“This is your ship?” The disgust in his voice
irritated her. Yeah, the Barony Bitch
was ugly but it was all she’d been able to afford after losing all her assets.
And the ship was fast and dangerous. Just like Sal.
“Problem?”
“I just thought she’d be prettier. Like her
captain.”
Sal resisted the urge to shove him up against the
bulkhead and beat some manners into him. “That’s fucking patronizing. What kind
of idiot judges on looks alone?”
“The kind of idiot who will pay a stranger
anything she wants for safe passage?”
He has a point.
“She’s faster than she looks,” Sal muttered as
they walked up the entry ramp and boarded.
“Like her owner. Tell me, do you always draw
first? You’ve never thought about conversation?”
“I find that guns are a simpler solution. Cuts
out a lot of unnecessary small talk.” Sal put emphasis on the last couple of
words in the hope he’d take the hint.
“So I guess sparkling conversation is off the
menu for our trip.”
“Yep. Other than about what you’re paying me.”
They reached the control deck and Sal slid into the pilot’s seat with a sigh.
It would be good to get out into the quiet emptiness of space.
Her passenger took the spare seat. “Like I said,
name your price. You saved my neck, and I kinda value that.”
Sal eyed him up. He was well dressed in
leatherine leggings, a pale cream shirt down to mid hip and a long jacket in a
mid-weight black fabric. None of it brand new, but not worn or dirty. The
leather boots covering his lower legs to his knees had some wear, so either he
wore them all the time or he walked a lot. His physique said walking, being as
he had none of the flabbiness from soft living. If she was honest, he was kind
of on the skinny side for her tastes. She preferred her men broad and packed
with muscle, and her women full bodied with generous curves. His accent and
attitude said money. His smooth face said laser treatment or a daily
de-follicle wash. No scent enhancers, but he didn’t stink either. No calluses
or scarring on his hands, so combat or hard manual labor were unlikely. She
didn’t much like the fact he’d still kept his shades up. How much to ask for?
 |
| A Space Opera Short Story Goodreads | Webpage Amazon | ARe | Smashwords iTunes | Kobo | B&N |
Sal, a legal carrier (just about) of whatever comes her way, puts her
trust in just two things: her guns.
Keeping out from under Imperium eyes—especially those belonging to a certain
Ehi Wahu—while making a living, and trying to keep a lover who can tolerate her
twitchy trigger fingers, are the extent of her ambitions.
Then a kiss from a passing stranger, and a promise of the biggest score in a
long time, tempt her. Devin fulfils more than one need, but he comes with more
trouble than one woman can handle. And this time it'll take more than her guns
to save her. She'll have to trust a man again.
***
Status Update
Quickshot releases in just two days. Woot! In the meantime, I'm taking a nice break with my monsters and hopefully catching up on my TBR pile. See you in two weeks!
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