Justyn was seated there with his brothers.
She’d run into Justyn here plenty of times before. She had always made a point to call a truce to their…outside dealings.
This time, Justyn stared at her for a second with blank eyes before deliberately turning away.
It was a blow to her stomach. She deserved it, but dammit, she’d actually come to like the smile he always shot her way.
When his brother Dare raised a hand to her, she managed a nod before marching to the bar.
“Glass of Gluk’sol wine.”
There was a faint whirr as the droid moved to put Nissa’s drink together. Many syndroids were so realistic you could barely tell they weren’t human, but this was an older, cheaper model. Its face didn’t move as it spoke and it never blinked, giving it a slightly creepy look.
Pulling herself up on a tall stool, she popped her e-cred account into the holo-screen attached to the bar and gratefully accepted her drink. She took a few sips, then nursed the glass between her fingers, staring into the red depths.
What she’d said to Justyn… Goddess, she regretted it. She’d taken out her own confused, embarrassed feelings on him. He’d been nothing but helpful on the mission—and after—and she’d repaid him with harsh words about his character.
She was going to have to apologize.
More than anything, she wanted Justyn Phoenix to turn that charming smile on her again.
She was so confused. He made her feel things and twisted her up inside. She’d always had a clear idea of her life. Rise through the ranks of Patrol, date other equally ambitious men, make her father proud.
Maybe it was time to take a chance and do something about Justyn. Maybe she might offer to buy him dinner. She knew a great place right around the corner that made the best pasta in the quadrant.
Nissa swiveled on her stool, feeling the knot in her chest ease a little. This was what she wanted to do. Her gaze settled on Justyn’s booth, just in time to see him leap to his feet.
She was about to stand when a woman came rushing into Moonrakers and headed toward Justyn’s table. As she neared, she launched into the air.
Justyn caught the woman with a laugh. Laughing herself, the woman tipped her face back and her amazing strawberry-blonde curls cascaded down her back. She clamped her legs around Justyn’s waist and planted a huge kiss right on his mouth.
Nissa felt a spike of pain in her gut and the wine in her mouth soured.
The woman was tall with impressive curves, and it was easy to see she was fit. Nissa trained and worked out every day, so she recognized the strength in the woman’s toned physique. This wasn’t just some bar or club junkie. Her striking, sunset-colored hair framed a pretty face, and her skin was the color of cream. She was too far away for Nissa to tell her eye color, but she had a full-bodied laugh that turned several heads.
Justyn set the woman down and through lowered lids, Nissa watched her also give Dare and Rynan hugs before she settled into the booth wedged between Justyn and Dare. Justyn slid his arm across the woman’s shoulder, dipping his head to say something that made her laugh again.
Nissa clutched her hands together in her lap. The woman suited Justyn. She was fresh, pretty, bright. Full of life.
Nissa turned away, starring at the scarred surface of the bar. Her hand tightened on the stem of her glass. All she wanted to do was finish her drink and escape back to her cabin on theFreedom.
A big body moved in beside her.
Nissa glanced up. Way up. At the sight of the huge alien male beside her, she sighed.
His tough skin was a mottled gray. He was humanoid, with a seven-foot frame carrying a lot of muscle. The Semper were a warrior race and even their females were big and excellent fighters. They were some of the best mercenaries in the quadrant.
“Krudon, what are you doing here?”
He looked down at her. His face was broad with overlarge eyes that she knew provided him with excellent peripheral vision. It was damn hard to sneak up on a Semper. They had no hair, just a rounded head covered in that same dark-gray skin as their bodies.
“I was looking for you.” Krudon’s voice was a deep rumble.
She sighed again, set her drink down, then nudged it across the bar. Out of range of what she knew was about to happen. “You sure you want to try this again?”
“You arrested me!” His voice boomed across the bar. “That’s the fifth time.”
Behind her, Nissa heard deathly silence fall. Great. “Because you were smuggling weapons to the Weyzan.” She kept her voice calm. “They’re slavers, Krudon. They enslave children. And if I catch you doing it again, I’ll happily throw you in my brig. Again.”
