Even accommodated at oppositeends of the cargo bay, the visual taunts shot back and forth. At one point,Delma’s vice council was caught trying to put a listening device into Ersog’sarea. McReidy threatened to accommodate the Druins in the brig if thebehaviour continued. At Ersog’s grin, she promised him an equallyuncomfortable cell.
They both backed down; theensuing silence full of heat before they returned to their own areas. As shepocketed the listening device and turned to leave, she glimpsed the smile fromCush.
McReidy was glad to get to bed ofa night time. She was missing out on a lot of gossip. Kat and Lorraine kepther informed, but it wasn’t the same. Helen had a unique way of making themost trivial speck of gossip sound like an earth shattering experience.
One night she managed to sneakback to her quarters early. She sighed heavily and collapsed onto the lounge. Propping a cushion against one arm, she used it as a pillow, laying on her backand closing her eyes.
“Staying in tonight?” Lorraineasked curiously.
“Why?” McReidy growled.
“Oh, no reason.”
Lorraine moved out of eyesight. McReidy half pulled herself up. That was as far as she got; she was too tiredto move any further. “This is my place,” she called back. “You and Giacomo –”
Lorraine popped her head over theback of the lounge. “Giacomo is on night shift.”
“Bye, girls. See you in themorning.” Kat made a subtle break for the door.
“Where are you going?” Lorraineasked casually.
“Out,” came the innocent reply.
Something in Lorraine’sexpression triggered an automatic response in McReidy. “Hold it right there.”
Kat froze as McReidy pulledherself upright. The nurse was looking particularly attractive tonight. Nothing noticeably different, but definitely well finished off.
“Rodgers is working tonight.” Lorraine was immediately suspicious.
“Is he?” Kat avoided all eyecontact.
“Who is he?” McReidy wanted toknow.
“Why should either of you care? You’ve got Giacomo,” she told Lorraine. “And a certain gorgeous hunk has gothis eye on you,” she told McReidy.
“He’s married,” McReidyexplained, although she didn’t know why she automatically assumed Kat wasreferring to Cush.
“When did that ever stop them?”Kat stated.
McReidy was taken aback slightlyas Kat raised sudden doubts.
“If you must know.” Kat’s eyesshone. It was obvious that she wanted to tell them. “I’m after thecommander.”
“Don’t do it, Kat,” McReidywarned seriously.
“He’ll break your heart,”Lorraine added.
“Not if I get his first.” Katrefused to be intimidated by their fears. She was supremely confident in herability to do so.
“He doesn’t have one.” McReidywas unaware that they heard her comment.
“Don’t wait up for me.” Katskipped to the door, happy and lighthearted.
“Do you think –?” Lorrainebegan. McReidy shook her head, and Lorraine answered her own question. “Meeither.”
* * *
John opened his door to find Katwith her head lowered, wringing her hands in front of her.
“Kat!”
“Can I talk to you?” she sulked.
He ran his hand through his hairand screwed up his face momentarily. “Of course you can.”
His arm went around her shoulderas he steered her inside and sat her down on the lounge, grabbing a box oftissues from a shelf on the way.
“Thanks,” she sniffed, taking oneand dabbing at her eyes.
He settled beside her. “What’sRodgers done now?”
Kat dropped her hands her lap,fidgeting with the tissue. She mumbled something about Rodgers and as much ashe tried to listen, it seemed he’d heard the same thing – or variations of it –a hundred times before.
She sobbed gently, dabbing againwith the tissue. His arms went around her, she slipped hers underneath his,and he pulled her head to his shoulder. She closed her eyes. His fingerstrailed through her hair, his voice soft as he told her the same things he’dtold her a hundred times before.
The room fell into silence and hesighed.
“Why do you put up with it? He’snot good enough for you.”
“I know.” Kat looked up into hiseyes.
Too late he saw her true intent. She threw herself on top of him, forcing him flat on his back and pinning himdown. Her mouth found his immediately. His first reaction was to kiss herback – for all of the half second before he grabbed her shoulders and pushedher off. He held her at arms length, keeping her off himself.
“Kat!” he growled. “I thoughtyou knew better.”
She caught the flash of anger inhis eye as he eased her away and tried to sit upright.
“Give me one reason why not.” She pushed him back down, leaning her forearms across his chest and maintainingthe upper hand. Her eyes sparkled, trying to put out the anger in his. Afterall, they were both fully aware that his first reaction had been to kiss herback.
“One! I could give you ahundred!” he roared. He was furious at her deceit and no amount of flirting orfriendship was going to appease him. “To start with, you don’t love me.”
Her eyes stilled as they took inhis rage and she recoiled. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come.”
She moved too quickly for John tostop her. He heard the hurt in her voice and reached an arm after her.
“Kat.”
She was almost at the door. Hecursed himself for his own anger. He hadn’t meant to upset her and he wasn’tgoing to let her leave like that. She ignored him and kept going. He pushedhimself from the lounge and went after her. The door was still open. As hereached it, he passed Dunlop on his way in.
“Don’t you go around upsetting mystaff,” the doctor smiled, unaware of the actual situation.
John glared. This was not thetime to be explaining anything to anyone but Kat. He chased her down thecorridor. “Kat, wait,” he called.
She ignored him.
“Let me explain… Please, Kat,”he implored.
She stopped, but didn’t turnaround. He had almost caught up with her but he froze in his tracks. Shewaited in silence.
“I’m sorry, Kat. I didn’t meanto hurt you.” An apology was the first thing to be given and she would know ifit was genuine. He was used to picking up the pieces. He didn’t quite knowhow to handle it now that he was the cause. “We both know you’re not in lovewith me.”
He silently took a step forward. She was just out of arm’s reach.
She turned around and looked upat him defiantly. “What about you?” She saw the anguish on his
