice, a lot of sharp edges, a lot of noise, and a lot of pain. You need someone softer. Daniels is fucking miserable. I think I might hate him.”
What was it with the crew thinking she needed someone to hook up with? Not even in the academy had men asked after her. Was there something about space and companionship she wasn’t getting?
“Like you?” she muttered, suddenly finding her screen fascinating. It only took three days in space for Raul to make his move.
She’d told him off. Told him there’s no way she was going to bed with him. She couldn’t risk growing attached to anyone.
Companionship wasn’t in the cards for her.
Last time she loved and cared for someone, he was murdered.
Raul stretched, undisturbed. “I’m up to the task. I’m pretty soft when I want to be. Very soft, actually. Hard as hell too when the need arises.”
“Hey, you coming?” Pigeon called from outside the menagerie.
Alexa could’ve kissed him for his perfect timing. It was easier to ignore Raul’s advances than to actually interact with him. And sadly, she didn’t know if he even wanted to be with her. He could be teasing her for all she knew. She had no idea. Flirting and the interplay between a man and a woman was something she was sorely ignorant about. No one had ever wanted her.
“Trying to get Alexa to come with us!” Raul yelled back as Pigeon entered the lab.
Alexa stood as he approached.
Pigeon’s face wrinkled when he smiled. “If anyone needs to take a load off, it’s you. Join us. For one drink at least.”
“Not today.” She was already backing up to her cabin door. “I think I’m going to catch up on some sleep. Raul snores.”
“I don’t snore,” Raul grumped. “Maybe a little. They’re affectionate snores, the robust kind. My body’s natural way of attracting a mate.”
Pigeon laughed. “Next time then. Being cooped up on a ship isn’t good for anyone. You’ll look forward to these port visits once you’ve been in space for a few months.”
“Next time,” she agreed.
“Taking that as a promise,” Raul said as he followed Pigeon out.
When she heard the pressurized sound of the hatch go off, Alexa stood there on the precipice of her quarters for another minute to make sure she was alone, twirling her wristband.
