Free Beloved Stranger: Gaian Series, Book 5 by Janet Miller Page A

he’d bought his way into at practically the last minute? It would have to have been an incredibly elaborate plot.
    If any of his enemies could have accomplished something like that, why plant a woman in his home? Anyone capable of pulling off a scam this good should just bring in better merchandise and undercut his sales.
    Wanting an explanation, he’d followed her as she’d traveled through the bubble, anger burning a hole in his gut, waiting to find out the depths of her betrayal. But instead of meeting someone, she’d carefully examined every unoccupied building in Beta Residence, breaking through the security of each one just to search, not taking or leaving anything.
    When the bubble’s security team had caught her, and he’d seen her body tensing for action, he’d known that if he didn’t do something she’d end up in custody or would have to fight her way out. That could have led to her being hurt, and whatever else was going on with her, she was his wife. Even if it was a role she seemed intent on shirking, even if it she’d drugged him, he still wanted to be her husband.
    So he’d rescued her, making up a story that made little sense even to him, but he had a good relationship with Barnat and Earny and knew they wouldn’t question it. If his wife wanted to go for a swim in the middle of the night, they’d probably even let her, particularly if he bribed them to look the other way.
    He’d followed her for over an hour, expecting to discover the worst about her, but now he wasn’t so sure. She looked as tired as he was, but he didn’t intend to let either of them sleep until he knew what was going on.
    Somehow he’d have to get some answers.
    Roan grabbed her arm and directed her to one of the seats at the eating counter in his small kitchen. “I have a feeling this is going to be a long story. Sit down and I’ll make some javi.”
    In spite of her clear dismay, Sonja’s face brightened, and Roan knew she was familiar with the Gaian substitute for Earth coffee.
    Javi was made from a root vegetable not unlike a carrot. After drying and grinding, a small spoonful of the resulting powder mixed in a mug of hot water made a drink that tasted similar to the finest brewed coffee in the universe. Once, Roan had imported some real and very expensive Earth coffee just to try it and afterwards he’d decided that while the flavor was similar and the caffeine content identical, he liked javi better.
    Well, at least they had one thing in common. In spite of the anger he was harboring for his new wife, Roan was glad of that. He didn’t say anything more until he’d finished preparing two mugs and put one in front of her. She took a deep sip and sighed appreciatively. “That tastes so good.”
    Roan took the seat opposite and sipped his, felt the caffeine throw off the last of his drug-induced headache. “Glad you like it. Now tell me what this is all about.”
    Sonja sighed again but this time with resignation. “What do you want to know?”
    Everything, but he’d settle for one answer at a time. “Let’s start with why you were at a marriage meet when you didn’t plan on becoming a wife. And don’t tell me that you did want to get married and just changed your mind afterwards. That wouldn’t explain the contents of that bag of yours.”
    The contents of her bag. He should have known there was something wrong as soon as he’d seen what she had with her. It had been too much and too little.
    Women were often brought to the meets with no possessions at all, only the clothes on their backs. Roan had been asked too many times to provide a complete wardrobe for a new bride not to have noticed. When he’d asked, he’d been told the women were refugees escaping poverty or natural or man-made disasters on their home planets. That also explained how nervous the women often were.
    But Sonja had a bag. Sonja had too much with her to be a refugee, and he’d noticed from the first how self-possessed she was.