Mama and the Alien Warrior (Treasured By The Alien #1) - Honey Phillips Page 0,32

had provided filled him with a sense of possessive pride. His tail caressed the infant’s face and briefly circled Abigail’s wrist before he wrestled it back under control.

“All of you look beautiful,” he added. Abigail smiled at him, but worry shadowed her beautiful face. “Is there a problem, my flower?”

“Did you talk to your officer?” She nodded towards the viewport and his heart sank. Ribel was standing there, pointing out something to the young pregnant female. Ribel’s tail circled her waist while she looked up at him with wide eyes, her face glowing.

“I’m afraid not. I apologize. There have been other matters requiring my attention, but that is no excuse for not keeping my word. I will talk to him as soon as the meal is over.”

“Thank you.” She gave him a rueful smile. “TeShawna thinks Molly will find a way to be with him no matter what we do, but she’s just so young…”

“I will inform him. He’ll do the honorable thing.” I hope. “I am going to have him sit with me. Under the circumstances, perhaps it would be better if I didn’t join you.”

“I wants to sit with you, Leonardo,” Lucie said, her eyes wide.

He gave Abigail a helpless look.

She shook her head, but smiled at him. “Is that all right with you?”

“Of course. I would have all three of you with me if I could.” He suspected that his eyes betrayed his feelings, because Abigail blushed.

“Just please make sure she eats and doesn’t spend all of her time talking instead.”

“I will retain my ear,” he assured her.

She looked startled for a moment before her face lit up with a smile. “I am happy to hear that. I’m going to round up the girls and get everyone seated. Will you send Molly to me?”

“Of course.” He bowed, then he and Lucie headed for the young couple.

His heart sank even more as he approached. He could tell by the scent that Molly’s outfit had been created from Ribel’s clothing. Aware that he had violated his own rule—he had forbidden his men to indicate who any of the donated items belonged to—he wondered how the girl had managed to find Ribel’s garments.

“Ensign Ribel, you will join me for dinner.” It was not a request, and he could see Ribel’s mouth open to protest before he recollected himself.

“Yes, sir. Molly, will you—”

“Abigail is waiting for you,” he said firmly to the young female.

She, too, looked as though she wanted to argue, but instead, she touched Ribel’s tail briefly and went to join Abigail. Ribel opened his mouth again.

“I will talk to you after dinner,” Hrebec said firmly. “In my office—no, my ready room.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lucie, obviously tired of being left out of the conversation, leaned forward and spoke to Ribel. “I gots a new dress.”

To Hrebec’s relief, the young officer tore his gaze away from Molly and spoke to Lucie. “I can see that. Did you make it?”

“I helped,” she said proudly, then began instructing them both on the art of dressmaking as he carried her to the table.

Chapter Fifteen

The meal could not have been called a success. Although Hrebec enjoyed Lucie’s company and her artless conversation, he wished Abigail had been next to him to enjoy it as well. Ribel spent most of the meal staring down the long table at Molly and tensing every time another crewman spoke to her. At least she ignored anyone paying attention to her and kept gazing at Ribel. Mekoi was not so lucky. TeShawna interacted with everyone in her vicinity, obviously enthralling the young crew members surrounding her, while his medical officer grew darker at each burst of laughter and his tail lashed angrily.

Jedan was the only one of his senior officers who enjoyed the meal. He had used the excuse of assisting Elaina with the second infant and had seated himself next to her. Watching the couple with the two babies made Hrebec’s chest ache. He wanted that for himself—and he wanted it with Abigail. But he had promised to return her to her world and he would never break that vow.

As the meal wore on, he could also see the rising tension among his younger warriors as they all competed for the females’ attention. There would be more training circuits in their future. Abigail, too, seemed aware of the rivalry, interjecting a soft word here or, if that didn’t work, giving the man a stern glance. Fortunately, his crewmen responded well to her tactful censure. He would have hated to disturb