“So once you get rid of your client,” Devlin said from beside her, “why don’t you give it a try and join us?”
Jesus, he was still on about that. “I’m not getting rid of Callum.”
“You’re not?”
“No, I’m going to Trakis Seven.”
Devlin sat back in his seat a frown on his handsome face. “No one survives Trakis Seven except the Collective.”
“He’s paying me with the Meridian treatment.” Devlin would know she was going to Trakis Seven soon enough. They had a strategy meeting scheduled for after supper. It would be obvious then.
At that moment, Callum appeared in the doorway. Alex was at his side like some exotic flower in her burnt-orange jumpsuit with scarlet piping. Alex had spent most of her life in the black robes of a priestess, and now she loved color, the brighter the better. Callum’s head was bent toward her as he listened to something she was saying, and Tannis strained to hear.
“Thanks for hearing me out,” he murmured. “I needed to get that off my conscience. You’re a good listener.”
Alex patted his arm. “I’m glad it helped.” She gave him a sweet smile and went and sat beside Jon. Tannis frowned.
Callum nodded at the room in general and glanced around. There was a free seat on the other side of Tannis, but he ignored that and sat down next to Daisy. Tannis pretended to eat as she eavesdropped.
“I wanted to ask you a favor,” he said.
Daisy looked at him, her emerald eyes wary. At least she hadn’t been won over—yet. “What sort of favor?” she asked, her tone suspicious.
“Janey has sorted out some training programs for me. I need to brush up on a few skills. I’m way behind most of you, and if we get into a fight, I don’t want to let you all down.”
Tannis gave up the pretense of eating, put down her spoon, and listened openly. What was he doing? She glanced around the table and caught Rico’s gaze. He grinned at her, and she turned her attention back to Callum and Daisy. Daisy was twirling a strand of long green hair around her finger as she listened.
“So how can I help?” she asked.
“One of the programs works better with two. I wondered whether you could spare a little time to work with me.”
Daisy’s eyes brightened until they sparkled with green fire. “Of course. I’d love to.”
Tannis rose slowly to her feet. “I’ll see everyone later,” she said to the room in general. “We have a meeting in thirty minutes.”
She didn’t wait for anyone to answer, just pushed her chair away from the table, and strode from the room.
She paused outside the door.
“What’s it like to fly?” Daisy asked and now her voice was tinged with hero-worship.
“You want me to show you?” Callum replied. “There’s probably enough room in the docking bay.”
At that point, Tannis decided she’d heard enough. The thing was, Callum wasn’t flirting. He was just being…nice. Why did that make her feel as though there was something not quite right with the world?
Chapter Thirteen
Tannis was sitting alone in the meeting room, brooding, when Rico turned up. He kicked out the chair opposite and sat.
“What’s going on with Callum?” she asked.
“You think something’s going on?”
“Hell yeah. And who gave him the gun?”
“I did. I didn’t like the idea of him being unarmed with Starke on board. He’s promised not to kill anyone.” He grinned. “At least not on purpose.”
“Well, that’s a relief. So why’s he being so nice?”
“That’s down to me as well. I suggested that if he wants a chance of getting into your pants, it might be a good idea to get the crew on his side.”
Tannis glared. “He’s never going to get into my pants. And I don’t want him to try. I hate him.” But she could hear the lack of conviction in her voice. “So it’s all an act? The nice-guy, humble thing?”
“Who knows? I doubt even he does anymore. But does it matter? He’s doing a good job. And it’s not so much that he’s humble—no one actually believes that—but they appreciate he’s trying. It’s obviously not easy for him.”
“No, I bet it’s not.”
The others started coming in then and she put the thoughts aside—she needed to concentrate. Well, except for the thought about Callum getting into her pants; that one kept creeping back into her mind.
He wandered in and sat down at the edge of the room, where she could see him if she turned her head a fraction. Which she did. Her gaze drifted down to his hands with their long, elegant fingers. She had a flashback to the feel of those fingers, and a wave of heat washed over her. Glancing up, she caught him watching her, his eyes sleepy, heavy-lidded, and she had the distinct notion that he was thinking about the exact same thing. She squirmed in her seat, and his lips curved up in a slow smile.
“Tannis!” Rico spoke sharply from beside her.
“Yeah?”
“Meeting.”
“Oh, right.” She looked at him, and he shook his head, then leaned in close.