Peace and quiet at last, Johnsank back in his chair. That was exactly what he wanted. To completely forgeteverything for a day. No problems to solve, no fights to break up. Unlike therest of the crew, he had no desire to go down to the planet.
It seemed only minutes that theintercom beeped and John screwed his face up at the intrusion.
“Permission to come aboard,” afamiliar voice requested.
It stopped him in his tracks; asmile of recognition came over his face.
“Permission granted. I’m on thebridge.”
*
The bridge door opened. He wastall and handsome. His short blonde hair sat perfectly on his head and hiseyes were the colour of a warm, summer sky. His athletic body moved swiftlyacross the floor. A warm grin lit up his face.
“Sean, how are you?” John greetedhis friend. A high five turned into a firm grasp.
“Good, I’m really good.” Seanlooked around approvingly. “Nice little ship you’ve got here.”
“Yep, and she’s all mine.”
Sean raised one eyebrow. “Legally, I hope.”
“Actually, Powers gave her tome.”
“You’re kidding!”
“Only on a temporary basis.”
Sean ignored that formality. “You mean ‘I’ll see you in hell before I ever let you in charge of one of myships. As long as I live and breathe, Madison’ll never command even alifeboat!’” Sean did his best imitation of Admiral Powers; he was fairlyconvincing. “That Powers?”
John grinned.
“I would have loved to have seenthe look on his face.”
“He wasn’t too thrilled aboutit.”
“So, tell me what you’ve been upto.”
“It’s a long story. You?”
“Flying fighters on Shimodo. Butit’s starting to get dangerous out there.”
“Tell me about it. How did youfind me?”
“I have my –”
“Sean!” McReidy’s voice cut himoff.
“Ways,” he managed to finish asshe crossed the floor and wrapped her arms around him. He returned the hug,his arms closing around her shoulders. She came up to his chin.
“I’ve missed you,” she told himquietly.
“Yeah, right,” he answered as hereleased her.
“And if I remember correctly,you,” she pointed a finger into the middle of his chest, “owe me dinner.”
“I do?” he questioned, with adoubting frown.
“Uh-huh. Candlelit dinner fortwo, soft music, champagne, followed by strawberries and whipped cream.”
“Wha…” he began, but found he hadno voice. He cleared his throat and started again. “What time would you likeme to pick you up?”
“Give me an hour,” she grinnedand raced from the bridge.
“I see how you found me,” Johnsaid when she was out of earshot. “So, you and McReidy?”
“Nah,” Sean shook his head. “Just friends.”
“But…?” John hinted.
Sean grinned. “Guess I’ve got anhour to kill. What’ve you been up to?”
* * *
An hour later, Sean pickedMcReidy up from her quarters. She was worth waiting for.
He knew the perfect spot to takeher: an intimate little restaurant. The band played soft music that filteredaround the room. Small palm trees grew out of the floor, creating smallpockets of privacy without blocking one’s view.
Sean waved over a waiter, who ledthem to their table. A single orchid reached out of a long stemmed glass, twocandles sat in elaborate candlesticks and a bottle chilled in an ice bucketnext to the table.
“I see you haven’t lost yourtouch,” she smiled as the waiter pulled out her chair for her.
She sat down as the waiter easedthe chair under her, took a serviette, flicked it open and placed it on her lapin one smooth movement. He lit the candles and opened the wine, pouring asmall amount into Sean’s glass to sample it.
Sean didn’t bother sampling it. He pointed to both glasses and the waiter filled them, replaced the bottle inthe bucket and backed away into the room.
“How are you getting on withJohn?” Sean asked as McReidy took a sip, knowing he had put her on the spot.
She choked, but managed toswallow the wine. “I didn’t come here to discuss him,” she fired back.
Now it was Sean’s turn to smile. His whole face lit up. “Still the same.”
“There are times when I couldkill him,” she admitted.
“That’s my best friend you’retalking about.”
“I’m sorry.”
“That’s all right. There’ve beentimes I could have killed him myself.”
They had built up a strongfriendship in the past few years. Sean had wanted more, but she had put himstraight on that matter right at the beginning. He had accepted it withoutcomplaint and never tried to change her mind. That in itself had earned himgreat respect. He treated her like all his other friends, yet never forgot shewas a woman.
They discussed many things overdinner, relating almost every incident they could remember since their lastmeeting. She flirted terribly with him, automatically blaming the wine. Heresponded the way she wanted him to, but he had enough sense not to take herseriously.
It was only during dessert thathe began to feel uncomfortable. A tension was building up between them;something he felt was becoming too intimate. He picked up the wine bottle,holding it at eye level to check its volume, before straightening his arm andreaching across to her glass.
“More wine?” he offered.
He had positioned himself so thather eyes, on seeing the bottle, also met his.
“We might as well finish it,” hesmiled.
She nodded.
He emptied the bottle; it halffilled their glasses. Then he noisily put it back in the ice bucket. She tookthe hint and he felt the distance increase to a more comfortable level. Then anew idea struck her as her eyes lit up.
“Sean, come dance with me.” Shegrabbed both his hands in hers.
By the look on his face, shecould have asked him to jump off a cliff.
“I don’t dance very well,” hebegan. “Especially not after a bottle of this stuff,” he added for extraemphasis.
“Aw, come on… Please?”
He reluctantly let her pull himto his feet and to the middle of the room. There were a few other couplesthere, all quite happy in their own little worlds. The music was soft andslow. He took her hand, his arm automatically sliding around her waist.
She snuggled into his shoulderand closed her eyes. The blood pounded through his temples as her body nestledhis. Her hair felt like
