Prologue
It was a hard, dirtyjob, but like every job she'd had, she was good at it.She'd hired trained miners who needed only encouragement to meet her standards and reassigned those who couldn't.The mine's success earned her a bonus—the best air bike she'd ever seen.
With things going well, she gave bonuses to workers based on their jobs, even rewarding some marginal performers.Amid all this, she didn't want a warrior's attention, but he persisted, doing everything right.Just yesterday, he brought her lunch and wine, though she set the wine aside to work in the mine.
Victoria didn't know who prepared the meal, but it matched her own cooking, likely indicating a relative.Still, it was impressive, so she ate with him and saved the wine for later.Dessert was memorable, something she'd never had but wanted again.
Oret worked hard to win the woman he knew was meant for him.He saw progress, even if she denied it.Her family supported him, and she knew it because she was smart.She was everything he wanted, though she resisted him.Winning her would be sweeter because it was a hard-won battle, and he was a warrior.
He enjoyed their lunch together, and they got along well as leaders who understood heavy responsibilities.Oret wished Radvar hadn't put her in charge of the mine, but maybe Radvar thought she needed a challenge to stay busy, letting Fenwik and Sara run the planet.
Chapter 1
The Mines
Victoria fell intoher chair, weary but triumphant.The last six months brought many changes, and settling on the new planet proved to be a tough task.She’d just gotten the third mine running ahead of schedule by working tirelessly.Oret was her only solace, though she’d never admit it.He often left her gifts and special lunches.
She'd lost a lot of weight because she worked so hard.If it wasn't for him, she would have probably lost even more.Someone told him her favorite candy, and he had managed to find some.It couldn't have been easy, especially since there was nothing coming from Earth anymore.He'd found someone to make it for him, and the taste had been perfect.Chocolate and coconut were two of her weaknesses– in any form.Chocolate could be found, but as far as she knew, no one had found or grown coconut on any of the planets in the new empire or the human planets nearby.
Her admirer found someone to make her chocolate-covered coconut treats.If he kept this up, she might regain the weight she’d lost.She needed an assistant to share management duties.Her third candidate in six months was about to be reassigned.While the job was tough, she gradually gave her assistants responsibility, but none had yet managed to do much.
Oret could handle any task she gave him, but he was busy working for Fenwick and Sara.If they mated—not that she was considering it—would he work for her or resent having a woman as a boss?When she first took over, some miners said she had brass balls, making her more like a man.She didn’t mind as long as the job got done.Hard workers earned rewards; slackers were removed.
There was one of the miners she thought would do a good job, but she needed him where he was.He was training someone to cover for him when he took a vacation or needed a day off.The guy was doing everything correctly.If he performed well enough, then she would promote Gary to the position of her number two.Gary had a wife and four children, and he needed the extra money, even though they were doing alright with what he was doing now.His wife was a nurse and was working to become a healer.Because of her position, they had secured one of the first houses built.
Their position allowed them to add two rooms, making a comfortable home.One became a shared office, but Victoria suspected it would soon become a nursery.When that happened, they’d need another room and likely move, since houses were close for safety.There was still much unknown about the planet’s dangers after six months.
Victoria knew she had to get back to work, but exhaustion slowed her—until an alarm sounded and miners fled the shaft.What now?She jumped up and hurried over.
“Don't go in there,” Gary advised.“I swear, there's a dragon, and it's not a friendly one.We woke it from a long sleep, and it wasn't pleased.”
She responded, “All right.Why don't we send everyone to start work on the fourth mine while we decide how to handle things here?”
“It's lunchtime.Why don't we let the guys take a little longer than usual before they get started on what will probably be a hard project?”He suggested.
“Sounds like a plan.Just don't take too long.I'll focus on resolving this issue while you take charge at the fourth mine,” she instructed.
