Starcrossed - Bianca D'Arc Page 0,9

a tease, and he was handsome enough to sweep most women off their feet. The ladies would have to watch that one. He was a rascal, if Ginny was any judge.

Tigh introduced a few more of his men, and then, dinner was served. It consisted of a few courses but was thankfully shorter than Ginny had feared. Tigh was pleasant company, if a bit overly solicitous. He talked with everyone, but somehow, his attention never seemed to stray far from her. His pale blue gaze followed her at all times, not in a creepy way, but it was definitely disconcerting.

Ginny felt like she was under a microscope. Not only was the emperor watching her every move, but so was everyone else. Her small hope that her fellow officers wouldn’t make a big deal out of Tigh’s impulsive proposal quickly dissolved. Before the first course had even been removed, she’d been asked the question she’d been dreading.

“What are you going to do, Captain Starbridge?” Leah Blackwell-Amber asked from just a few seats away. “Are you considering accepting the emperor’s proposal?” A hush fell over the table, even though Leah had spoken in moderate tones. It seemed everyone wanted to know the answer.

Including Ginny.

She had no clue what she should do. The question had preyed on her mind for hours now, and she was no closer to a resolution. Tigh, himself, was a temptation. Just on a purely physical level, he was a handsome man with the startling combination of thick black hair and palest blue eyes. He could have been a vid star in the old days, if he hadn’t already inherited an empire.

Men were few and far between these days, and the idea of having one to herself was definitely intriguing, though it wasn’t something she’d ever expected would come her way. Especially not such a handsome and obviously fit specimen. She was attracted to him, despite her better judgment, but she couldn’t be ruled by hormones. She had to think through this decision and do what was best for all concerned, not just for her raging hormones.

“I’m not certain what I’ll do, yet,” she hedged. “I mean, I’m considering it, but I haven’t made up my mind.”

“But you could end this war, once and for all.” One of the older human officers sounded almost scornful of her hesitancy.

Ginny had to tread carefully. “I realize that, of course. And I, too, want peace. But there are other factors to be considered.”

“Like what?” the abrasive officer wanted to know.

Tigh held up one hand, signaling for silence. “Please, let us not talk of this at table. Ginny will make up her mind in good time. I’d prefer she not be pressured.” He smiled to soften his words, and the older officer seemed to relent, sitting back in her chair while one of Tigh’s hands covered Ginny’s on the table. It was an obvious show of support that was oddly comforting, though Ginny felt a little foolish holding hands like a schoolgirl at what was essentially a state dinner.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Ginny pulled her hand out from under Tigh’s, tucking it firmly into her lap.

The rest of the dinner went well after that, though Ginny remained uncomfortably aware that she and the jit emperor were the center of much speculation and curiosity. She hated the limelight but had learned to live with it while in port. On her ship, she could be as anonymous as the next captain, but every time she docked lately, there was a contingent of newsbots ready to follow her every move.

It was a hazard of the job. After some initial embarrassment at being caught in a few odd-looking situations while on-station, she’d learned to curb her movements so she would never again be embarrassed in the media. Being a ship’s captain had garnered her a certain amount of publicity, and her war record was openly discussed in the media. She saw no sense in giving the galactic news corps anything salacious to speculate about her personal life.

But then, Tigh had happened. He’d turned her life into intergalactic news fodder, and no matter what her answer to his proposal, she knew she would have to live with the fallout for years to come. If she said yes, the newsbots would never be gone from her life. If she said no, speculation would run rife, as would condemnation from many people. If she refused his offer of marriage, would she prolong the war? She didn’t know, but even she