by Autumn Dawn
Brandy had taken the night off, rightly assuming the staff could handle things. She’d been spending more time tinkering in the distillery lately, trying new recipes for sodas and ales. At least that’s what Gem hoped she was doing. For all she knew, Brandy was carrying on an affair with the brewmaster.
Gem frowned and decided to take a walk through the distillery later. A girl ought to know what was going on in her inn.
Her family’s private apartments were on the south side of the inn, above the office. Each sister had her own bedroom, and they shared the sitting room. Their father’s room remained vacant. They dusted it from time to time, but that was it. Gem supposed whichever of them married first would take it over.
It suddenly occurred to her that Xera might not come back. It was very possible that she would find a man in the GE and settle down somewhere else, maybe even off-planet. Her sister Brandy showed no signs of doing so, but what if she left also? Gem would be stuck alone in the old family suite, no husband in sight. What a depressing thought!
Shaking it off, she left her room and headed for the private stairs that let out by her office. Opening the door at the bottom, she froze. She’d locked her office door but now it stood open. Someone was inside.
She glanced over at the kitchen, which was full of people coming and going. That, to her mind, narrowed the suspects. A peek around the corner confirmed her suspicions: Blue.
He glanced her way as she pushed the door wide, then continued fishing things out of his box and laying them on her desk. Packing material was scattered around like confetti, along with bits of electronic equipment. Zsak was there, too, and he was preparing to drill a hole in her wall.
“Hold it!” Gem thundered. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Zsak was standing on a ladder with his power tool, poised to do untold damage. He lowered the drill at her bellow. “Wow! You look tasty,” he said with appreciation. She ignored him.
Blue leaned his hip against her desk and crossed his arms. “Setting up your security system. I assumed you’d want it centralized in your office. We need a place to monitor everything.”
“I don’t think so! You’re not turning my office into some kind of…of…” The idea of Blue and his overgrown buddy constantly underfoot was unacceptable. “Find someplace else.”
“Okaaay. Which one of the guest rooms do you want me to use?”
She glowered at him. “None of them. They’re all let out.”
“You have forty rooms here!”
“And they’re all in use,” she repeated. In fact, she was making plans to build a new inn on the other side of the property. They certainly had the demand. “We’re at full capacity. Go use the potting shed or something,” she grumbled.
“Unacceptable.”
She huffed. “Look, if I’d realized your little project was going to cause so many problems—”
“We’re not doing this slipshod, girlie,” he said sternly. “We need a room to work in, something with access limited to a very few people. What else do you have?”
“The only other spot is our private suite, and I’m not interested in you tromping in and out of that at all hours.”
“You’d rather be shot?” he asked politely. “You did approve this list and spend a bundle on this stuff, and we’ve already installed the cameras and sensors. We can’t return them.”
Sometimes she hated him. This whole thing was being blown far out of proportion, considering there hadn’t been any new attempts today…But he was right: She’d paid for the stuff and wasn’t one to waste assets. “Fine. You can use my father’s room. But I want to know exactly what you’re going to do before you do it. Everything.”
“Well, first Zsak is going to run to the bathroom. Then we’ll do a perimeter check—”
“To the room,” she said crossly, knowing he was deliberately misunderstanding. “I have to check on things in the banquet hall, but then I’ll be up to supervise. Don’t make any holes in the wall until I arrive.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Zsak saluted her with the drill.
She muttered something nasty under her breath and headed for the door, then turned suddenly. “And don’t ever pick my lock again!”
“I’d like to pick her lock,” Zsak said mildly after Gem left. “She has no appreciation for what a deal she’s getting. You work too cheap, you know.”
Blue snorted. “She won’t find out from you.”
“What you mean is, she won’t believe a word I say, considering I’m a friend to your own charming self.”
Blue threw monitors back in their box. “I am charming.”
“Not around her. It would smooth our way if you could be a little slicker. I’ve seen you do it.”
“I don’t want to do it. Not with her.”
“Now that’s a lie if I ever heard one.” Zsak laughed as he folded his ladder. “Try again.”
Blue sent his friend a dark glance, then continued packing. “We’re going to leave here when this assignment is over. She’s the type who would want me to stay. You know how the women are on this planet. They have strict moral codes. And me? I’m a professional.”
“Never stopped you before. Remember that little Ispian princess? You said she was worth the official reprimand.”
“This is different.”
“Ah.”
“Bite me,” Blue said. “Grab that ladder and let’s go.”
Chapter Five
Gem assumed a pleasant expression as she entered the bar. She’d been looking forward to a little socialization until Blue had thrown her into a foul mood. It’d take effort, but maybe she could salvage the evening. The place was starting to fill up, and there were a couple of good-looking men present. Mourners milled around the buffet tables or socialized in clusters. She wouldn’t stay late, of course; miners’ wakes could get wild as the night rolled on. Jaq and the servers would handle anyone who got too crazy.
They’d turned on the bar’s sparkly lights for the occasion, making the ceiling look like a shifting nebula of stars with pink and blue swirls. They’d just installed the lights, and Gem was proud of them, like she was proud of the new kiwi arbor near the inn’s entrance. She and Brandy had strung some sparkly lights out there, too. The look was simple and not sophisticated, but it was beautiful. She had dreams of someday transforming The Spark into something special and artistic, something more than just a watering hole and flophouse for migrant miners.
“Gem. How lovely to see you this evening.”
Gem stiffened at the familiar voice. There was no reason for him to be here; she would have been content never to hear that deep, cultured voice ever again. Memories of what might have been made her fight for a neutral expression.
“Cirrus,” she said, and slowly turned. “I didn’t know you were a friend of the deceased.”
He smiled affectionately, lingeringly. “I came to see you. You look lovely this evening.”
She suddenly felt like crying. At one time she’d had hopes this man would marry her. They’d spent a great deal of time together. Anyone might have thought he was courting her. Unfortunately, she must not have been an attractive enough proposition, because suddenly he’d become distant, gently discouraging. It hadn’t taken much to make her back off. She wasn’t the sort to pursue an uninterested man.
Drawing in a deep, discreet breath, she smiled politely. “How’s your business?”
He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “We import, we export. Today it is Aliskan sea worm caviar that is hot. We’ve had an influx of Calisti immigrants. They have a soft spot for such delicacies.”
“Well, best of luck with that.” Having exhausted her stash of polite business conversation, she gave a polite nod and prepared to make a dignified exit.
“I am having a small party at my house this Friday,” Cirrus said slowly, making a polite little bow. “I would be honored if you would join us.”
She allowed herself to frown. “I doubt that would be wise. Sadly, I must decline.” H
e always brought out formality in her, as if she had to live up to his standard of polished speech. Sure, she was educated, but she didn’t usually speak so stiffly. She wasn’t sure she even liked it.
He stared at her from beneath lowered lashes. “I was the one who was unwise, my dear. I have underestimated many things. However, I will not press you at this time. Have a good evening.”
As if she could, now.
Keeping her expression neutral, Gem made her rounds, giving her regrets, and then returned to the family apartments. She didn’t hear any yelling as she entered, so Brandy must not have come back. Just as well. She didn’t want her sister asking questions.
The suite’s kitchen and living room were grouped together in an open design. Their father had favored simple yet comfortable furniture, so the room was chock full of overstuffed, dark leather chairs. The upholstery was fraying, but Gem hadn’t gotten around to replacing it yet. Such furniture cost money that could be better used elsewhere. Nonetheless, Gem suddenly wanted to toss it all and start over.
Voices came from her father’s room, and she made herself walk over to see what was going on. Not that she cared so much what they were doing at that moment, but she knew she would later.
Blue took one look at her face and stiffened. “Did someone shoot at you again?”
She looked away. “No. It was nothing.”
“Something happened.”
Knowing he would press, she nonetheless insisted, “It was nothing.” Then she admitted, “An old suitor was at the wake. Just…memories.”
Blue’s gaze narrowed. “That rich importer guy?”
Gem stared at him. “How did you know?”
Blue shrugged. “Heard about him when I was still hanging out in the bar. A couple of guys were discussing your…assets. One miner thought a man could take it easy if he married you. His buddy piped up and said you were practically engaged to a rich importer already. ‘Nother guy said, Nah, he’d broke with you, that he wanted a girl with more money.”
Brutal but accurate, Gem guessed. She looked away, her eyes stinging. She canted her head in farewell and headed for her room before any tears fell.
She should have locked her door. She was just drawing breath for a really big sob when it opened. Blue poked his head in and saw her sitting on her bed.
He winced. “My big mouth. Look, he’s scum and you shouldn’t be crying over him. What you need is a stiff drink and a good boxing match.”
She choked, and swiped quickly at the tears that hadn’t quit falling. “I don’t box.” She laughed.
He snorted. “To watch, then. Or…I could teach you some dirty fighting, if it would make you feel better.”
A picture of them wrestling on the floor came to her mind, which made her shake her head. No, that wouldn’t be good. Not now.
Blue muttered something, moved close and knelt at her feet, pulled off her shoe.
Startled, she jerked back, but he had a firm grip. “What are you doing?”
“Sacrificing myself,” he muttered. “It’s better than spending the evening cursing my flapping gums. You ought not take seriously everything that comes out of them.”
“How—? Ohhhhh.” She didn’t want to relax, but he had gentle hands, and that was a tender spot he was massaging.
“See how your foot is all curled up? Nervous habit with your toes, I’d bet. You need to quit that. One of these days your foot will cramp in your shoe and stay that way.” For him, he was using a solicitous tone.
“I don’t…need you to do this,” she whispered. Her throat was too tight to say anything else.
His fingers gently worked each toe; then he moved up to her ankles. He took his time, and his motions made her relax against her will. Slowly, he brought her foot to his mouth and kissed it.
“What are you doing?” she gasped.
His hands moved up her calf and worked the muscles there. Sure and strong, they soothed away the tension—and made her shudder.
“Stop!”
He did, but he also went to work on the other foot, easing it a couple of inches away from the first and continuing to knead.
Gem fought the muddled morass of her feelings. More than just her foot hurt, and here Blue was, invading her space, a perfect scapegoat for her wounded heart. “What is it you want, Blue? My inn? Think you can make a fortune through me?”
He kissed her foot, moved up to her ankle and then her calf. His eyes lifted, meeting hers. Their blue color was smokier than normal. “It’s not money I want,” he said.
A sob caught in her throat. Warring feelings buzzed through her blood, made her dizzy. “You want to bed me? Is that it? The way you always talk to me—”
His admission slid through her like hot steel. “Bed you, kiss you…lick my way up one leg and down the other…with a lengthy pause in between.” He widened her thighs an inch by moving her foot, and stared between them.
She gasped. “I’m n-not…I…” She couldn’t make her brain work. Instead, she pushed at him, but she had no strength. She was shocked. That was what it was.
“One kiss,” he said darkly, and then crawled atop her, dragging her up the bed. He settled himself between her thighs, making her gulp. Her lungs were working so hard, and it felt like she was trying to drag wet, heavy air into them. She’d never felt the weight of a man before, never known what it would do to her body.
“Hyna!” she gasped.
“Blue,” he growled against her mouth. “Just Blue.”
They heard a door slam, then Brandy’s voice rising in anger. Blue had left Gem’s bedroom door open, but it was Zsak her sister was yelling at…for now.
Blue cursed. Vividly and thoroughly. For a moment he refused to move, maybe couldn’t. Then he rolled off Gem, getting to his feet with another oath. Disoriented, Gem sat up, staring at the door with confusion.
Brandy appeared. Her angry expression grew suspicious. “What’s going on in here?”
Gem struggled to look normal, though it was difficult to focus. “Nothing! He didn’t even kiss me.” She made it to her knees and glanced at Blue. He rolled his eyes and looked away.
Brandy shot Blue a look of disgust. “You were seducing her, weren’t you? I knew it! Wrecking my father’s room, worming your way in here…you just want to get into her bed, don’t you?”
He folded his arms and stared at her.
“Have you no shame? You’re diseased, aren’t you? You’ll bring disease to my sister—and babies! You’ll get her with child and leave. How dare you? Don’t you have any…?” Brandy ranted on and on. She just wouldn’t shut up.
Blue glanced at Gem’s belly, then her face. He looked away. A tiny smile began to play at the corners of his mouth. Soon he was fighting an actual grin.
“What are you smiling at?” Brandy screamed. She looked ready to hyperventilate.
Zsak walked up behind her, listening. He gave her a wide-eyed look and drew her forcibly from the room. “I think they need to talk,” he told Gem’s sister. “And you need to breathe.”
“He…he…” Brandy wheezed.
“We’ll leave the door open. Come here. I’ll find you a bag.” He took her across the room and made her lie down on the couch, coached her to slow down and breathe.
Blue looked at Gem. She was sitting on the bed, still dazed. “Well, that was a near thing. Guess it was a good thing your sister was here to save you from my big bad self.”
She blew out a breath and looked away.
“I’d better get back to work,” he said. With one last scorching look, he shook his head as if with deep regret. He sauntered to the door, hesitated in the doorway. There he turned, scanned her again…and winked.
She drew a deep, shuddering breath. Eyes closed, she spared a moment to wish Brandy had taken longer to get home. That he’d closed the door. That…something. Well, maybe a closed door would have been bad. He wasn’t “the one,” but at least a kiss would have ended the tension between them. Of course, giving an inch to a man like Blue
would be like tossing him the whole mile. A fool’s bet—that’s what he was.
In the sitting room, Brandy hadn’t calmed down. She’d reached full steam and was now beginning to boil over. Taking pity on Zsak, who was murmuring rather helplessly, Gem slid off the bed and went to calm her sister before she sprang a leak.
Brandy had at least started breathing normally, if not talking coherently, but at the sight of Gem she started to hyperventilate again. Seeing that reinforcements had arrived, Zsak fled.
“Touchy chick,” he muttered as he entered the command center that he and Blue were setting up in the girls’ father’s bedroom. The two men exchanged a look and a silent laugh. Blue got back to work.
“Was she worth it?” Zsak asked. His tone was casual.
“Never found out,” Blue replied. He paused, screwdriver in hand, and stared at the wall, unseeing.
“There’ll be a next time,” Zsak assured him. “Hand me that clutch of wires, would you? No, the yellow ones.”
“How could you? We hardly know him!”
Gem considered which subject to tackle first. “All our rooms are rented. I already agreed to pay for the equipment and it won’t do any good sitting around.”
“But Daddy’s room?”
“He’s not using it, sis, and I think Dad would approve. He’d be pretty upset if I were shot.”
Brandy nodded, allowing for that. “But you still don’t know anything about these guys.” She lowered her voice. “What if they’re behind it all?”
Gem considered for a moment. “Well, I can’t say I didn’t wonder that myself. The detectives didn’t like either of them being around yesterday. Still, when I checked with my friend about Blue, he really didn’t have much to tell me other than things Blue admitted himself. I suppose I could make a call about Zsak, though if there’d been anything in his history to report, the police probably would have given it up.”
“It’s not just me who’s worried,” Brandy pointed out.
“No. You’re being reasonable and looking out for me. Look, Blue was in the IC’s peacekeeping forces, and Zsak was, too, from what he says. So, here’s what we’ll do. I’ll make a call to the on-base IC military police and explain what—”