Taking Liberty Read Online Free PDF Page A

furthest recesses of her heart.
    She had every intention of keeping it that way.
    Lucus leaned forward and adjusted the temperature control. She hadn’t noticed how warm it was in the bridge. Of course, the sight of his shirt pulling snug over his broad shoulders only made it feel a hundred degrees hotter. Jerking her gaze away, she focused on the stars and satellites zipping past the viewing shield.
    He didn’t like her. She didn’t like him. If she had the slightest sense, she’d stop thinking about his yummy body and brain-frying kisses.
    The sound of plastic crumpling drew her attention back to Lucus. His hand was stuffed in a bag of Galaxy Gus’s potato chips. He looked over and caught her staring.
    â€œWant some?” Lucus extended the crinkled sack, but she hesitated. He shook the bag in invitation. “Don’t worry. It’s fresh—opened earlier this afternoon.”
    Reassured, she ducked inside the package and fetched several chips. She popped the first one inside her mouth and her stomach rumbled in anticipation.
    Lucus must have heard the embarrassing sound because he chuckled. “When’s the last time you ate? Sounds like a mutiny is going on in there.”
    She swallowed the chip and licked the greasy salt from her fingers before answering. “I had a nice steak dinner planned, but I ended up sacrificing it to your hound.”
    â€œSo that’s how you snuck past Roscoe. Remind me to fire that damn dog.”
    â€œRoscoe?” Tapping another chip against her lips, she contemplated the name. “Yeah, it suits him. Kind of butch and no-nonsense. And I get that he’s a guard dog, but really, would it kill you to bathe him once in a while?”
    A quick snort shot from Lucus. “Trust me, if I could catch him he’d get a scrub down every damn day, considering his love affair with garbage cans leaves him reeking to high hell. As it is, I’m lucky to blast him with the hose on occasion before he runs off.”
    She nibbled the edges of the chip clutched between her fingers. “Hmm, he doesn’t sound very obedient.”
    â€œSpeaking of which—you’re staying in the ship when we reach Aquatica.”
    The remainder of her chips forgotten, she glared at Lucus. “Excuse me, but that sounded an awful lot like you telling me what to do.”
    â€œIt is what it is.”
    â€œIt’s demeaning . In case you didn’t notice, we’re no longer living in caves and clubbing wooly mammoths.”
    A nerve twitched in his jaw and he crushed the chip bag before stowing it next to his seat. “This has nothing to do with sexism. I just don’t want you sticking your nose in my business.”
    â€œWhy, what sort of business are you conducting on Aquatica?” She stared at his profile, willing him to allay her suspicions. His mouth stayed fused in its stubborn line. “Well, I guess that explains how you managed to gain trade access with their leader.”
    Irritation shimmered off him like an invisible force field. “Like I said, I do what’s necessary to survive.”
    He made no move to elaborate further and Rini saw no point in dragging out an argument that was clearly pointless. She settled back in the seat and tried preoccupying herself by finishing her chips and mentally jogging through the rest of her week’s schedule. Most of the jobs were simple—easy enough a drunk monkey could do them blindfolded.
    Without warning, Lucus’s earlier statement floated through Rini’s head. Maybe that’s the real underlying reason you decided not to become a cop. Why settle for a low-paying job that’ll only ruin your manicure ?
    A laugh attempted a quick getaway and she choked it down. Oh yeah, like repo’ing is such a glamorous job .
    The star cruiser began descending, yanking her from her cynical musings. On the distant horizon, a small planet took shape, its dark, craggy