Phoenix Rising I (19 page)

Making several changes, which she thought were fair, she called the law office and had them send the courier back. When he knocked, she opened the door, handed him the clipboard and said, “The assets are in dispute. Be sure to send my court date here.”

Attached to the clipboard was a note, telling Jeff to stop being mean and sign a fair agreement. There was also a mild threat about him not wanting her to contact the intergalactic law board about his schoolwork. She felt wrong doing it, like she was sinking to his level, but knew Jeff well enough to know that he wouldn’t want the partners suspecting that his wife had done his homework. It was the only way she could think of to get him to sign a fair agreement, splitting everything in half, without resorting to a long, drawn-out battle that would only get ugly.

“Good for you,” Maverick said, nodding in approval when she told him that night over chicken cordon bleu. He took a bite, moaning slightly like he did each time. “Wow, this is great. I can’t thank you enough for the recipes.”

She smiled. “So you don’t think it was too petty to threaten him?”

“Not at all. I think it’s justified. From what you’ve told me, you did help him during his school years. And, the man did evict you unfairly from your home. I’ve seen divorces get much messier than this one.”

“Yours?” she asked. He’d alluded to it before, but hadn’t gone into great detail.

“Yes. She wasn’t happy being married to a cop and wanted more. She took the house, my hovercraft and for a while my sanity. I was hurt, so I tried to fight it, but in the end, I just let her have it all. I shouldn’t have done that, but it is what it is. That’s why I had myself transferred to this Earthbase four years ago. I wanted a clean start.”

“So it’s been four years?”

“Six. It took time for the transfer to come through.”

“Do you miss her?”

“No, not really.” He gave a small sigh. “We were young and neither of us had seen much of the universe. We should never have gotten married.”

After dinner, Maverick poured wine. The deep red blend was stout, but tasted wonderful. It also made her a little giddy.

Leaning against the countertop, she eyed him. “Why don’t you date?”

He gave a little laugh. “I haven’t found anyone worth asking. Most of the women I know are criminals or colleagues.”

His eyes held untold meaning and she shivered. She couldn’t take it anymore. He was consuming her mind and her body was so tight with desire that she felt it like a sting to her soul.

“It’s been a long day,” she said, nervous. “I should get to bed.”

“Oh, are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m fizzled,” she lied. “It’s been a long day, you know.”

“Good night, Juliana.”

“Mmm, night,” she answered, making her way quickly to the door and up the stairs. Once there, she shut herself in the guest room, which was her room.

She looked around, taking deep breaths as she made her way over to the bed. Aside from an adjoining bathroom, the room was a lot like Maverick’s. The dressers were modern and controlled by electronic scans unlike his antiques, and the bed was a perfect square unlike his rectangle.

She’d wanted to kiss him so badly that she had no other choice but to run from her feelings. Her mind whispered that she was now free to pursue him, but how could she? It had been so long and it didn’t seem right with the divorce only being finalized today. Part of her said to think of it as a celebration, another part of her said she was scared and using divorce as an excuse to hide from sex and from her feelings.

Regardless of the reason, she wasn’t going to act on those feelings tonight. Closing her eyes, she refused to touch herself as she had been. Maybe the fantasizing was what caused her uncontrollable libido. Or was it that Maverick had the greatest smile she’d ever seen?

Sighing, she turned on her side and did everything she could to get to sleep.

The next day, Maverick was gone when she woke up. It wasn’t surprising since her conflicting emotions didn’t let her get to sleep before dawn. Not wanting to face him when she was still so easily aroused by just thoughts of him, she left dinner out and went to bed early. Yes, it was cowardly, but her theory on not pleasuring herself to keep her libido down wasn’t working. The next morning, she found a note he left, hoping she was all right and telling her to call if she needed anything.

It wouldn’t take a shuttle engineer to figure out the first thing her brain came up with in the department of ‘needed anything’.

Heading out of the house, she went for a walk, picked up a newspaper chip and, holding it in her palm, she pushed the button on the small square. A holographic screen popped up from the chip. Walking and reading at the same time, she could see through the transparent screen well enough not to bump into anything, even as she touched the menu items floating above her hand. Unfortunately, there was nothing in the advertisements about work to be had, at least nothing she was qualified to do. Most of it was for intergalactic spaceship pilots to haul import loads off planet. There was one for Galaxy Brides, advertising for willing females to go to distant planets to marry humanoid males.

“No, thanks, just got out of one marriage,” she mumbled. Yet, somehow, the idea of not staying at Maverick’s bothered her more than anything. She liked him, a lot, and didn’t want to lose someone who was fast becoming one of her best friends. His nearness had helped her through a rough ordeal. He was still helping her. Just being there, caring,

Chapter Four

“There you are.”

Juliana looked up from the newspaper chip, surprised to hear Jeff’s voice, even more so to see him standing on the front step of Maverick’s home. His face was thin, his jaw weak and it struck her how much she wasn’t attracted to him. It had only been a few days since she last saw him, but the image she’d carried of him wasn’t what she now saw. Were her eyes finally opened to what kind of man he really was? Or had she known for a long time and chosen to ignore it?

Glancing to the landing pad out front, she saw their luxury hovercraft parked on Maverick’s spot. San de Val le, Jeff’s little aerobics instructor was sitting in the passenger seat, toying with her handheld makeup case.

San de Val le. Whoever heard of such a ridiculous name? Apparently, it was some sort of stage name for when she became an intergalactic star. But, Juliana had never heard of Galaxy Playmates hiring no talent space trash. Even those exotic dancers seemed to have some kind of skill.

San de couldn’t be any more than twenty years old. Her hot pink hair was straightened and cut at her chin. She looked like a hooker and from what Juliana could see of her low cut, cleavage popping red top, she was dressed like one too.

“What do you want, Jeff?” she asked, turning off the paper chip.

“Wow, so this is where you’ve been hiding. The courier was having a stellar time trying to find you.”

“I’m not hiding. I’m renting,” Juliana said.

“Hmm, really? I heard you were having an affair with a cop.” Jeff wrinkled his nose in disgust.

“It’s not an affair if I’m single,” she quipped, not bothering to deny the accusation. Somehow, she liked him thinking that Maverick was her man. “I could fuck the entire force if I wanted and it wouldn’t be cheating.”

“I see slumming it has made you crass.” He frowned.

“And sleeping with bimbos hasn’t changed the fact that you are a jerk. Now, is there a reason you’re here? Because I’m not legally obligated to pretend that I like you.” Juliana gave him an expectant look. “Well?”

“Sign the Assets form, Juliana,” he said, as if giving an order. “I have it right here.

“I take it you didn’t like the changes I made.”

“If you think you’re getting half, you’re mistaken,” Jeff said. “I earned that money. I worked.”

“And I earned your degree,” she answered. “And helped secure your partnership, and your home. Besides, you know it was my inheritance that bought that house. They left the money to me, not you.”

“We were married. It makes it both of ours,” he said.

“Glad you agree. Give me half and I sign,” she said.

“Twenty-thousand space credits. Right now.”

“Um, half and I sign right now.”

“Juliana,” he warned.

“Jeffers,” she mimicked his tone.

“You really want to take this to court? You know that you won’t win. I’m a partner at a very important, prestigious firm and,” he lowered his voice, taking a threatening step forward, “you know you won’t find a lawyer in this quadrant that will help you. Even if you do, he won’t win against me.”

“Good thing I studied law then, huh?” she said. “And whatever you know, I know.”

“Juliana? Is everything all right?” Maverick’s voice broke into the conversation.

She glanced over, surprised to see Maverick standing near his police car. His partner slowly raised the craft but kept it idle while he monitored the situation from above.

“Jeff!” San de yelled. “Hurry. I’m hungry. You promised to take me to Jo Jeano.”

“This is none of your concern,” Jeff said to Maverick.

“Well, this is my house and you’re trespassing,” Maverick said, crossing his arms. Juliana had never seen him act so bold, so fierce. Instant heat warmed her blood and her sex. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He looked so authoritative. “Plus, it seems to me you’re harassing my tenant.”

“I am not!” Jeff said. “I only came to get a signature.”

“Juliana, do you have anything to sign?” Maverick asked. His strong, confident gaze met hers and all she could do was shake her head in denial. “There you have it. I suggest you leave.”

Jeff opened his mouth, but as he glanced over Maverick’s uniform and then up at the police hover car, he must have thought better of it. “I’ll see you in court then, but don’t think you’re getting a single credit from me. You had your chance.”

Her ex stormed off and she watched until she saw his car disappear.

“Thank you,” she said, looking at Maverick.

He gave her a small smile. “Sean was just dropping me off early. I wanted to check on you, see how you’re holding up. I know you’ve been exhausted the last couple of days and I thought I’d take you out to eat.”

“That’s kind of you,” she said. “But I don’t feel like going out. Do you mind if we just stay in again?”

“Not at all,” Maverick answered.

“Mav?” his partner asked through the window, parking on the landing pad.

“Oh, sorry, Juliana, this is Sean, my partner. Sean, Juliana,” Maverick introduced.

“So, you’re the sexy tenant my partner’s been chewing my ear off about,” Sean said, laughing. Juliana glanced at Maverick in surprise. He’d told his partner she was sexy? “I’m glad to see for once he was telling the truth.”

It was clear by his tone that Sean was teasing his buddy. Maverick rolled his eyes and waved him away. Still laughing, the man took off.

“You don’t have to work?” she asked, still pleased by Sean’s confession. She felt breathless as they were finally left alone together.

“Sean’s covering for me,” he answered, motioning that they should go inside the house. “Were you going somewhere?”

Juliana followed his gaze to her purse. “I just got back. I went to get a newspaper chip to look for work. Apparently, I can either pilot a hauling ship, or contract myself to be a bride on demand.”

“Oh, that good, huh?” He chuckled. “I’ll ask around. See what I can find out.”

“Really?” Juliana felt a spark of hope. Somehow, when he said it, she felt like there was a chance she might actually find something. Maybe it was his confidence and charm. Or perhaps the fact that he was a problem solver. “Only if it’s not too much trouble.”

“Not at all. A guy needs his tenant to have a job.” He laughed, opening the door and letting her walk in first.

“So, are you hungry?” she asked, automatically going to feed him.

“No, but how about some wine? Or if you’re tired of wine, I have some burbear, diaops, mandice, beer, Qurilixen ale, something from the food simulator …”

His tone had lowered, just a little, but enough to make her shiver all the way down her spine. Licking her lips, she nodded. Some wine sounded really good right now. “I like the wine.”

“Wine it is,” he said gallantly, going to grab a bottle from a hidden rack in the kitchen cupboard. “Deep red.”

“Perfect.”

He poured the glasses and she couldn’t help but watch his every move as he turned to hand it to her. Maverick had strong hands and she wanted more than anything to have him touch her. Taking the glass, she quickly drank it, stepping back from him. The liquor was warm as it slid easily down her throat. Before she knew it, she’d finished it.

“You’re pretty shaken up, aren’t you?”

Not by Jeff.

“No, just....” Juliana shrugged, not having a good excuse. She again looked at his hands as he lifted the wine bottle to pour another glass for her. The liquor had to be going straight to her brain, because she suddenly felt really flushed, and hot, and tingly, and wet, and….

Juliana sipped her drink, looking at his sexy uniform, so strong and commanding. She remembered the toys she had found in his room, the hint of kink to his collection. Why was she fighting her feelings so much? He had told his partner he thought she was sexy. Surely that meant something.

Taking a bold step forward, she went to him, crossing the distance to where he was against the countertop. His gaze met hers and he didn’t back away from her advance. That had to be a good sign, right?

“I still can’t believe you aren’t taken.” She wasn’t sure where the words came from, but she didn’t take them back. Keeping her eyes boldly on his, she drank down the second glass of wine. The stout liquor combined with the heat of desires, desires that would no longer be suppressed, stirred deep within her. Every reason for not touching him dissolved when he returned her look of longing. With Maverick, she didn’t feel shy, or unwanted. She felt him, deep in her soul, like no other. It was impossible to put into words, but it was a feeling as real as both of them standing there.

“I told you. Most women I meet are on the wrong side of the law.” His lashes lowered over his eyes and his breathing deepened.