Break Out - By Nina Croft Page 0,23

other hand, after their previous up-close encounter, she wasn’t sure just how much against her will it would be. Besides, it was clear Al wasn’t going to be satisfied until he felt she was safe. “That’s great. You organize it, and I’ll pay.”

The galley lay right at the center of the ship. The scent of food wafted from the room, and her stomach rumbled again. A large oval table took up most of the floor space, and a bank of food dispensers stood against one wall. Four people sat around the table. They looked up as Skylar hovered in the doorway.

“Good of you to join us,” Tannis said.

Skylar managed not to wince at the sarcastic tone. Instead, she curled her lips in the semblance of a smile. “My pleasure.”

Next to Tannis sat a woman Skylar hadn’t met before. She was perfect, from her tawny gold hair to the elegant black dress to the silver high heels, which looked right at home on the end of her slender legs. Skylar bet this woman never tripped over her feet.

“I’m Janey,” she said with an easy smile. “I look after the systems around here. Daisy you’ve already met, and”—she waved her fork at the man next to her—“this is the Trog. He’s our engineer. He doesn’t talk much, so don’t try and engage him in conversation.”

The Trog lifted his head and grunted. He appeared wholly human, but it was hard to tell anything beneath the shaggy mop of dark blond hair.

Skylar smiled in greeting and slipped into a chair. Al handed her a disposable tray of food, and Skylar kept her head down as she ate. After a few minutes, the conversation started up again, and she let it flow over her. The food was good, some sort of beef stew, and it tasted almost real. Finally, she put her fork down and sat back replete, to find everyone watching her. Everyone except Al, who jumped to his feet and started clearing the trays, depositing them down the recycling shoot.

Their gazes shifted to focus on something behind her. Skylar peeked over her shoulder, and the air seemed to leave the room. Rico’s lean figure lounged in the open doorway, enticingly rumpled, still in his usual black pants and shirt, but his weapons were gone, his feet were bare, and his dark hair hung loose around his shoulders. A whole new kind of hunger rumbled in her belly.

His lips curved into a slow smile, and he sauntered into the room. He touched her lightly on the shoulder as he passed, and a shiver prickled across her skin, her breath catching in her throat. He held something in his hand—a small rectangular object that he placed on the table in front of him as he sank into the chair opposite.

Skylar pushed herself to her feet. “Thanks for the food,” she said to the room in general.

Rico watched her sleepily. “Stay,” he murmured. When she didn’t move, he tilted his head to the side and studied her. “What can happen with everyone here?”

Tannis snorted, but Skylar ignored the sound, concentrating on Rico. He leaned in closer. “I won’t bite, and I’m lonely and feeling nostalgic. I thought we might play an old Earth game.” He glanced around at the others. “All of us.”

Skylar realized she wanted to stay. Everyone else appeared relaxed; Janey and Daisy were staring at Rico with something approaching hero worship. Tannis was actually smiling.

What harm could it do?

“Come on, Skylar, you know you want to play with me.” Rico’s tone was low and dark and ignited a fire deep inside her.

The flare of heat reminded her that he was dangerous—that she couldn’t trust herself around him and that she should get the hell out of there. Instead, she slowly sank into her chair. “What are we playing?”

He grinned. “Seven-card stud. A game I learned when I lived in the Wild West. Around a thousand years ago, give or take a couple of hundred.”

“I’ve read about the Wild West,” Daisy said, eyes wide. “Were you a cowboy?”

Amusement gleamed in his eyes. “I’m a vampire, honey, and there aren’t too many cows that need chasing at night.” He relaxed in his chair. “So this,” he said, picking up the box in front of him, “is a deck of cards.”

. . .

It was true, he had been feeling nostalgic—a new experience for him. He suspected Skylar was the cause, but had no clue why she affected him so profoundly. After she’d punched him yesterday, he’d