Read Online Victoria's Challenge by M. K. Eidem - Free Book Online Page A

goes to work on her hair. It is always such a pain to get through. Someday she’ll have the nerve to chop it off but not today. When her stomach rumbles, she dresses and heads to get something to eat.
     
    “Hey Chamberlain! Long time no see!” Jager sits down across from her.
    “Hey Jager . Yeah, I’ve been busy.”
    “So I heard . Helping your brother.”
    “He’s not my brother,” Victoria stresses.
    “Right … So you free tonight?” Hopeful eyes look at her.
    “Don’t know yet . Why?” she asks, taking a bite.
    “Got a group going to Emans .”
    Chewing , Victoria thinks about it. Might be a good thing for her to get out, give her some perspective, and give Lucas some space. He’s recovering remarkably fast, she’s not sure he’s even going to need fourteen treatments. Looking at Jager, she realizes he’s waiting for her response.
    “What time ? I’ll try to make it.”
    “I ’ll come pick you up.” His eager voice has Victoria looking at him. Shit, he was interested. Pausing, she looks at him, really looks at him. He’s attractive, in a blond sort of way. He’s thin and only 6’4”, short for a Carinian, but nice looking and nice too. Maybe it was time for her to start looking back.
    “Thanks , but I’m still not sure I’m going. What time and I’ll see if I can make it.”
    “2000 . I’ll save a dance for you.”
    “ We’ll see.” Looking at the time, she stands. “I need to get going. Later.”
     
    “I learned a few new words last night.” Dodge looks at Lucas as he feeds him.
    “What? ” Lucas asks after he swallows.
    “You talk in your sleep or should I say, swear and bitch.”
    “I do not! ” Lucas denies.
    “Tanner did it too . They said it’s the mind trying to process the pain.”
    “What’d I say?” he demands.
    “I don’t think you want to know . It’s a wonder Victoria hasn’t gagged you.” Lifting the forc, he waits while Lucas ignores it.
    “She’s heard me swear before.” Lucas watches him.
    “It wasn’t the swearing, it’s what you were saying about her .”
    Lucas pales his mind racing.
    “What was I saying?”
    “Lucas…”
    “If I’ve been talking for the last eight nights, I need to know what she’s hearing.”
    “Look, she knows you don’t mean it.”
    “Did Tanner? What am I saying?” he demands.
    “Stupid shit like ‘why don’t you just kill me’ and ‘this is the thanks I get for protecting you’. Shit like that.”
    “She never said a word, not one fucking word. ” He has to move, standing he paces.
    “Did you think she would ? I’m sure she’s heard it all before.”
    “Not from me . Not about things from her past, things that happened between us . Fuck!” A knock on the hatch saves Dodge for having to say more. Opening the hatch, he finds Victoria on the other side. Perfect.
    “What’s wrong? ” She pushes past Dodge to find Lucas on the far side of the room, looking pissed a half-eaten meal on the table. “Do you need pain shot?”
    “No.”
    She looks to Dodge for help. He just shrugs at her.
    “He slept through the night . Has had a shower. Ate most of first meal then got pissy.”
    “He tends too. What else?”
    “I’m standing right here, ask me .” Lucas hates them acting as if he’s not in the room.
    “Right, ” Green eyes pin him before she turns back to Dodge. “No fever, unusual pain?”
    “Not that he said . You look better.” Even Lucas can see she looks rested.
    “Feel better, thanks for the help.”
    “Anytime. Do you want me back for the night shift tonight?”
    “Can I let you know ? I’m thinking we might be able to remove the splints tonight.”
    “Really ! So soon?” Dodge asks.
    “Yeah, he’s responding to the treatments really well . How’s Tanner doing?”
    “Good, really good, full use. ” Dodge looked shocked she remembered.
    “That’s good to hear . I’ll let you know by 1600, is that soon enough?”
    “That’s fine . Later Lucas.”
     
    “He didn’t