Page 40 of Caught By Menace

Menace snorted. “I can’t imagine your sweet Hallie crowing over such a thing.”

Vicious shot him a warning glare. “Don’t laugh too hard, Menace. The two of us made a huge tactical error earlier.”

“And what’s that?”

“We left our wives alone together.”

Chapter Nine

“Don’t worry, Naya.Vicious will protect you and Menace.”

Naya glanced at Hallie before stepping off the elevator into a private hallway. Her stomach was in knots. The idea of being taken away from Menace scared her. It wasn’t as if she was in love with him or anything, but he’d been very good to her. He cared for her and would protect her. She couldn’t say the same for other men aboard the ship.

“You seem very confident in your husband’s abilities.”

“He’s not the kind of man people challenge.” Hallie unlocked her front door with a press of her thumb to a red pad. “When Vicious gives an order, it’s followed without question.”

She wondered if Hallie was one of those people who followed orders given by Vicious. She had a sneaking suspicion the short, spunky woman was the general at home and Vicious was the one jumping to follow her orders.

One step into Hallie’s home and Naya’s jaw dropped. It wasn’t the size difference that stunned her but the homey, inviting warmth of the space. Hallie’s home was laid out almost identically to the one Naya now shared with Menace. The furniture and materials were all the same with only a few differences in upholstery colors and the paler, softer gray on the walls, but Hallie had done something extraordinary with the blank canvas of her home.

“Your home is beautiful.” Naya admired the framed painting on the entryway wall. It was a simple design with the letters V and H intertwined and nestled in two feathers. There wassomething familiar about the look of it. “Where did you buy this?”

“I painted it.” Hallie lovingly touched the frame. She gestured toward the open living area. “I’ve done all the artwork in our home.”

Naya entered the living room and scanned the stunning pieces on the walls. “You’re very talented.”

“Thank you.”

“And you sew!” She fingered one of the plush decorative pillows on the couch. The lilac hue complemented the silvery upholstery. She spotted the sewing basket on the floor. It was piled high with embroidery projects. A stack of completed pieces, baby clothes and bibs, sat on the cushion of the chair.

“You can order fabric and sewing supplies through the clothing store.” Hallie gathered up the sewing supplies on the couch and moved them to the basket. “I was finishing up some sewing when the alarms sounded. A friend of mine is due any day.”

Naya picked up one of the small bibs. “You’re very good.”

“I’m not nearly as good as my oldest sister but I do all right. Do you sew?”

Naya laughed. “No.”

“Would you like to learn?”

“Not really,” Naya admitted and hoped she wasn’t hurting Hallie’s feelings. Clearly this woman relished her homemaking duties.

Hallie surprised her by laughing. “I like honesty. Sewing isn’t for everyone. You could always barter if you needed sewing services.”

Naya perked up. “Barter? Now that’s something I know how to do.”

“Really?” Hallie motioned toward the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink? I’ve got tea and juice.”

“I’ll take tea if it isn’t too much trouble.”

“It’s not.”

Naya glanced into the large formal dining room. The embroidered tablecloth and centerpiece of candles and flowers were gorgeous. Hallie had even made chair covers to soften the harshness of the all-metal look. “How in the world do you keep houseplants and flowers alive up here?”

“A friend of ours brought me some of the hardiest houseplants available on Calyx. One of the biologists in the science department let Vicious buy a special growing light and some food for them. I move them under the light a few hours every evening and feed them once a week. So far, so good. Would you like one of the plants?”

“No way.” Naya shook her head. “I have a tried-and-true brown thumb.”

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