Page 7 of Mongrels United
Hyson didn’t seem offended. He bent his head. She could count the lashes around his silver-grey eyes. See the individual hairs on his chin, separated by the cleft.
“You would enjoy yourself. I guarantee it.” His voice rumbled.
She swallowed, her heart pounding. “No.”
That didn’t seem to trip him up, either. His face wassoclose to hers. “You’re a rarity on this ship, Grady. I know I could spend a lot of time exploring and still not find all the depths in you.”
His hand settled on her waist. He didn’t try to draw her against him. Nothing that crude. His fingers rested against her thin shirt, not moving. Not coaxing. But she could feel the heat and weight of his hand like a brand against her flesh.
She shivered. Hyson saw it, for he leaned farther, so that his lips hovered over hers.
“No,” Grady said. Her voice was weak. So she added. “Let me go.” Not that he was actually holding her. But she knew he would understand exactly what she meant.
He did understand. He studied her for three long heart beats, then straightened. His hand fell away. “Ah…” His tone was regretful. “Strength, too. I regret what might have been.”
Oddly, she suspected he was telling the truth. “From what I know about you, you’ll recover from your regret soon enough. Good night, Nash Hyson.”
“Good night, Grady Read.” He paused. “Clip, turn off the cone in a graduating curve, so our guest’s ear drums don’t burst with the shock of it.”
“Sliding volume, as requested, Nash,” the bot replied. “Good night, Grady Read.”
“Umm…Thank you,” she said, startled. “Clip?”
“That’s me,” the bot replied, as the noise of the party built up around her. Hyson was right, the gradual re-immersion took all the shock out of it. But she still winced as the full volume was restored.
Hyson smiled, amused at her newcomer discomfort. His smile revealed even, white teeth. Then he stepped around her and was gone. Clip rolled after him, making no attempt to keep up.
Kailash came over to her. His jaw was working.
“It was a bust,” Grady guessed. She was back to shouting.
“He wants more than printing new gear would cost,” Kailash grated out, his mouth near her ear. “Says they’re museum pieces and have rarity value. This has been a complete waste of time. Even you didn’t score.” And he glanced over her shoulder in the direction Hyson had gone.
“Oh, I could have scored,” she said with an airy tone she had to force, for her heart was still strumming. “I tossed him back.”
Kailash stared at her, his brow furrowed. “Youwhat?”
“Even you said I should stay away from him,” she pointed out.
“I meant don’t get any romantic notions! I didn’t say don’t bed the man if he offers. You need torelax, Grady!”
“Which I can do at home, with hot chocolate,” she said tartly. “Can we please leave now?”
“Stars, yes,” he said, as firmly as her.
Chapter Three
Nash didn’t wake with a thick head. He never did. Instead, his jaw throbbed where Pietro had managed to land his full fist against the corner. It had been a lucky jab, one that connected squarely and it was completely his fault. He’d been distracted…
And just like that, ten seconds after waking, his thoughts had circled back to Grady Read.
It had been a foolish notion to think she might be amenable to an evening together. The Captain’s Chief of Staff? Given Nash’s background and business interests, she was the absolute last person on the ship he should sniff around—even if she did smell warmly delightful and full of promise.
She had wanted him. He’d seen it in her pale blue eyes. The pulse in her throat had also given her away. But she had said no. Which had surprised the hell out of him. He’d been so sure of her and the signals she had been giving him.
She was a lovely woman. He’d seen her on screens, before, but always with her hair pinned at the back of her head. He hadn’t realized it was blonde, or quite so wavy and long.
Or that she was so tall, either. Everyone, no matter who they were, always had to look up at him, but she hadn’t craned her neck the way some people did. Just a lift of the fine chin.
