“I hope so.” Zia gave him a teasing smile.“You were pretty obnoxious the way you kept suggesting skirmisherversus skirmisher.”
“It worked for your grandfather.” Rem’s eyestwinkled. “The one I really wanted was three skirmishersagainst three skirmishers. Then I could have talked Carrak intoletting me pilot one of them.”
“And I’d be having a heart attack right now,”Zia complained. “She says you’re not ready, and since I don’t wantyou to get crushed like that pilot yesterday, I agree withher.”
“I’m ready,” Rem murmured. “But yeah, thatwas tough to watch. I heard good news about Gannor’s cousin,though. They think Annyak will make a full recovery.”
Zia leaned back and sighed. “What arelief.”
He nodded, then stood and picked up his lunchtray. “I’d better get back to work. What are you going to do thisafternoon?”
“The same thing I always do. Nothing. I feelso useless.”
“Useless? You dreamed up the configuration,remember?” he teased. “I sure hope you’re right about that,Quito.”
“Be quiet.”
She followed him to the service area todispose of her tray. As soon as she was done, Rem pulled her into acorner and murmured in her ear, “Do we still have a date?”
“I thought you forgot all about that. There’sso much going on. You’ve got to stay focused.”
“Believe me, I’m focused,” he said with achuckle. “I keep picturing your legs, and kicking myself for beingsuch a sound sleeper.” He tilted her face up toward his and gaveher a quick kiss. “So?”
“We still have a date,” she confirmed.
“Good. I’ll see you in a few hours. Stickclose to Gannor, okay?”
She nodded. “He’s going to give me anotherblaster lesson. I have his undivided attention for a change, sinceMaryak is spending time with her mom.”
“Really?”
“Waiting on her hand and foot. With nothanks,” Zia reported in disgust. “It’s so frustrating.”
“Well,” Rem murmured, “play it smart anddon’t interfere.”
Zia rolled her eyes. “Spoken like a trueguy.”
He laughed and kissed her again, then ambledoff toward the door, where other pilots were assembling. As always,it was fun seeing Rem in the midst of so many furry hulks. Heexuded such good-natured confidence they had completely acceptedhim as an honorary Malaran pilot, even when he diligently affixedhis mask and goggles to his face as he was doing now.
She watched until he was out of sight. Thenshe walked over to one of the sofas and took a seat. Delayedexhaustion was settling in, thanks to the nighttime strategysession, and she wondered how Rem managed to stay so alert andcheerful.
Sheer adrenaline, she remindedherself. And the hope that by some miracle, Carrak will choosehim to pilot the skirmisher in the next challenge. And you’d betterprepare yourself for that, Zee, because if this war lasts longenough, he will get chosen. He could end up like that orangemech pilot—twisted and smashed, instantly dead.
Gannor plopped down beside her, then pattedher arm with his clawed hand. “You are missing him already?”
“And you’re missing Maryak?”
“Yes, but I have the perfect cure forus.”
“Blowing something up?”
“Exactly.” He stood and pulled her by thehand. “It is important for you to learn to defend yourself. TheVekzori have been quiet, but not forever. You must beprepared.”
She winced at the reminder that her blasterlessons weren’t just a way to pass the time. They might actuallysave her life one day, or at least help Rem and Gannor protecther.
So she forced herself to be as energetic asthe pilots. “Okay, handsome, you talked me into it. Let’s goincinerate some targets.”
* * * *
If Rem was tired from lack of sleep and a dayfilled with demanding maneuvers, he didn’t show it during thetransport ride to the hotel that night. While he didn’t exactlyattack Zia, thanks to the presence of Humber’s nephew, she lovedthe way he sat close and whispered to her, with some occasionalsniffing of her hair and neck, his breath warm on her skin. Andwhile he mostly talked about the thrill of piloting mechs on sand,now that he had seen how important that skill could be, heinterspersed all that with compliments about her eyes, and legs,and hair, and just about everything else.
As soon as they were alone in the suite, hecompleted his routine inventory of possible Vekzor hiding places,then grabbed Zia and pulled her onto the sofa, where he leeredplayfully into her face. “Hi, beautiful.”
“Hi.” She bit back a smile. “In case youdidn’t notice, you’re scaring me.”
“You’re not afraid of anything, remember? Allthat great DNA wrapped up in a really great body. Speakingof which—” He licked his lips. “Has our date begun yet?”
“You’re so obnoxious,” she told him, but sheknew he could tell from her laugh that she couldn’t wait either.Not with him looking so hot-bodied and heroic. His eyes were bluerthan ever, and his arms felt so strong, and those cheekbones . ..
“I need to shower first, Rem. It’s been morethan twenty-four hours. You got cleaned up at the reccenter, but I’m icky. Trust me, it’s not a prettysight.”
“I doubt that. But whatever you say. I’ll mixup some shakes for dinner while you shower. But we’re still onschedule, right?”
She laughed at the hint of desperation in histone. “On schedule for a typical first date. I’m not promising anymore than that.”
“But you’ll be wearing my shirt again.Right?”
“Right.” She wriggled away and stood up.“I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
Hurrying into the bedroom, she found a freshgray shirt and headed for the shower.
Don’t think, don’t think, don’t think,she warned herself. He’s so much fun. So sweet really, even whenhe’s trying to sack you. Forget about his dad. And mech battles.Pretend you’re back on Earth, and you just met him at a party, andhe asked you out.
Don’t think of him as Rem Stone, sheadded, her heart beginning to pound. He’s just a guy you’recrazy about. And he’s sooo crazy about you too.
* * * *
Rem figured there was a fifty-fifty chanceZia would change her mind, so he prepared himself for thatpossibility while he whipped up the shakes in the multi-bladedblender supplied by the hotel. He was actually willing to settlefor just seeing her in
