has been very honest and forthright with me. I’m beginning to trust him.”
“You’re carrying his baby,” the doctor said quietly, “aren’t you?”
Ginny nodded, unable to hide the smile or the tears gathering in her eyes. Getting pregnant was something most women wanted, but few were lucky enough to experience in this post-virus world.
“I am pregnant,” Ginny confirmed, “and I’m going to Solaris with Tigh and his crew when they leave here. I wanted to offer you all the same chance.” She stood and started to pace—a nervous habit she’d picked up while captaining the Sarasota. “The jits have few women and are completely devastated by the loss. I really think that my going there, my being pregnant, will give them hope for the future and give us all a chance for peace.”
“We heard the emperor’s speech before the Council. They’ve been broadcasting it over and over on all the news streams. Do you really think it’ll work?” Tiggy asked.
Ginny nodded. “I do. Think of it. A chance to bring a lasting peace after centuries of warfare. A chance to change both our races for the better and leave two thriving galaxies to our children.”
“Not to mention all those hot, horny men tripping all over themselves to get into our panties.” Henny’s earthy humor caught Ginny off guard and made her laugh out loud, as did all the women. Leave it to Henny to break the tension and bring them back to the nitty-gritty.
“There is that. And ladies, if Tigh is anything to judge by,” Ginny blushed hotly, “I think you’ll enjoy every minute of it. So what do you say? Think about it? I’d like to have some female company on Solaris, and Tigh’s promised we could find useful, satisfying work for anyone who doesn’t want to sit around all day eating bon bons. There are a multitude of tasks for which the male jit’suku are not prepared. They’re muddling through, but I think they’ll be glad to see women of a compatible species, even if they were at war with humanity for centuries.”
“I’ll go, Captain. There’s nothing holding me here, and you’ll need someone to watch your back.” Henny was the first to answer, and it warmed Ginny’s heart.
“Thank you for that, Chief. Look, I don’t need your answers right now. I want you to think about this carefully before you decide. I want you to meet some of the jit’suku men and study up on what we might encounter once we reach Solaris.”
A discreet knock sounded on the door before it opened. Tigh walked in, his handsome face smiling for her alone, it seemed, though he looked around at the assembled women. A few tried to stand, but he motioned them to sit with a gentle smile.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Tigh stood next to Ginny, unable to keep from touching her. He put one arm at her waist, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to draw her back into his embrace, but he knew that would be too much, too soon, for her crew and perhaps for her, as well.
“Your timing is impeccable, actually. I was just going to tell them what we had cooked up for tonight.” Ginny leaned back against the small credenza against the wall and smiled up at him. “Why don’t you do the honors?”
Her smile warmed him from the inside out. By the Goddess, this woman was special. Each time he saw her, he wanted her more.
“Gladly.” He turned toward the gathered women, taking just a moment to clear his mind. Ginny so easily stole his wits, he’d have to be careful. “I’m Tigh,” he introduced himself simply. It would be better, he decided, to be informal with these women. If the relationship between them and Ginny was anything like the relationship he’d had with his own crew, informality would be the order of the day to winning them over.
“Oh!” Ginny stood and came forward. “Let me do the introductions first.” She fussed a bit as she blushed, and Tigh was enchanted. “Sorry. Um, this is my executive officer, Lieutenant Sally Darlington.” She indicated a brown-haired woman who sat in the first seat on the right. Ginny then continued around the table. “Doctor Cat Heller.” A dark-haired woman with startling green eyes nodded at him. “Ensign Krysta Verity, navigator, Ensign Tiggy O’Roarke on comms, Chief Engineer Justina Soto, Chief Henny Sonata, master-at-arms, and Chief Penny Amato, payload master.”
“Ladies.” Tigh nodded at them, receiving smiles of varying friendliness in return. “I’ve looked forward