nav systems. Still, she didn’t
feel overly lucky right now. They were too close to Salaan. She didn’t have
time for anything to go wrong. Hitting her communications badge, she tried to
relax. “Engineering, this is the captain.”
“Engineering here. Go ahead.”
“Tactical is reporting an ion cannon malfunction.”
“We’re on it.”
“Captain out.”
Hitting the badge to turn it off, she stood and stretched to
help alleviate the aches and pains from sitting too long.
“Are you going to rest, sir?”
“If I can find the time.”
“Captain.” His concern for her radiated through his
thoughts. And strangely she found that irritating. He worried about her. But
not enough to actually stop by her quarters and talk to her.
“We have a job to do. Sleep will come later.” She shook her
head to end the conversation before addressing the crew. “XO has the bridge.”
As she walked off the bridge she could feel him staring at
her. She couldn’t fault him for it. She had a hard time not watching him when
they were in the same room. Even after everything, she was still attracted to
him.
After everything ? She stopped at the thought. Did
what they have—or rather had—qualify as “everything”? She’d only known him for
two weeks. But it felt as though she’d known him forever. How was that
possible? She had to admit it’d been a crazy couple of weeks though. Maybe that
was why it felt longer. Then again, maybe it was because of the spark of
attraction between them. Either way, he’d somehow managed to become a much
larger part of her life than two weeks should allow.
As a crew member he’d done well. She’d give him that. And
competence was a trait she found endearing. She moved around a group of people
as she navigated the passageways. He’d taken over the role of XO with ease. And
under his guidance the ship had run smoother than ever. She hadn’t had to deal
with a single requisition form or crew complaint since he’d stepped into his
new position.
Still, competence and attraction couldn’t explain why he’d
become so important to her. God, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d
spent so much time fixated on a man. She actually didn’t think it’d ever
happened before. Unbidden images of him shirtless in the locker room flashed
through her mind, causing her to walk past the corridor she needed. Cursing to
herself, she turned around and began working her way toward engineering again.
She sighed as she reached engineering. She shouldn’t have
indulged in her attraction to him in the first place. If she’d known the man
was addictive she wouldn’t have. But she was a telepath, not a prophet. And now
that ship had officially sailed. Opening the door to engineering, she was
greeted by a sea of curious and anxious gazes.
“Captain?”
Lieutenant Vance’s voice was strong even as he stared at her
nervously. His eyes were flashing from her to his monitor at such a rapid pace
it made her dizzy.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t come to issues reprimands. We’re all
overworked and under a lot of stress right now.”
“Then to what do we owe the pleasure, sir?”
“I need to speak to you in private.”
“Of course. Just let me log out of my station and I’ll be
right with you.”
“You look sad.” Rowe’s voice from directly behind her
startled her, making her jump.
“Rowe, don’t sneak up on me.”
“Why are you sad?”
Because of their special bond, Rowe’s constant expression of
bewilderment didn’t bother her. “I’m not sad. I’m tired. They look the same.”
“You do too much.” The woman’s gaze wandered over the room
as she twisted a lock of her pale-blonde hair between her thumb and forefinger.
“I have been told that in the past. I’ll make sure I get
plenty of rest after this run is over.”
“If you say so.” Rowe nodded before walking away. Harlow
watched her make her way back to her terminal, her movements so graceful she
appeared to be
feel overly lucky right now. They were too close to Salaan. She didn’t have
time for anything to go wrong. Hitting her communications badge, she tried to
relax. “Engineering, this is the captain.”
“Engineering here. Go ahead.”
“Tactical is reporting an ion cannon malfunction.”
“We’re on it.”
“Captain out.”
Hitting the badge to turn it off, she stood and stretched to
help alleviate the aches and pains from sitting too long.
“Are you going to rest, sir?”
“If I can find the time.”
“Captain.” His concern for her radiated through his
thoughts. And strangely she found that irritating. He worried about her. But
not enough to actually stop by her quarters and talk to her.
“We have a job to do. Sleep will come later.” She shook her
head to end the conversation before addressing the crew. “XO has the bridge.”
As she walked off the bridge she could feel him staring at
her. She couldn’t fault him for it. She had a hard time not watching him when
they were in the same room. Even after everything, she was still attracted to
him.
After everything ? She stopped at the thought. Did
what they have—or rather had—qualify as “everything”? She’d only known him for
two weeks. But it felt as though she’d known him forever. How was that
possible? She had to admit it’d been a crazy couple of weeks though. Maybe that
was why it felt longer. Then again, maybe it was because of the spark of
attraction between them. Either way, he’d somehow managed to become a much
larger part of her life than two weeks should allow.
As a crew member he’d done well. She’d give him that. And
competence was a trait she found endearing. She moved around a group of people
as she navigated the passageways. He’d taken over the role of XO with ease. And
under his guidance the ship had run smoother than ever. She hadn’t had to deal
with a single requisition form or crew complaint since he’d stepped into his
new position.
Still, competence and attraction couldn’t explain why he’d
become so important to her. God, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d
spent so much time fixated on a man. She actually didn’t think it’d ever
happened before. Unbidden images of him shirtless in the locker room flashed
through her mind, causing her to walk past the corridor she needed. Cursing to
herself, she turned around and began working her way toward engineering again.
She sighed as she reached engineering. She shouldn’t have
indulged in her attraction to him in the first place. If she’d known the man
was addictive she wouldn’t have. But she was a telepath, not a prophet. And now
that ship had officially sailed. Opening the door to engineering, she was
greeted by a sea of curious and anxious gazes.
“Captain?”
Lieutenant Vance’s voice was strong even as he stared at her
nervously. His eyes were flashing from her to his monitor at such a rapid pace
it made her dizzy.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t come to issues reprimands. We’re all
overworked and under a lot of stress right now.”
“Then to what do we owe the pleasure, sir?”
“I need to speak to you in private.”
“Of course. Just let me log out of my station and I’ll be
right with you.”
“You look sad.” Rowe’s voice from directly behind her
startled her, making her jump.
“Rowe, don’t sneak up on me.”
“Why are you sad?”
Because of their special bond, Rowe’s constant expression of
bewilderment didn’t bother her. “I’m not sad. I’m tired. They look the same.”
“You do too much.” The woman’s gaze wandered over the room
as she twisted a lock of her pale-blonde hair between her thumb and forefinger.
“I have been told that in the past. I’ll make sure I get
plenty of rest after this run is over.”
“If you say so.” Rowe nodded before walking away. Harlow
watched her make her way back to her terminal, her movements so graceful she
appeared to be
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