Page 6 of Bounty Hunter's Match

“Classified?” Her smile suggested she’d heard that word too often lately. “Like the Crossfire Club raid? Or the thing with the Orlian ambassador’s stolen... what was it exactly?”

“Also classified.” I leaned forward slightly, letting my height advantage remind her that I was still a predator, still dangerous. Most humans instinctively shrank back.

Camden Bishop didn’t flinch. If anything, her smile widened. “You know, for someone who hunts people across star systems, you’re not very good at deflection.”

I was beginning to understand why Larthul had seemed so amused about this assignment. A month suddenly felt like a very long time indeed.

CAMDEN

“You’re early.” I glanced up from my desk as Barek’s massive frame filled my office doorway. Dawn light from the station’s artificial sun painted sharp shadows across his gray skin and highlighted the red markings that twisted down his neck.

After a week of his constant presence, I still hadn’t gotten used to how he moved - silent despite his size, every motion controlled and deliberate. The twins had taken to trying to catch him off guard, popping out of vents or dropping from the ceiling. They hadn’t succeeded yet.

“The security feeds picked up unusual activity in sector seven.” His deep voice rumbled through the office as he ducked through the doorway. “Three of your clients accessed restricted areas within ten minutes of each other.”

“Ah.” I pulled up the relevant feeds on my holoscreen. “That would be the Sylphid delegation’s attempt at what they think is a human courtship ritual.”

His red eyes narrowed. “Explain.”

“They’ve been studying ancient Earth romance novels.” I tried not to smile at his expression. “Apparently, they’re quitetaken with the concept of ‘secret rendezvous.’ Though their interpretation is... unique.”

On cue, one of the Sylphids phase-shifted through a wall, their ethereal form trailing sparkles of light. Their would-be suitor, another Sylphid, appeared moments later through the ceiling.

“Should I intervene?” Barek’s hand moved toward his weapon harness.

“Only if they try to recreate more scenes from that historical romance collection someone,” I glared at the vent where Risa was poorly concealing herself, “added to the station’s library.”

A muffled giggle drifted down from the vents, then the scamper of tiny feet as the twins decided something else might be more interesting. Or safer.

Barek’s red eyes narrowed as he spotted something on my desk. “What are those?”

“Research materials.” I swept the stack of dating guides into a drawer, but not before he plucked one from the pile.

“‘Understanding Hand-Holding: A Cross-Species Guide to Casual Contact.’”

He turned the brochure over in his hands. The contrast between his lethal grace and the pastel pamphlet would have been funny if my heart hadn’t skipped a beat at his proximity.

“Client resources,” I said smoothly. “Some species need very specific guidance on human customs.”

“Hmm.” The sound rumbled from deep in his chest as he tucked the pamphlet into a pocket of his vest.

“Did you just-”

“No.”

“You did! You’re keeping it!”

His expression didn’t change, but his pointed ears twitched. “Security assessment. Need to understand all potential... contact scenarios.”

“Of course.” I bit back a grin. “Very professional. Though if you’re interested in human customs, the twins’ new vid series-”

“No.”

“But they’re doing a whole segment on interspecies dating protocols-”

“Bishop.” He planted both hands on my desk, leaning down until we were eye-to-eye. “I am not here to study dating customs.”

A flush spread through me at his nearness. His scent - something sharp and clean, like ozone before a storm - filled my senses. “Then why keep the pamphlet?”

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