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He carried on down the corridor… a male on a mission. He needed to find B in engineering. Get her alone and ask her why the hell she’d run away from him.

Okay, so maybe not in so many words, and definitely not in a challenging manner. Not before he’d ascertained where her wrench was anyway.

The galley was on the way, and he paused in the doorway. Okay, food first.

Mira and Jesh on the Dream had taught him that one. Both females had been far more likely to tolerate conversation when there was something warm or sweet in front of them.

And B had been working herself into the ground since he’d met her. Apart from that mug of soup before they’d gone to fetch supplies, she’d probably forgotten to eat.

He found two sealed juice pouches in a chilled drawer, then rummaged through the storage cupboards. He wrinkled his nose at the nutrient bars. They were tasteless, no matter what species had made them. There wasn’t much else that he wouldn’t have to hydrate, not even any of the base constituents for field cake. Finally, in the last one, he turned up some crackers and dried fruit.

Good enough.

He’d just tucked the snacks in his coverall pockets when Layla appeared in the doorway.

“Oh, hey. There you are.” Her laugh rolled through the small room as she stepped into the galley. “I thought you’d vanished.”

“I’ve been busy in the cockpit,” he said, stepping to the side so she could pass him. “There was an absolute mother of an asteroid field.”

“Yeah, so I hear.” She stepped closer, gaze traveling over his chest. “You know, it’s really convenient that you don’t have anyone back home.”

“Oh?” He backed around the galley table. He didn’t like where this was going. “I’m not really looking to get into anything.”

He wasn’t lying. He wasn’t looking to get into anything, not with Layla.

Her smile widened. “That’s what they all say.”

“No. No, really…” He shook his head as he contemplated clambering over the galley table to get away from her. “Not this time.”

She reached for him, but he caught her wrist before her fingers touched his shirt. Laughing softly, she used her other hand to trail over his forearm and his skin crawled.

“Layla. I’m not interested.”

“Oh, come on, handsome. We’re both adults.”

“I said no, Layla.”

Pouting, she twisted free enough to press both palms to his chest. He grabbed her hands before she could slide them lower, then flipped her around so that her back was against the galley wall. Careful not to hurt her, he pinned her wrists above her head.

Blinking, she bit her lip and arched up into him. “Kinky. I like it.”

A sound at the door made his head whip around. Blythe stood there, disgust in her eyes.

“Just can’t keep it in your pants, can you?” she snarled. Turning on her heel, she disappeared back down the corridor.

7

Unbelievable. Absolutely un-fucking-believable. Rann had tried to kiss her just hours ago, and now he was making moves on Layla.

Blythe shoved a hand through her hair as she stormed off down the corridor, annoyed with herself for believing in his bullshit. Anger swelled and filled every available space within her. He was a dick, an absolute, complete, and utter dick.

But even as she raged internally, she knew that being mad with him was easier than admitting that she’d actually wanted that kiss… She’d wanted to believe the spell he was weaving around her, to believe that a man like that could be attracted to someone like her. How pathetic was that?

Memories of the last ugly argument with James escaped the box in her mind and filled her thoughts. After months and months of red flags she’d ignored because she was an idiot and wanted to believe in the fantasy, she’d finally realized and challenged him on his bullshit.

It had gotten ugly, fast. Faster than even she had expected. As soon as he’d realized that his excuses weren’t going to work, the mask had dropped and she’d seen him for who he really was.

He’d thrown all sorts of accusations at her, his face twisted in hatred. She was too old for him, he’d raged, and over the hill. She was frigid and dried up, and the only reason he was with her was for what she could give him.