Page 1 of Space Cowgirl: Houston, All Systems Go
One
Atmospheric Reentry
Jules
Spinning.So much spinning.
Lights flash beneath my eyelids and the temperature of my surroundings heats to an uncomfortable level. My lungs struggle for breath. When the end comes, it’s violent in its abruptness. There’s a sudden loss of time and space perception before my ass is slapped like a bull about to buck in the arena.
My dance partner grunts in appreciation and raises his hand to get another brief feel of my ass, but I swerve beyond his reach. Keeping in time with the beat, I continue out of his path and off the dance floor in search of a drink.
I like to dance. I like to dance with my eyes closed even more. It reminds me of reentry inside the claustrophobic Soyuz capsule. Dancing and speeding through the atmosphere toward the planet we call Earth are both beautiful in their carefully orchestrated violence.
At least the way I like to dance is.
Or live for that matter.
“Jules!” My new friend Rose waylays me as I head to the bar. “Damn, girl, you can dance. I swear, if this were Vegas I’d make a move on you.”
I hook my arm in hers and continue to where I can get some much-needed alcohol. “Why just Vegas?”
She shrugs, her constant mischievous grin in place. “I don’t know. It seems to be where my latent lesbian tendencies dwell.” She looks me up and down from the corner of her eye. “But I could always give you a go. Maybe Big Texas will resurface some hoo-ha fantasies.”
Laughing, I rap my knuckles on the bar, getting the attention of one of the bartenders. I’ve been gone a few months, and though I stopped being surprised by how the world continues to spin while I’m in zero gravity, this time was different. So much ofmyworld has changed.
At the far end of the oak bar top, Jackie’s perched on the lap of a hot piece of ass. Flynn. Apparently, my best friend took my recent pep talk, a.k.a. blackmail, to heart and found herself a social life. A social life complete with hot mechanic sexy times.
I can’t complain. It’s obvious Jackie’s new boyfriend worships her genius brain as much as her long, long legs, and her new friends welcomed me home like I’d known them all my life. Like real family should.
“What can I get you, sweet cheeks?”
Before I can open my mouth to answer the cute bartender smirking my way, Rose pipes up. “Sweet cheeks? Oh, Billy, you need some new material. Sweet cheeks may work on the bleached-out, rhinestoned-up cougar clientele you usually associate with.” She waves toward the crowded mass. “But this here is the living legend, America’s sweetheart, Astronaut Julie Starr.”
Billy takes a long look at me, eyes and mouth widening.
“Show some respect and get some new material for the recently returned to Earth hero, will ya?” Rose snaps her fingers at Billy’s slack jaw.
I laugh and wave away Rose’s words. “Really, no need. Sweet cheeks works.” I twist to look down at my ass. “After all, my assispretty damn sweet.”
Billy recovers, as does his smile. “Well, ladies, this calls for a drink on the house.”
“Beer for me,” I say. But he gives me a funny look and places three shot glasses on the bar.
Rose elbows me in the boob. “Hey, if the man wants to give you free liquor, you take the free liquor.” As if she didn’t just give me an inverted nipple, Rose fluffs her wavy blond hair and adjusts her bra, leaving her plentiful cleavage just this side of indecent.
I shrug, not even bothering to touch the chaos on top of my head. I’m back in the land of humidity and already sweaty from spinning on the dance floor; no telling what my mop-top of curls will look like if I try a come-hither hair flip. I’d probably look like an electrocuted poodle.
“Think Jackie wants one? Or Trish?” I ask, looking down the bar again.
“I think Jackie’s too busy sucking my brother’s face off.” Rose rolls her eyes. “Ugh, so gross.”
I glance over at the couple making out like it’s her last night on Earth. And for Jackie, I’m sure that time won’t be too far off. She was recently promoted to astronaut and her training starts soon. I can’t wait for us both to be on the ISS together. I’m going to angle hard to be on her first mission. “Where’s Trish?”
“Probably trying to lose her tail.”
“Tail?” I straighten up. “Someone hassling her?”
“Calm down there, bruiser,” Rose says, patting my arm. “I meant Ian. Ever since the dude locked eyes on her, he’s been following her around like a puppy dog.” She snorts. “Well, a really fine-looking puppy dog who tries to pretend he isn’t infatuated when in reality he’s one step away from stalkerville.”
