Natalie backed off Will with a determined look. “This is not my only project. How long do you feel it’s necessary for me to stay on Rydaria?”
Sanderson stared past her for a moment, then shrugged. “A week should be sufficient. With travel time there and back, you’ll be gone just over two weeks.”
It was acceptable, barely. Her assistants could keep her other responsibilities operational for a week or two. “Then I’ll accompany the volunteers and ensure that they settle in before returning to Earth.”
Apparently, Sanderson wasn’t done throwing his weight around. He turned to Avery with a malicious smirk. “My fellow senators have requested a direct assessment of the project. All our information has come through Ms. Morgan. We want to make sure she’s being honest with us.”
Natalie gasped. “I’ve never lied to you and most of my assessments have been in the form of videos.”
“Videos can be manipulated. We want human eyes on the hybrid villages.”
“Fine. We’ll both go,” Avery said tartly. “Is there anything else?”
“Report to me directly when you return.” He spun on the ball of his foot and walked out of the launch bay.
“What an arrogant prick,” Avery said once Sanderson was out of earshot.
Will chuckled and Natalie smiled. “I knew we’d get along when I first met you.”
“I thought society had progressed beyond assholes like Sanderson, but clearly I was wrong. He hates me because I’m young. He hates me because I’m female. And he hates me because I’m?—”
“Beautiful,” Will finished for her.
“I was going to say intelligent,” Avery told him.
“That can be intimidating too, but men of a certain age are threatened by beautiful women. They know they have no chance of getting into your pants, so they feel the need to put you in your place.”
Natalie and Avery exchanged amused expressions, then Natalie said, “Or Sanderson has always been an asshole.”
“That is a definite possibility.” Will agreed. “I’ll have my first officer bunk with me. Then you two can share his cabin.”
Natalie looked at Avery. “Does that work for you?”
“I hate to put someone out, but I don’t mind sharing.”
“I’ll go make the arrangements,” Will said, then climbed back onto his ship.
“I guess I need to go pack,” Avery said with a carefree shrug. “Apparently, I’m going to Rydaria.”
The next two weeks passed in a confusing blur for Heather. She only saw Patrick twice. Both times he arrived at the cottage, had sex with her, and departed a few minutes later. He barely spoke and the emotions twisting his expressions were so convoluted that she couldn’t begin to decipher them. She was relatively sure she was the cause of his surliness, but she had no idea what she’d done to set him off.
Gabriel, on the other hand, spent every night and many of the days keeping her company. They spent hours in each other’s arms talking and laughing. Their sexual encounters were slow and filled with emotion. Gabriel was courting her. There was no way around it. He wanted her for his mate, but would he claim her without Patrick? She’d thought they were a package deal.
Having access to a data pad was a godsend. Heather read various books, watched entertainment vids, and played immersive games. The activities filled up the hours in between Gabriel’s visits. She missed her friends, but every few days Gabriel surprised her with something new and special. The first day it had been a variety of ingredients and a book of recipes.
“This gift is self-serving,” Gabriel confessed with a chuckle. “If I don’t convince you to cook for me, I’ll have to cook for you.”
“We can always take turns or work on the meals together.”
They’d done both in the nights that followed.
Two of the gifts had been clothing, and one was a hand-carved puzzle box that kept her entertained for hours.
Four nights ago, Gabriel arrived with a pair of boots and a warm winter coat. “Patrick agreed to let you leave the cottage. The only stipulation is that you avoid the woods. Thewekarronare a real danger. I need your promise that you will abide by the limitation.”
“I promise to stay out of the woods,” she said sincerely. “It will be wonderful to go outside. I won’t do anything to risk the new privilege.”
She spent the next three days exploring her surroundings, but the temperature plummeted today and even with a coat and boots it was too cold to go outside. She tried a new recipe for dinner and was pleased with how it turned out. Gabriel hadn’t arrived yet, so the casserole was in the oven staying warm.
