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The last time he’d sat across a dinner table from Nisha she’d stolen his breath and he’d gone into panic mode. Unfortunately, his panic mode consisted of him acting like a jerk. And despite having the same amount of panic as he had that first date, Kien was set on not ruining this evening. Today had been the best he’d not only had on this planet thus far, but the best he’d had in a very long time.
In space, things could get boring and mundane. He, Solgre and Phate all had their set routines and because the spaceship could operate on its own and their duties were often solitary in nature, Kien could go days without seeing either of them. He didn’t mind. In fact, he enjoyed his alone time. None of them would be able to survive living on a spaceship if they didn’t. But Kien had never once thought his life a lonely one.
When he wanted company, he would visit Solgre or Phate at their respective posts or their cabins. They also had the missions that took them off Halo One, sometimes for weeks at a time. And when it was time to board their ship again, he did it happily, ready for the next adventure. But now, these past days, had him wondering what he was missing out on by not having a mate.
Nothing in his government contract restricted him from taking a mate or having a family on board. Halo One was a Class Two spaceship, suitable for family life. The Thellian government knew how important family was and each ship was built to accommodate those needs. By the way Phate was looking at Tasha, Kien didn’t doubt that he would ask her to leave with him. It would either be that or Kien could see them swinging by Earth during their breaks just so Phate could visit her.
Even as Kien thought about them doing that, he knew Phate wouldn’t settle for the latter. He’d never seen his friend behave like he was now. Like Kien, Phate had bedmates he visited while in their area, but nothing serious. What Phate felt with Tasha seemed serious and Kien wasn’t against it.
Because he could see himself acting that way with Nisha. And that’s what scared him.
He could easily see fiery Nisha traveling through the galaxy with him. The last few days he’d woken up and had to fight the urge to wonder what it would be like to wake up to her in his bed for the rest of their lives. Whenever that thought seeped into his head, his heart pounded and his breathing labored.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Kien glanced up from his food to find Nisha’s eyebrows pulled together. She hadn’t eaten much of her food either. Just like him, she was pushing her food around the plate with her fork.
He took a drink of his beer. “Nothing.”
She rolled her eyes. “Something’s the matter because your face is all screwed up and you’re grumbling under your breath.”
He stabbed a vegetable and stuffed it into his mouth.
“Is it the company? Am I boring you?” Although she asked the question teasingly, there was a hint of worry in her voice.
“The company is adequate.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he’d known his word choice was poor. The look on Nisha’s face confirmed it.
She straightened her shoulders and her gaze narrowed. “Oh? Adequate. Are you upset that you can’t flirt with any of the women here and have to pretend to be on a date with me?”
He held her stare. “When a male wants a female, he only has eyes for her. He doesn’t look at anyone else because he doesn’t see them.”
She stared at him for a few seconds more before breaking the connection to glance away. “I see.”
The normal mask of indifference she wore was gone and replaced with an innocence he’d only seen glimpses of before.
“It’s true.” He took another swig of his beer.
She took a bite of her food then cleared her throat. “Well, paying attention to only me is making you grumpy. Have a look around, I know you want to. Just be inconspicuous about it and don’t embarrass me like you did on our first—and only—date.”
Kien flinched, remembering how he’d never apologized for his previous actions. “I’m sorry about that. That was rude of me, and I shouldn’t have done it.”
“No, you shouldn’t have. If you weren’t into me, you’re still supposed to behave like a respectable gentleman. Then after the date, follow it up with a, ‘Hey, thanks for going out with me, you’re a sweet woman, but I don’t see our relationship progressing. Good luck on your search, though!’.”
He chuckled lightly. “Noted.”
Nisha opened her mouth as if to say something else but snapped it shut. Boisterous chatter came from the hostess stand where a group of six people now stood. They laughed and joked with each other as the hostess stared out over the dining room. Her eyes lit up when she spotted a large and empty table next to Kien and Nisha.
“This is about to get rowdy and loud,” Nisha said while pushing her vegetables to the side of her plate.
“It’s been a long day. We’ve made our appearance as a couple. Do you want to call it a night? We have about five hours before we make our way through the woods.”
Nisha took a deep breath. “I’m really not looking forward to the hiking through the woods all night and day part.”
“I checked and from where we are now, it’s only seven miles away, but we’ll have to—”
She placed her elbow on the table and cupped her jaw with her hand. The pout on her face was adorable. “Take the scenic route to throw off anyone if we’re being followed. I get it.”
Kien signaled for their waitress.
“I’m actually really excited to see it. This is momentous. I’m just bummed I can’t tell my mom anything about it.”
“You’re very close to her, aren’t you?” The waitress dropped off the check and before she could leave Kien signed it with his room number. Nisha pulled it to her and added the amount for the tip on the empty line.
He stood and held out his hand for hers. She paused, staring at it.
“For the show,” he added.
She took it and he clamped down on the warm feeling erupting in his heart, stopping the warmness from spreading any further.
As he led her from the restaurant, she said, “I am. We’re all that we have. Both of my parents were only children and I’m an only child.” He led them to the elevators. “My dad always said we’re a family of three. Now...now, it’s just the two of us since he passed away.”
Kien led them to the elevator and pushed the “Up” button. “I’m sorry you have to lie to her about this.”
The elevator dinged and they entered. Nisha pushed their floor number and shrugged. “She’ll understand and forgive me. Because when you leave, I’m telling her everything.” She laughed at the last part.
“Maybe I’ll have to kidnap you both in order to keep our secret.”
Nisha opened her eyes wide. “You wouldn’t do that.”
The elevator stopped and the door opened. Kien left laughing, leaving her to sputter and wonder if he joked or not.
She would probably stop laughing if she knew that kidnapping and keeping her for himself was really on his mind.