Page 8 of Stealing the Star Stone
At Captain’s greeting, she slumped and pressed her temple to the right of the ‘deploy rocket’ button.“Morning.”
“How did you sleep?”
She spun the chair and glared at him.He couldn’t possibly know, right?“As well as to be expected.”
“Good.”He beamed, then inched closer, his hands clasped behind his back.“I need you to escort Eli to his premiere.”
She shook her head, disbelief making her question her sanity.But reality hit harder than 45g’s.“You want me to do what?”she boomed.
Her cheeks tingled with the heat flushing them.Her breathing had gone haywire, and for the life of her, she couldn’t keep her hands from curling into fists.Sensual visions didn’t help calm her heartbeat.
“You’re acting like I asked for a limb,” Captain said, his warm brown eyes so like a puppy’s.
She usually couldn’t say no to him, but in this case, there was no way in hell she’d agree…
He continued, not picking up on her cues, “Said they would pay for your time, cover all expenses, and book us for the return trip.”
She reeled, the world spun, and she sank into the pilot’s seat.“So, not only do I have to schmooze with the ass, I have to fly him home?”A giggle escaped her, bordering on hysterics.
“It’s just one night,” Petr whispered, coming around to massage her shoulders.
Now that took guts.Anger warred with disbelief with amazement, and here Petr took a chance she wouldn’t strangle him.
“And you get to keep the clothes.”He offered a tentative smile.
She giggled again, then hiccupped, giving up on the man to face the real authority in the cockpit.“I’ll stab him with a champagne flute if you make me go.”
Captain winced, then tugged on the hem of his pristine white jacket.“We need this.”He raised his sad gaze to hers.“I’m not above begging, sweetheart.”
She blinked, switching her focus between him and Petr huddling in a corner like she was about to explode.When Captain didn’t back down, she slumped and stared at her clasped hands in her lap, zipping between excuses that lost their shine when she examined them too closely.
“I know,” she said, keeping her tone gentle.“It’s just that… This makes me feel dirty, like you’re not above pimping out your staff.If I wanted to spread my legs—”
“No one said anything about sex,” Captain gritted out.“Just spend the evening at the premiere then head home.Or not.Your choice.”
“Mychoice?”she squeaked, then pinched the bridge of her nose.“You’re bulldozing me for publicity and credits.What’s that if not prostitution?”
Captain tutted, but he had the decency to blush.Such a gentle soul, and she did adore him, but still.That he thought he could ask this made a piece of her heart shrivel up and disintegrate into a puff of ash.
“You don’t like him?”He frowned.“The man’s handsome, rich—”
“Lacks morals, has an ego bigger than Jupiter,” she ticked off on her fingers, “not to mention his entitlement complex, his arrogance, audacity, sheer—”
“All right, I get it.”Captain waved his hands, one missing a wedding finger.“It’s a few hours of your time, Nova.Please.”
“Tonight’s the farewell dinner.Let me get through that.”Without imagining where his lips have been.“If he can…behavehimself, I’ll think about it.”
Captain grinned.“Knew I could count on you.”
“I said I’ll think about it,” she snapped.
He shrugged.“I consider that a win.Come, Petr.”He nudged his chin at the door.“Let’s leave Nova to her thoughts.”
“Good idea.”Petr hurried out then peeked at her.“Whatya wearing?”
She glared at him.
He paled then bolted with a “I’ll have kitchen send you a tea.”
