Ghost eyed Dan. “You let the asshole put a hand on Valerie?”
“I didn’t realize it was unwelcome until she jerked free. If he’d touched her again, I’d have cuffed him. I wouldn’t let your woman come to harm.”
“Sorry.” Ghost pulled her closer. “I didn’t like seeing him grab her.”
“I hear you. Then again, sometimes it’s good to face old lovers and deliver the hard truths.” Dan gave Valerie an approving nod before grinning at Kari. “Right, pet?”
“Yes, Master.” Obviously irked, the short schoolteacher poked Dan in the side.
Valerie almost laughed. It seemed she wasn’t the only one who’d had a relationship go sour.
Ghost kissed the top of her head. “Are you all right?”
“I am.” She leaned into him. “It did feel good to close the door on the past, but I totally appreciate the rescue. Really. It might have turned ugly.”
“I can’t think of anything I enjoy more than rescuing you.” His gaze held a warm promise as he cupped her cheek. “Anytime, anywhere. I got you, lass.”
He could make her heart overflow.
Unable to speak, she pressed a kiss into his warm palm instead.
And that earned her a kiss, a long, possessive, hungry kiss.
When he released her, she took a step back and took a moment to study him.
He wore black jeans tucked into black boots, and a long-sleeved gold tunic with the Star Fleet insignia. His iron-gray hair and ingrained military posture gave him an authority far more authentic than any actor’s.
It certainly didn’t hurt that his tunic was tight enough to show ridged abdominal muscles. Mmm. “You look better than Kirk ever did.”
“Good to hear.” Ghost grinned, then motioned to the room. “Have you all noticed how many sadists came as either the Borg or Klingons?”
Valerie laughed. “Mistress Anne is a Borg.”
“And Edward went for Klingon. Interesting.” Dan eyed Ghost. “Considering you’re a sadist, I’m surprised you showed up as Kirk.”
“It was the deal I made with Z. If I wanted him as Fleet Admiral, I had to show up in a captain’s uniform.”
“I’d take bets he wore a black dress uniform,” Dan said.
Ghost nodded. “You’d win.”
Kari snickered. “He’s all about the black.”
Seeing the slight quirk of the Colonel’s lips, Valerie asked. “What did you do?”
“I provided his insignia and medals.” Ghost’s eyes crinkled. “He now has the most colorful chest in the galaxy.”
Even after the drive home, Barry was still fuming. That fucking bitch. He stormed into the house with Kahlua sulking behind him.
“Jesus, I need a drink.” Spotting Alisha, he snapped out, “Get me one now.”
She was too slow, so he grabbed the bottle and poured, then gulped it down.
Kahlua started telling Alisha about seeing Valerie at the club but changed the story so she sounded like hot shit.
He scowled. “You acted like an idiot.”
Her mouth snapped shut in the middle of insulting Valerie.
“And you’re dressed like a skank.”
Wailing, she ran into the bedroom.
Valerie hadn’t looked sleazy; she never did. Even tonight with her tits almost popping out, she was still classy.
And he’d forgotten how much he liked her big breasts. Real breasts—Kahlua’s cheaply bought bazookas were almost as hard as rocks.
The sobbing from the bedroom didn’t diminish.
“Fuck, I’m tired of the noise.” He poured himself another drink.
When Valerie lived here, the place had been clean. He had a good meal every night. And they had money. “She needs to come back.”
“Valerie? You asked her?” Alisha asked slowly. “What did she say?”
“Said no.” His mouth went tight. “She hooked up with the bastard who robbed Wrecker of his job.”
The asshole had not only taken the manager job, but he’d stolen Valerie. He was in too good at the Shadowlands to be ejected, but if he thought he could keep Valerie… Barry scowled. Not going to happen.
He needed to find a way to make his wife see reason.
“So she’s not coming back. You know, that sucks. We’re like really out of money.” Alisha scowled. “The cable got shut off, and I can’t get any of my TV shows.”
“Yeah, well, it’s sad shit, ’cause I don’t have any money coming in right now.” Another contract had been broken because he’d fallen behind on getting the work done. And his insurance was raising his rates because there’d been too many accidents at the job sites. They said he was negligent.
Barry eyed Alisha. “Maybe you should get off your ass and get a full-time job, huh?”
“And maybe you should stop drinking, so you can bring in what you used to. Valerie was right.”