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“I’ve got an idea.” Avel reached under Holly’s seat and pulled out a box of her chocolates. “We can celebrate with these.”

“You can. I’m not hungry.”

Avel jerked back in his seat. He’d never seen Holly refuse chocolate. This was serious. He took the lid off the box and held them under her nose. “Are you sure I can’t tempt you?”

“You’re good at tempting people.” She pushed the box away.

What did that mean? Avel shrugged as he selected a chocolate. This was weird. Maybe she really was sick. Sick of the sight of him.

He ate the chocolate he’d selected, barely tasting it as worry churned in his gut. Holly’s sweetness was what he loved about her. But she sat there, her arms folded and her gaze averted, and it felt wrong. This wasn’t the Holly he knew.

Avel replayed the conversation they’d had when they’d eaten. She’d been in high spirits and excited about her next step in the business. What had changed in such a short space of time to make her so angry?

He didn’t feel like eating either and replaced the box of chocolates back under Holly’s seat. His arm brushed her thigh, and she tensed and flinched away.

Now she didn’t even want him touching her?

Avel hissed out a breath and concentrated on flying. He checked the progress of the star storm. It was nearer than it should be. He double-checked the information and grimaced. The damn thing had picked up speed. They’d need to hustle to stay ahead of it.

“We can do another food fair if you like.” Avel glanced at Holly. “There’ll be plenty going on for the rest of the year.”

“It’s something I’m considering.”

“I don’t mind taking you. This has been fun.” At least, it had been until she’d turned so sour.

“I can sort my own transport. I can’t afford to be in debt any more than I already am.”

Avel smirked. If only Holly knew the truth. She owed him a lot more than a few boxes of chocolates and some free dinners. “It’s no problem.”

“No, it’s better if I don’t rely on you.”

What the hell was she talking about? She wasn’t relying on him. She could do this on her own, but he wanted to help her. He’d enjoyed feeling needed by Holly.

Avel switched the navigation to autopilot as they headed toward the wormhole. He leaned back in his seat. “The silent treatment doesn’t suit you. And if you keep frowning like that, you’ll get wrinkles.”

She snorted and looked away.

That had been the wrong thing to say, but he wasn’t giving up. Avel reached over and squeezed Holly’s knee. “I hate seeing you like this.”

“Then don’t interfere.” She yanked her knee away.

“What do you think I’ve done?”

She rounded on him, fury blazing in her eyes. “You thought I couldn’t handle things at the food fair.”

Her blaze of anger made him recoil. “What are you talking about?”

“You forced people to buy from me.”

“I didn’t.” Avel stamped on his own anger, fighting his instinct to bat back against such rage.

“You didn’t steal the sample trays? You didn’t herd people to the stall?”

Damn. She’d found out what he’d done. Avel still couldn’t figure out why she was so pissed at him. “Stars! Holly, I might have directed people your way, but there was no forcing involved. I gave you free promotion. I don’t see the problem.”

“The problem is, you thought I wasn’t good enough to do this on my own and would fail. I thought customers were coming because they’d heard good things about my chocolates.”

He rubbed his forehead. “They did hear good things about your chocolate.”