With that thought, she made herself look away from the temptation that was Justyn Phoenix.
“Here we are.”
His deep voice drew her out of her thoughts. He was standing beside the wooden door to a building that looked older than time. It was made of wood and leaned crookedly to the left. A carved sign swung on a metal chain above the door, showing an old-fashioned circular compass with wings.
Justyn pushed open the door and waved her inside.
The interior was warm and most of the wooden tables were filled. A synth-fire burned in a plas fireplace on the far side of the room and two female servers bustled through the room, carrying trays filled with frothy-topped ales. They wore similar outfits to Nissa, but instead of trousers, they had on skirts that were long in back and rucked up high in front to show stocking-clad legs.
Justyn led Nissa to an empty spot by the back wall. He leaned against the wood in a lazy way, like he was a man with all the time in the galaxy—not a man on the hunt for one of the galaxy’s most prized historical documents.
He waved down a server and held up two fingers. The pretty woman’s round cheeks filled with color. Her gaze slid down hisbody, lingering in a few places before she shot him a flirtatious smile and headed for the bar.
Nissa kept her face blank. She was certain Justyn had more than a few women throw themselves at him every day. She damned well wasn’t joining the crowd.
The woman hurried back. “Here you go, Mister.” She handed him an ale.
“Thanks. And the other’s for my woman.”
His woman?That sounded so wrong…and so right.
When the server turned to Nissa, her smile flattened out with disappointment. She handed the second drink over.
“My thanks for the speedy service.” Justyn handed over a gold coin. “Looks like you’re busy today.”
“Always busy.” She shot him another hopeful smile. “But I do get regular breaks.”
He held up another coin. “You seen a good-looking, young treasure hunter in here? Goes by the name of Solomon.”
The woman eyed the coin the same way she’d looked at Justyn. “Maybe.”
“He here?”
She shook her head. “Left a little while ago. Heard him say something about heading to the Antiques Market.”
Justyn placed the coin in the woman’s hand before leaning over it and giving her a little bow. “Thank you, lovely lady.”
She giggled. “Get on with ya.” She spun but shot a saucy look over her shoulder. “My next break’s at midday if you’re interested.”
Nissa waited for the woman to leave. “You finished flirting?”
“Don’t be jealous, Captain Smooth. You know I only have eyes for you.” He winked at her and took a healthy sip of his ale. “No harm in keeping our informant happy. She’s less likely to blab about us that way.”
“Blab to whom?”
“Mackon rules with an iron fist. Anactualiron fist, in fact. He has spies everywhere.”
Nissa automatically scanned the pub. No one appeared to be paying any attention to them.
“Drink up, Nissa.” He clinked his glass against hers. “Looks like we’re going shopping.”
She took a sip of the ale. It was good. It hit her bloodstream and warmed her.
But it was nothing compared to the charming smile of the smuggler beside her.
CHAPTER SIX
The Cirrus City Antiques Market was situated on its own separate little platform off the eastern end of the main city.
