And I’m sure as fuck not going to risk telling her now.
“That’s what everyone keeps saying.” Summer pulled her hand out of Jenna’s grasp and stood wearily. “Look, I took a bath in the river a few hours ago but I sure wouldn’t mind splashing water on my face and some clean clothes.”
“Oh, I knew that dress would match your eyes,” Jenna said from her place in the living room as Summer came out to join her. She was seated, her baby in her arms, nursing. “Turn around. Let me see.”
Sighing inwardly, Summer held out the skirt of the sky blue dress and turned so her friend could see the back of the floor-length gown. She had brushed her hair smooth and Jenna had found delicate little crystal decorated silk slippers for her too.
“What about jewelry?” Jenna offered.
“No jewelry, thanks.” Who was she supposed to be dressing up for anyway? To be marched back to the Betari enclosure for a life sentence?
“But you have to have some!” Jenna protested.
Summer folded her arms. “Hey, have you seen my friend Jenna anywhere? You know, the girl who wore denim overalls all summer for years?”
“Go back into my dressing room,” Jenna insisted. “Open the top drawer and take the dark blue jewelry set. There’s a necklace, bracelets, earrings—put them all on and let me see.”
“Jenna—”
“Let me see, for heaven’s sake!”
“Fine,” Summer muttered, stomping out of the living area and heading through Jenna’s suite to her dressing room. Pulling just the top drawer open revealed jewels to rival those she’d taken from the Betari, jewels that remained, still wrapped, in the pack she’d left in the corner of this room when she’d come in to change.
Not that she wanted to wear the Betari jewels any more than she wanted to wear Jenna’s . . .
“Happy?” Summer asked as she rejoined Jenna in the living room. She held her arms out, the bracelets sparkling in the afternoon sunlight streaming in from the balcony, the necklace heavy with jewels around her neck.
“What about the earrings?”
“Marie Antoinette wore smaller earrings! Those things weigh a ton and I really don’t need my ears hurting on top of everything.”
“Well, I guess that’ll have to do then,” Jenna sighed.
“Well, thanks,” Summer grumbled. “I’m having a great day too.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.” Jenna stood, holding her baby with one hand as she closed her top with the other. “You look wonderful.”
Watching her, Summer couldn’t help but smile a little. “Ah, Mommy dexterity. You could probably breastfeed, swing a hula hoop on your left foot, and recite the—”
Just then Jenna’s infant daughter—Anna—looked her way and Summer broke off.
She was a gorgeous baby, with cherubic fat cheeks, pink little mouth, and chubby fists; her barely rippled forehead made her look cute rather than beastly.
Emma’s eyes were blue too.
But Anna’s glowed the same vibrant shade as her g’hir father’s—and Ke’lar’s.
“I think she’s beautiful,” Jenna said sharply.
“She is,” Summer said hoarsely. “She really is, Jenna.”
The sincerity in her voice seemed to soften her friend again but caught her attention too.
“You two were alone for days,” Jenna said bluntly. “Did something happen between you and Ke’lar?”
“No.” Summer met her gaze squarely. “Nothing.”
Jenna’s brown eyes narrowed. “Summer Mills, you are worst liar in three counties.”
Summer gave a short laugh. “And now this quadrant of the galaxy.”
Jenna chuckled too then her smile faded. “Ke’lar . . . the way he looked at you I thought—”
Summer’s throat tightened. “Then we were both wrong.” She looked at her friend, at the tender way she held her baby. “So . . . you really love him? Ra’kur?”
“Yes,” Jenna said fiercely. “I do.”
“Then I’m happy for you.”
She meant it too.
Jenna wet her lips. “Summer, listen, I know what you think but Ra’kur—”
Whatever her friend wanted her to know about her g’hir mate was cut off by a sharp knock. Before Jenna could even respond, Ar’ar was opening the door and stepping inside.
Annoyance flashed over her friend’s face at the rudeness, at the unapologetic intrusion.
But hey, that’s a g’hir for you . . .
The four Betari warriors, Ar’ar’s clanbrothers, still stood guard outside Jenna’s quarters and they exchanged a look with Ar’ar as he shut the door behind him in silent assurance that they wouldn’t be going anywhere.
“Ar’ar,” Jenna said, shifting the baby to her hip, her tone pleasant as if he hadn’t just barged into her quarters without invitation. “We were just about to go downstairs.”
“This is your daughter?” Ar’ar asked, his eyes fixed on the child as he approached.
“Yes,” Jenna said, proud as any momma would be.