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“We should get together later.”

“You do know this is a work mission, right?”

“We can play as well. What have you got planned once the animals are unloaded?”

Eden tensed. A romantic walk under a waterfall with Blaze? After their last conversation, that wouldn’t happen. “Not much. What do you have in mind?”

“You, me, no clothes, a bottle of something strong. We’ll have a great time.”

She had no doubt about that. Ranger was fun. It was always simple with him. No commitment, just good sex and laughs. They’d hooked up a couple of times, but she hadn’t seen him for a while.

“You’re not loving my idea?” he said.

“I’m thinking about it.” Eden glanced at the door. Blaze was on his own in the equipment room. She shouldn’t have left him, but she’d been so angry.

He’d called her out, and she hadn’t known what to say. Not so many years ago, she wouldn’t have thought twice about using a guy to get something out of him. Her mom had taught her well. But not now. Not anymore. She wanted to be nothing like her mom.

“I can throw in dinner if you want to be romanced.”

She laughed. “It’s not that. It’s a great offer, but I need to stay focused on the job.”

“You’re turning me down? Say it isn’t so. We have fun together.”

“We do. A ton of fun. But this mission is important to me.” And so was Blaze. He’d been a jerk to her, but he was her jerk. They’d gotten their wires crossed, and they’d get even more jumbled if she jumped into bed with Ranger.

“Don’t tell me your head has finally been turned? You’re with someone?” Ranger said.

“No, it’s not that.”

“The way Blaze was snapping and snarling earlier, I thought you two were a thing. He said not, but I figured he was saving your blushes.”

“No. We’re not together.” Wasn’t that what she wanted?

A tremor slid through Eden’s body. She did. She wanted him so bad, but the idea of opening her messed up, grubby life to him, made her shudder. If he knew everything about her, he wouldn’t want to be anywhere near her, let alone consider her as his partner.

And what would happen once he’d gotten her naked and screwed her? He’d lose interest, like other guys did.

“I guess I must find some other way to entertain myself on Tiavac,” Ranger said.

“I’m sure you won’t find that a problem.”

“Another time?”

“Yeah, sure. See you when we get on the surface.” Eden cut the comm link and sank against the pen.

What was she thinking, imagining anything real with Blaze? If you let someone get close, they hurt you. And she’d had enough betrayal to last several lifetimes. She wouldn’t let Blaze in only to have him let her down.

“Eden, I could do with you upfront,” Blaze said over the comm link. “We’re approaching Tiavac.”

“I’m on my way.” Eden stood and looked around the animal pens. She needed to fix this problem. She wanted Blaze, but she couldn’t have him. Maybe she could find somebody for him.

She considered her conversation with Georgia. She reckoned she was interested in Blaze. Although Georgia could be a Grade A bitch, you could rely on her when the chips were down. Plus she was gorgeous and feisty. What guy would resist that?

There was the problem of her being a huge ball breaker, but Blaze was strong. He could hold his own.

That would solve things. If he hooked up with Georgia, he’d be off-limits. Even if Eden wanted him more than the last triple chocolate brownie, there’d be no way she’d go there. She’d never betray a friend.

She opened a secure message link to Georgia.