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“I’enuinely contrite “I wasn’t trying to pry, I was just exploring”

“I know,” he said “I watched you from the cockpit”

She stilled It hadn’t occurred to her that he had video access to the ship, but of course he did It only ed, too?” she asked softly

“Yes,” he replied, turning to walk out of the small library She followed, unsure of herself She didn’t really want to be near hi her fro to fix us soave a nervous laugh, and then nodded her head When in doubt, make a joke It alorked on her bar custo up with the ine

“I don’t suppose you have roasted kvana with Beloni herbs?”

He smiled, and the tension between theotten back from the Emperor’s summer palace on Beloni, where we hunted kvana ”

She s more comfortable now that the tension was broken

“I don’t suppose you have soo with it, then?”

“Well, naturally,” he said “What well-equipped sler doesn’t?”

For the first time since she’d met him, he seemed almost playful The hard façade had dropped, at least for theto prepare this wonderful meal for me?” she asked

“Yes,” he said “You may be surprised to discover this, but I’ive me if I’m doubtful,” she replied pertly “You just don’t see type to me”

“Well, you don’t really know me very well, do you?” he replied “Go ahead and et started on dinner”

He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when she saw dinner He didn’t allow hi efficiently, he placed a last few sprinkles of fresh herbs over the glazed kvana , then placed both warm plates in the stasis box The first course was already prepared—thin slices of toasted bread topped with grilled Gnoscan rette sauce, and still-crisp steaht wryly

He poured wine into two gracefully sculpted crystal goblets, carrying thes were alrilled ed them, and then spoke quietly to the ship’s coram”

Instantly the utilitarian colors of the walls shifted Light, lovely patterns reminiscent of natural wood appeared on the walls, and aseearden, swirling with colors A soft chirping filled the rooarden always seemed to soothe him

He hoped it would work for Giselle He didn’t like the tension between them However badly they’d started out, it was tiether to be unpleasant

“Dinner is served,” he said as he walked out into the , and smiled at hilow at him with health and cleanliness Her face was bare of the dreadful cos her nose h he knew she was a worown She wore one of the simple jumpsuits he’d purchased for her on the station Plain as it was, it still showed her figure to advantage