Page 59 of Tattle Tail
“I am able to make my own decisions and I expect you to respect those decisions,” she said, adopting a tone of explaining a concept to a kit. “Joseph carries my heart.”
“I can offer you so much more,” he said.
But not what her heart wanted.
“Joseph has never once tried to convince me that I did not know my own mind. He respects my opinions and my skills. He does not…” She struggled to find the correct words. Inelegantly, they all tumbled out at once. “He has not and now he is ill and may die, and that is your fault because you are a selfish male. You are just as vain and foul as Ardent, but at least he knows it.”
His eyes widened, finally grasping that Peaceable was not being overdramatic. His actions had put others’ lives in jeopardy. “I will do everything I can to ensure that Joseph recovers.”
“Good.” She spat the word out. “You will also pay all our medical bills.”
“Agreed.”
“And completely finance the retrieval and repair of his ship.”
“That is quite an expense.”
“I imagine a lawsuit would be more expensive. Joseph is not merely a CayneTech employee. Winter Cayne is his brother-in-law, and everyone knows that Winter Cayne is not afraid to involve lawyers and the media,” she said.
It was a lie, as Winter disliked any sort of attention on the private workings of his family, but she must have convinced Lord Resolve.
He dipped his head. “Agreed.”
“Well, now I am grateful that we understand one another,” she said, turning her attention back to Joseph. His breathing was shallow but not labored.
Lord Resolve stood awkwardly, his hands fidgeting. “Do you require anything?”
“I require access to the comms to contact our family.”
“Access granted.” He issued an order to the computer and left.
Peaceable refilled a cup with water and returned to Joseph’s side. “How much of that did you hear?”
“Enough.” He pushed himself up into a sitting position. “You love me.”
Heat rose in her cheeks, and her tail swayed with happiness. “You knew that.”
“Still nice to hear.” He coughed, reminding her she held a glass of water.
He drained the glass and licked any stray drops from his lips. “I must be in pretty bad shape.”
She didn’t bother to deny it. “You have a serious infection, but a medical shuttle is on its way.”
“I feel better. Healed by the power of your wrath.” He handed the empty glass to her. “More water, please.”
She gave him the refilled cup and two pain-reducing tablets. “You have periods of alertness, then your fever spikes and you sleep.”
“What else can we charge Lord Whatits for out of spite?”
“Lost wages. Destroyed equipment,” she said immediately. “Obviously refilling your antiquated oxygen tanks, which must be expensive because it is such an old technology.”
He leaned back into the pillows. “You are gorgeous when you’re being spiteful. I love you so much right now.”
“Just right now?” She pressed a kiss to his brow, pleased to find it warm but not feverish.
His eyes fluttered shut as sleep took him again. “Always.”
Chapter 18
