When Sparks Fly (27 page)

A shadow dimmed his mood as he considered
what she knew about him. Maybe it was time he gave her more details
so that she knew exactly who he was. He wouldn’t want her to claim
he’d omitted facts later on.

He began slowly. “I grew up in a house a lot
like Match’s.” She turned her head slightly, listening. He forced
himself to go on. “It wasn’t the best way to learn how to be a man,
and I was always in trouble. I wasn’t that much different from the
young punk next door.”

“You ever set fire to someone’s home?” Gem
asked. It sounded like she doubted it.

He snorted. “No, but I swiped stuff from
stores, got in fights, that sort of thing. It was probably a good
thing I ended up in the military; I think they saved me.”

“So you
were
in prison?”

“Juvie. I got sent to a military academy
once I hit sixteen. There wasn’t a regular school in the province
that would take me by then. I’d been kicked out of most of
them.”

“No prison. Juvie,” she said to herself, as
if memorizing the new truth. “And you went from that academy to
special ops?”

“And from there to war and prison camp.
After that, I joined the police.”

“And finally ended up at The Spark,” she
finished. She was quiet for a little while. “In all that time, was
there ever someone else? A romance?”

He shifted uncomfortably. Telling her the
truth and telling her the whole truth were two different things;
she really didn’t need to know about his playboy past.

“There were a few ladies, but never anyone
who lasted, you know? Work got in the way. To be honest, I don’t
think I was ready to get serious about anyone until I met you.
There are a lot of shallow women out there. You were
different.”

That he’d been drawn to shallow women didn’t
say much about him, either. She’d changed him. Gem might be unhappy
at being forced to mature quickly, but it was one of the things
that had drawn him to her. She was exactly what she appeared to be:
steady, practical, loving. She was strong enough to carry her
sisters and the inn, and tender enough to share the load with
someone like him. Her responsibilities hadn’t made her cold or
totally self-reliant. It made a man proud to be associated with a
lady like her. Being a part of her team made him feel like
something special.

Gem sighed, paused, and clearly wanted to
make a confession. She finally said, “There are rough times ahead.
Business has fallen off because of the trial and the recent
difficulties. Jean Luc’s beer is no longer here to sell, though
maybe we can make something roughly similar, but legal. I’m sure
Brandy’s brews will be good.”

She shook her head, thinking. “It’s going to
be hard to overcome the bad press, even though I know we’ll be okay
in the end. Brandy is going to have it rough for a couple of years,
no matter how talented she is. Xera kept talking about leaving for
the academy, and now she has to. Her reputation’s ruined, as we
both know.” She paused. “Things like that, Blue…Well, I just want
you to be sure of what you’re getting into.”

Blue pulled her close, then down to the
ground and leaned over her so that she could see his face clearly.
“Woman, this is the only time you’re allowed to bring this up. The
answer is yes, yes and yes. Enough said.” He kissed her firmly to
show that he meant business, then kissed her just because he liked
doing so.

She melted like honey on his tongue, burned
a trail straight down to his groin. He shifted his thigh over hers
and deepened the kiss. The woman could spark a fire in him that
obliterated all thought of caution. His lips wandered a path down
her face, lower to her ear. She snuggled into his caress…

The overhead lights came on suddenly,
ruining the moment. They blinked, momentarily blinded.

Gem groaned. “The automated chaperone kicked
in.”

Blue exhaled in disbelief. “Automated
what
? What kind of a barbaric planet is this?”

She heaved a sigh and sat up. “I guess we
should head home.”

Blue rose and helped her to her feet,
grumbling. His pants were achingly tight. No amount of adjusting
helped to make them comfortable. “You’re giving me blue balls,
woman,” he complained, but it was good-naturedly.

She gaped at him, then laughed in
embarrassment.

He gave her a rueful smile. “I never said I
was a gentleman,” he muttered. Then he wrapped his arm around her
and led her from the pavilion. Automated chaperones? He said a few
choice curses in his head. What were the odds they could at least
find a quiet corner at home?

Not good, as it turned out. They were
walking up the drive when Blue’s communicator buzzed. Of course, it
was a call he was glad to take. “Zsak! How are you, buddy? I was
going to come see you in a little bit. You were sleeping hard when
we came by this afternoon.”

Zsak’s face on the view screen was tired and
pale, but he smiled. “I knew you were there, but these meds have me
in and out. Thanks for the flowers…I think. Is that the sort of
thing you’re supposed to bring a guy?”

Blue flashed the screen at Gem. “It was her
idea. Use them to bribe the nurses to get something good to
eat.”

“Haven’t seen anything here that wouldn’t
eat me first,” Zsak slurred ruefully. “I could use something
decent, though. They won’t let me order out.”

“It’s on the way. You want me to raid the
kitchen here, or was there something special you wanted from
somewhere else?”

Zsak laughed. “If it irritates that little
cook of hers, I’m in. Whatever he least wants to give up. You know
I like The Spark’s food.”

“We’ll be up with it shortly,” Gem promised.
“See you soon.” She glanced at Blue and gestured that she was going
to head to the kitchens.

Blue nodded, waited until she was out of
earshot and told Zsak, “You can congratulate me on my new
girlfriend, by the way.”

His partner grinned. “About time! Good work,
buddy.”

“Thanks. I’m a lucky man.”

Zsak hesitated. “How are her sisters doing?
Has the press backed off? How’s everything?”

Blue’s smile faded. “Everything’s mostly
okay. Her sisters came out of it a little banged up, but they’re
fine. I was more worried about you.”

“They’re a tough bunch. They’ll get through
anything.” Zsak winced as he shifted, trying to get comfortable.
“Blasted shoulder feels as if somebody ripped it off.”

Blue grimaced at the black joke. “The
doctors said it should be as good as new after it heals.”

Zsak grunted. “I hate physical therapy.”

“We’ll find you a pretty coach. Either way,
I’ll be there for you.”

“Thanks, but you don’t need to do that.”

“I owe you,” Blue said. “And I’m sure the
ladies feel the same. You’re a hero. Live with it.”

“I will if you will. Now, listen, I’m going
to nap until you get here. See you soon.” Zsak hung up.

Blue looked at his communicator for a moment
and then smiled. Zsak was going to be all right.

Chapter 20

They met Azor leaving Zsak’s floor in the
hospital as they were coming up in the elevator. He looked
uncomfortable as he spotted them, then resigned.

“Business or social call?” Blue asked, alert
for trouble.

“Paying my respects,” Azor replied coolly.
“I see you’re doing the same. I won’t keep you.” He nodded and
walked away.

Gem studied the detective’s retreating
figure. “He keeps this up and I’m going to think he has a
heart.”

“Not quite, but he does have a softer side.”
Blue winked and took her good hand, and they proceeded to Zsak’s
room.

Zsak was awake and appeared thoughtful. He
smiled when he saw them. “Hey! Nice to see you.” He grinned as Gem
set a basket on the table next to him. “Is that for me? You
shouldn’t have.”

She laughed at his fake surprise. “We
brought pocket pies and a new batch of Jamir’s fresh-squeezed berry
punch. I figured beer is probably a no-no right now.”

“Don’t tease me, I could use a cool one
right now. Those pies look great, though. You wouldn’t believe the
pap they serve here.”

“Yeah, none of us was too thrilled, either.
I bet I could make a fortune on bootleg dinner deliveries.” Gem
laughed.

“Count me in.” Zsak moaned around a bit of
steaming pie and added, “Oh, this is better than sex.”

“You’re out of your head!” Blue told him in
mock alarm. “But it’s probably just the drugs talking. You’ll come
to your senses when they wear off.”

Zsak laughed, then winced. But if he was in
pain, he didn’t let it interfere with his appetite. He polished off
one pie and reached for another.

“We saw Azor as we were coming in,” Gem
remarked.

Zsak smiled. “He’s not such a bad guy.”

Blue shrugged. “Too bad Brandy’s in love
with her neighbor. I’d try to set them up.”

Gem looked at him with mild alarm. “Don’t be
starting trouble, boy.”

He exchanged grins with Zsak but promised,
“All right. I’ll behave.”

“That would be nice. The last thing I need
is the uproar pairing the two of them would cause. Can you imagine?
Besides, they’d never last.”

She looked so disturbed by the idea that
Blue decided to distract her. He put a casual hand on her hip. “The
real question is, how long will it take you to say yes to marrying
me?”

She stared at him. “Is that a formal
question?”

“You knew my intent,” he reminded her. Then,
aware that Zsak was absently polishing off food as he watched, as
if this were a dinner drama enacted for him alone, Blue leaned
forward and rubbed noses with her. “Think it over. Get back to
me.”

She smiled, clearly amused. “You make it
sound like a business proposal.”

“I’d like to make you a different type of
proposal,” he replied.

Her smile grew larger, but she saw through
him. “You’re trying to distract me.”

“Is it working?”

She gave him a gentle kiss. “I’ll let you
know.”

There was more than one way to interpret
that, and Blue’s heart felt lighter just thinking about it. He
turned to Zsak and asked, “So, anything good on TV?”

It was really late when they got back home.
Both Gem and Blue were tired, so it wasn’t as difficult for her to
kiss Blue goodnight as it might have been. The process only took
fifteen minutes or so.

Blue rested his forehead against hers as
they snuggled against the entryway wall. The door was open, and no
one could see into her apartment from this angle. Blue didn’t say
anything, but she could guess his thoughts. He wouldn’t say no if
he were invited in.

She didn’t want to say no anymore. She
wanted the right to keep him here. “Blue?” she said.

“Hm?”

“I’ll marry you.”

For a sleepy man, he suddenly looked alert.
“You will? When?”

She laughed. “I guess it had better be soon.
If I had a daughter hanging out with a man like you, I’d lock her
up.”

He grinned. “Make it tomorrow, then. Or…do
you want a big wedding?” He looked suddenly grim, as if
contemplating something agonizing. Few men cared for big to-dos,
she knew. At least, few on Polaris.

She smiled and toyed with his shirt. “Let me
sleep on it. I can’t make a decision like this when I’m tired.”

He looked at her fondly. “Sometimes I love
your practical side, and sometimes…” He shook his head and gave her
a final kiss. “You know I won’t sleep tonight.”

“I hope I will,” she said, laughing at the
hot once-over he gave her with his eyes.

He edged out the door with extreme
reluctance, then caught it when she would have shut it. He peeked
around the edge. “You won’t change your mind?” he asked.

“No, Blue,” she told him, touched. “I love
you.”

He froze, then pushed the door back open.
His gaze was piercing. “You do?”

She couldn’t help the joy that welled within
her. She beamed at him. “Would I marry you if I didn’t?”

Her gasp was muffled as he pulled her into
his arms and slew her with a kiss. He inhaled her as if she were
oxygen and he couldn’t breathe. He was drowning and she was a
lifeline, but she was going down, too. If he asked to stay she
wouldn’t say no.

Brandy wandered out of her room with a yawn.
She paused in wheeling her chair to say, “Ew! I see I’m
interrupting something.”

Blue came up for air. His hair was ruffled
from Gem’s fingers and his eyes were dilated, but he told her,
“Gem’s agreed to marry me.”

Brandy rubbed her eyes, surprised.
“Already?”

Summoned by the conversations, Xera came to
her bedroom doorway, blinking in the light. Her hair stood up at
crazy angles. “What’s up? You two are getting married?
Already?”

“I see they’re not surprised by the if, just
the when.” Gem giggled. “I should make them wear yellow just for
that.”

Brandy and Xera looked at each other.
“Elope,” they said in tandem.

“I’ll have the justice of the peace here
first thing in the morning,” Xera said dourly. “I will not wear
yellow; or pink, for that matter. The more I think about it, the
more in favor I am of not giving you time to plan a party. You’ll
just work yourself down and run us around, and…no. Just
no.”

“Agreed,” Brandy said, folding her arms. She
looked at Xera. “How about we just tell Jamir what’s up and have
him plan a nice lunch just for family? I guess Blue could invite a
few friends, too,” she added, casting a doubtful look his way.

“Seeing as how he’s the groom,” Xera agreed
dryly. “Let’s get to work.” They headed to the couch and got out a
tablet to keep track of their plans.

“Looks like they don’t even need us,” Blue
said with a grin. “I guess your sisters are good for something
after all.”

“I heard that!” Xera called, but she didn’t
look up.

He sobered and looked at his beloved, soon
to be his wife. “You don’t mind, do you? Would you like something
else? Would you like to handle the plans?”