Page 60

He needed time away. He couldn’t think straight when Holly was around. He hadn’t meant to be such a jerk, telling her she was just fun, but he’d acted on instinct, and those instincts sucked.

Avel was relieved to find the Enchanted Captain open, even though everyone was making their way to work. This damn place was something he could rely on. No matter the time, day or night, you could come in, have a few drinks, and forget your worries.

He slumped onto a stool by the bar. “Dackin whiskey,” he said to the bartender, Olid.

Olid nodded. “You want a coffee to go with that?”

“No, just the whiskey.” Avel scraped a hand down his face. All night, his mind had kept changing. One minute, he’d decided to speak to Holly, sort this mess out, and see if they had a future. The next, he was grinding his teeth and scowling as he recalled her pressed up against that idiot. He couldn’t compete, not with a guy like that. A guy most women would fall over themselves to be with, even if he treated them like dirt.

Seeing Holly with Lieutenant Busby had made Avel realize that he cared for her, probably too much. That was the problem. He wanted Holly to win. She deserved an amazing life. He wanted everyone to love her and know that she was as amazing as he saw her.

She couldn’t have any of that with him. He’d worship that gorgeous body and encourage her ambitions to the end of days, but his life was one of violence and uncertainty. Every day, he was surrounded by liars and cheats. There was no way he’d let that infect Holly.

Olid placed the whiskey in front of him, along with a large mug of coffee. “I know you said no coffee, but it won’t do any harm.” He glanced over Avel’s shoulder. “What will it be?”

Avel turned in his seat and smiled when he saw his buddy Iska stroll over.

Iska was a rough son of a bitch, a Mehab who enjoyed starting fights as much as he enjoyed finishing them. Their paths had crossed repeatedly over the years, with Avel hunting unpaid debts and Iska chasing down bounties on scumbags’ heads. Avel had been glad when he’d made a base on Prodigy, only to find Iska hanging out with some cute role-playing obsessed tutor from My Single Alien.

She’d mellowed Iska. He’d gone from a foul-mouthed fighter to someone who smiled more and no longer held any tension in his shoulders.

Iska raised his chin as he settled on the stool next to Avel. “Early start for you.”

“And you,” Avel said.

“Just coffee for me. The dining hall gets crowded at this time. I know this place is always here, and the coffee doesn’t suck.”

Iska accepted a mug of coffee from Olid before he strolled off.

Avel took a sip of his whiskey and grimaced. This might help for a few hours, but it wouldn’t solve his problem. “Got a busy day?”

“The usual. I’m tracking a bail jumper. He’s got a decent bounty on his head. What about you?”

“Same old, same old.”

“That same old requires you to drink whiskey before you even get started?”

Avel glanced at Iska. They’d shared a lot during their alcohol-fueled evenings together over the years. He trusted this guy. “I’ve got myself in a situation with a woman.”

“Is she pregnant?”

“Shit, no way. Nothing like that.”

“It wouldn’t be so bad if she was.” Iska grinned. “Did you know that Avril’s pregnant?”

Avel clapped Iska on the back. “That’s great news, buddy. I’m happy for you.”

Iska nodded. “We kept it quiet for a few months, wanted to make sure the cub is growing.”

“Any problems?”

A purr rumbled in Iska’s chest. “They’re both doing great. We’re looking for a bigger place, maybe even a move off Prodigy, but Avril loves her job. She wants to keep working after the cub comes.”

“She can handle that. What about the role-playing games? Does she still want to kick dragon butt when she’s heavily pregnant?” That was how they’d met, in some geeky holo game.

Iska frowned. “I told her no more fighting. You know what she did? Lectured me on the benefits of exercise for her and the baby.”

“So, she got her own way?”