Coffee Cup Dreams (A Redpoint One Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the
hoversled.
    And stepped out into the middle of controlled
chaos.
    First, it wasn't a standard dock with airlocks
and enclosed lengths that could be sealed off in case of
depressurization. Instead, it was a long multi-tiered dock with
ships lined up along the edges, as if it were a multi-story
warf. Nothing was closed in, not even the entry and exit out
of the area. The large openings stayed open to space.
    She shivered. It just didn't feel
right.
    "Force fields," Captain Jarvid said, having
taken note of her shiver.
    Tish shook her head, now wishing she hadn't
researched so much about space stations and the things that could
go wrong on board them. "Those don't work yet for wide areas.
Everything here is open."
    "They do here."
    She mentally thumped her forehead. Of course.
Alien space station, alien technology. She needed to get used to
such things.
    The Dock Officer talked quietly to Captain
Jarvid with many gestures towards the main cargo airlock of The
Golden Oriander. A blip in the overhead lighting had everyone
looking up.
    "Power problems?" Captain Jarvid
asked.
    "Maintenance has been short of people." The
Deck Officer looked down at his pad and glanced at Tish. "Tish
Douglas?"
    Oh great, here it came.
    She nodded. "Yes, that's me."
    The Officer smiled. "Good. We need more
people. And I see your new Supervisor now."
    Her stomach knotted. No more waiting. Time to
face her future. She turned her head in the direction he
pointed.
    And sucked in her breath.
    Mr. Getty's brother shared the same dark sandy
hair and height, but Arthur Getty sported the wide shoulders and
muscled arms of someone physically active in life. The tight dark
blue tank top accented his physical attributes even
more.
    Long strides, a compact belt with multiple
pouches around his waist, and a brush of dirt on one cheek
completed the image of a man in charge and not afraid to dive in to
fix things. Of one not afraid to get his hands dirty. He was also
completely and devastatingly handsome.
    And furious, and it was all aimed at
her.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR

    ARTHUR WASN'T AMUSED. Not a bit.
    A pirate ship causing more damage to a space
station that had already sustained far too much in the past two
months angered him. Couldn't Director Stemski keep destructive
entities away from the station? What was the patrol garrison
stationed at Redpoint One for, anyway?
    And the new recruit?
    Arthur stopped in front of her, crossing his
arms over his chest as he perused the small creature in front of
him.
    Big light-brown eyes stared up at him from a
round face with a pert little nose in a mingling of shock and
surprise. The stack of boxes and luggage on the hoversled behind
her was almost taller than she was. Her smaller stature would be
good for getting into some of the smaller nooks and
crannies.
    Yet, she had an innocent air around her, and
so very young. If he hadn't read her age in the application he
would swear she should still be home with her parents.
    Why did he say yes when his brother forwarded
her resume? Oh, he knew. Three recruits failing in the last eight
months was why. His people stretched too thin, all of them
exhausted. They were desperate for more hands and so he'd said
yes.
    "You're Tish Douglas?" 
    The woman nodded, her ponytail
bouncing.
    Oh, good lord, she had holographic hairbands
in the ponytail, causing little circles of colored lights to go
around the point where it was tied. Like a schoolgirl. The
impression of young innocence became reinforced. She looked like
she should still be in school, and instead she was out in the wilds
of the spacelanes at Redpoint One? She should have never left
Earth.
    "I'm Arthur Getty, your new boss. I don't have
time to coddle you today so I hope you dressed sensibly." He had
doubts about that, considering the hair ties. The pants and shoes
looked good enough, but not the fancy jacket.
    He watched her swallow nervously. "I start
work today?"
    "No better time than the present. Follow