Free Space Wrangler by Kate Donovan

this, it was finally happening. He was standing right in front of her. Same adorable face, same broad shoulders, same blue eyes.
    But he had betrayed her. Worse, he had betrayed Trent. So her hesitation made perfect sense. She could regain those old, erotic, romantic feelings with him, but it would take time. And in the meantime, she could pretend to be her old self—just a bit—if it meant getting access to the sentient computer.
    When he stepped closer and teased her lips with his own, she responded, but didn’t encourage him too much. Instead, after a few seconds, she pulled free and repeated, “Tomorrow night, okay? I’m exhausted from my wild ride through the sinkhole.”
    â€œI thought you slept like a baby.”
    â€œOn the way to the transit point, sure. But when they were strapping me into the capsule, all I could think was—well, was I going to make it? Was I going to see Trent? Were you going to be mad at me?” With a wistful sigh, she added, “Seven seconds that felt like an instant, and then I was on D-side. It’s still such a miracle, isn’t it?”
    He pulled her close again, but this time, in a gesture of protection. “If I had lost you in that fucking sinkhole, it would have destroyed me.”
    She wanted to pull free. To remind him haughtily that he had taken Trent’s disappearance in stride, so why not hers? But that wasn’t fair. Plus, it would be counterproductive. So she forced herself to relax against his chest and it felt surprisingly good. Despite the betrayal, she had honestly missed him, and bit by bit, her resentment was melting away.
    Without warning he tilted her face up and kissed her again, this time with unexpected ferocity. “I want you to spend the night.”
    â€œYou promised the cowboy you’d walk me home like a gentleman.”
    â€œFuck him,” TJ growled. “Bringing blast pistols into Sea-Mont headquarters? Into my home? He’s lucky I didn’t have him arrested.”
    â€œHey!” She stepped back, confused by his contorted expression. “What’s going on with you?”
    â€œI don’t like being played. Not by him, and definitely not by you.”
    â€œWow.” She touched his cheek. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you angry before. I mean, really angry. It’s just so unlike you.”
    â€œMaybe I’ve changed.”
    She ignored the biting tone. “You’re the sweetest guy I know. Don’t bother arguing about it.”
    A glimmer of the old TJ—the one who just couldn’t stay mad at anyone—sparked in his eyes. “Thanks, Lexie. Sorry I lost my temper.”
    â€œLike you said, it’s been a rough few years.” She bit her lip. “Have you been happy at all? Any girlfriends along the way? I promise I won’t get jealous.”
    â€œSure,” he murmured. “There’ve been a couple. No keepers, but they were good company.”
    â€œI’m not talking about bio-girls , idiot.”
    He laughed. “Me either. I had a semi-serious relationship back on Earth, but she wasn’t willing to risk her life in the sinkhole. And then there was another one. She was almost too willing. Beautiful but no challenge. She came here with me, but things fizzled out.” Before Alexia could respond, he reminded her, “You’ve had a string of lovers yourself, right? Art McKay—”
    â€œI told you, your father butted in before Art got me access to NASA. Thus Art never got access to me .”
    â€œWhat about George Rendem-Sayers? That was a coup, right? And Lorenzo Nolo? And that Barbary freak?”
    Her stomach clenched at the bizarre intrusion into her sex life. “You had me followed? All this time?”
    â€œYou threatened to bring Sea-Mont to its knees. To destroy Dad personally and professionally. So yeah, we kept an eye on you.”
    She grimaced, acknowledging the fair point.