They stopped and turned to watch a woman jogging toward them.
Ford’s energy had shifted from relaxed to stressed in just a few heartbeats. Whoever this woman was, she wasn’t someone he wanted to see.
The woman was lithe, taller than Emi, almost as tall as Ford, with large breasts and graceful strides, long blonde hair flowing down her back and green, almond-shaped eyes.
Emi despised her on sight.
The woman most likely would have hugged Ford if he hadn’t already slipped an arm firmly around Emi’s waist. “Hello, Jezeen.” Jezeen pouted. “I thought you’d be happy to see me, I’m happy to see you. It’s been a long time.”
“Not long enough.”
Jezeen grinned. “I heard you guys got the Tamora Bight. Great ship. Big ship. Need another hand?”
His arm tightened around Emi. “Nope. We’re full and closed.” A frown passed Jezeen’s face as she glanced at Emi. “Who’s she?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but this is Dr. Emilia Hypatia, our med officer. Alpha-ranked healer.” One of Jezeen’s carefully plucked eyebrows climbed. “Alpha-ranked? Really?”
Emi forced a smile to her lips and stuck out her hand. “Really.
Top of my class.”
Finally remembering her manners, Jezeen shook hands. “Come on, Ford. Are you guys still holding a grudge?”
“No, we’re not holding a grudge, Jezeen. But we sure as hell don’t want you anywhere near us or our ship. When we lifted from Earth, there were still several crews there looking for extras. Go talk to someone who gives a shit.”
Jezeen lost all pretense of politeness. “Aw, Ford, that was years ago. Aaron’s still pissed?”
“Not just Aaron. Look, you had a chance and you blew it. Come on, Emi. Let’s get back.”
He turned, taking Emi’s hand, and they pushed their cart full of supplies toward their gangway, leaving Jezeen with a gaping jaw.
Emi leaned in and whispered, “I want to hear this story.”
“You will, sweetie. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of her.” Once they were safely inside the ship, he told the story as they made their way toward the crew area. “She’s a real bitch. We had to take her on as crew a few years ago on a long jump.”
“Really?” Emi tried to stay cool, but her tone of voice didn’t fool Ford.
“Not like that. Just as crew. I told you, you’re the only woman we’ve been with like that since Kels. Not for lack of trying on her part, but her and Aaron hated each other. Caph and I wouldn’t have any part of her because of that. She tried her damnedest to split us up and run a game, but fortunately we were one up on her. We dumped her ass at a station out in Gamma Six. Told her to find her own damn way back.”
“I’m surprised she still wants to get on board with you guys.”
“She’s got the hots for Caph. Big time.” Emi stopped short, and Ford realized what was wrong. “Don’t worry, Emi. It was one-sided, believe me. He hates her, saw right through her.”
Jealousy and relief fought for control.
Ford smiled. “Sweetheart, you’re one of us, part of us. And we don’t want anyone but you.” He leaned in and kissed her, and for a minute she forgot all about Jezebel or Jezweed or whatever the frak the skank’s name was.
“Okay,” Emi gasped when Ford released her.
Emi thought Ford might mention the meeting to the other men immediately, but he didn’t. He waited until after Aaron had asked them about their day and agreed Emi should take the classes, working it in casually between their shopping trip and a few things he wanted to do before they left.
Emi glanced at Ford and Caph. Both men tensed.
“Jezeen’s here?” Aaron asked.
Ford nodded. “Yeah.”
Caph put his fork on his plate. “Crap. Well, there goes my appetite.” He looked at Aaron. “Permission to never leave the friggin’
ship?”
Aaron laughed, shaking his head. “You’ll have to face her some time, Caph.” He smiled at Emi. “Now her, if you wanted to pull your little exhibition stunt for her benefit, we’d be more than happy to play along.”
Emi relaxed. These were her men. Every ounce of energy from them screamed their love for her and their collective distaste¯if not outright disgust¯for Jezeen.
“I’ll protect you, big guy,” Emi teased, bringing a smile to the large man’s face.
“I don’t want to have to break up a cat fight, sweetheart.”
“How about I just shove her out an airlock?” The men grinned.
****
The next morning, Emi walked with Aaron to a meeting with the port cargo foreman. He was in the process of trying to explain the jump engine to her¯again¯when a woman’s voice carried to them across the facility.
“Aaron!”
He cringed, as did Emi.
Jezeen.
They both turned as she ran toward them, a huge smile on her face. “Aaron! Long time, no see! Did Ford mention I saw him yesterday?”
Aaron tightly gripped Emi’s hand, his thumb stroking her. “Yes.” The flicker of a frown crossed Jezeen’s face. “Can I talk to you alone for a few minutes? Please?”
He shook his head. “Anything you want to say, you can say here and now. You’re not crewing on my ship.” With her pre-emptive strike neutralized, she dropped all pretense of coquettishness. “Please, Aaron? I’m dying to go on a heavy. Get me off of my ship.”
“Talk to someone who cares, because I don’t. I have all the crew I want.” He started to lead Emi away when Jezeen’s voice dropped, threatening.
“Look, I didn’t file a complaint against you guys for booting me the way you did. I still could.”
He shook his head. “Statute of limitations ran out on that, not to mention you were booted for cause. You violated ten different regs, in some cases multiple times. You’re lucky I didn’t have you tossed in the brig.”
She switched to annoyingly whiny. “I need off this rock!”
“I don’t owe you anything, Jezeen. Go away,” he said over his shoulder, pulling Emi with him. Emi had to take quick strides to keep up with him. He was beyond pissed—enraged would cover it.
Almost.
He muttered under his breath the rest of the way to the cargo foreman’s office. Emi knew Aaron needed to blow off steam and to not talk to him. They finished their errand, and he detoured their return.
“Where are we going?”
“Shopping. She’ll be waiting to pounce. There’s a few more things I want to get for the ship anyway.” Emi walked quietly beside him while he stewed, knowing he needed to deal in his own way. From the way his thumb constantly rubbed her hand, stroking her flesh, he was deep in thought and drawing comfort from her.
They killed a couple of hours in the commercial district before returning to the ship. Ford greeted them with a smirk in the galley.
“You’re a fucking chicken, Aar.”
“What?”
“Oh, the little bitch tried to pay Caph a call earlier. Don’t worry, I ran her off.”
“Where is he?”
“Hiding in the engine room. I tried to get him to go out and take a walk around and he won’t. He’s afraid of running into her.” Aaron shook his head. “Why the hell is she so eager to hook up with us all of a sudden? Does she not remember how much we hate her guts?”
Ford’s grin told Emi more than his air of pleased satisfaction. “I did a little asking around. She’s getting booted from another ship.
That makes three. They’re leaving in three weeks, and she’s got until then to find another ride or she’ll be stuck here.”
“Couldn’t happen to a nastier woman.” Emi knew she’d missed something. “What’s wrong with that?”
“In the Merchants, if you get booted from three ships, you’re out, discharged, no benefits, unless you can find a ship that will take you.