Page 41 of Kiss of Fury

Expression wary, he cocked his head. “You do?”

“You’re a loving husband and a patient stepfather who went out of his way to do something sweet for his wife. You’re steadfast, dependable, hardworking, and open-minded. Even though you got cheated out of what you wanted, you kept your end of the bargain.”

“I wasn’t cheated. I hit the jackpot,” he said.

She took the goblet from him before he snapped the stem. “I don’t need to know about your past.” Yes, she was curious. Who wouldn’t be? And, at some point in the future, if he told her, she would listen. However, she didn’t need to knowtodaywhen an obviously difficult topic might mar the beauty of the moment. “We came here for a fresh start. Everyone has a past. I married a man, not an angel, and I’m good with that—I’m thrilled with that.”

“But—”

“But, how about some fermented alien juice?” She held out the goblet she’d pried from his hand.

He hesitated but then opened the bottle and poured blue liquid into her glass and then some into another for himself.

“A toast.” She raised her goblet. “To naked picnics, fresh starts, and new love.”

* * * *

She didn’t understand. She thought she did, but she didn’t. The truth would change the way she felt about him.

Tell her. Tell her.

Courage deserted him when he needed it most. He’d geared up for this all week, planning the hot-spring date to convey how much she meant to him, hoping it would mitigate the impact of his confession, but the situation was bleak. How could she love a cyborg who’d killed people? He’d renounced his past, but while he could change himself and the future, the past could not be altered. His actions would forever stain his character.

Would it be so terrible if he never told her? She’d insisted their relocation to Refuge meant they had a fresh start. What if he just went with that? They could have a full-and-happy marriage, raise Brody, enjoy their lives. He had the normal wonderfully average life of a human he’d always dreamed of. More than he’d dreamed of—he had a family. He had friends—Steel and Dusty.

Why wreck it when his marriage was going great?

Was it because down deep, he believed he didn’t deserve to be happy? Probably, but Verity and Brody deserved the best. They enjoyed security and peace of mind on Refuge—which his confession could jeopardize. Maybe the best course would be to devote himself to ensuring their well-being. The guilt he carried would be his penance.

Fury clinked his glass to Verity’s. “To your happiness.”

Chapter Seventeen

Ten days later

Verity strolled toward the library in search of a good book to read. She’d done a little shopping at the mercantile, picking up another bottle of alien wine, some alien toy soldiers for Brody, and a couple of shirts for Mike. He didn’t own much clothing.

Business at the clinic had been uncommonly slow the past couple of days. Nobody had ingested the wrong food and blown up like a balloon. No one had injured themselves. No limbs had been accidentally severed and birthed a child. With little to do, Dr. Twygg had given her the afternoon off. She’d remain on call for emergencies, but otherwise she was free as a wild egger. With Brody in school and Mike on the range somewhere, she had several hours all to herself.

She would have preferred to spend the time with Mike; unfortunately, he had to work.

Their time alone together was rare and precious. They had managed to sneak in a couple more private dates, thanks to another Haven children’s programand a sleepover Brody had gone to at Firbol’s. Her son and the furry alien boy had become best buds.

They had been at Refuge for over a month. She pinched herself at how well things had worked out. Life couldn’t get any better. Her son thrived, she loved her job, and she was happily married to a wonderful man who doted on her and her son.

Since the hot spring, an already satisfying marriage had entered a renaissance of romantic bliss. Mike had become more affectionate, more attentive, more solicitous to her needs and her son’s. And he’d become a monster in the sheets. Damn, that man had stamina. A chilly wind blew across the quad, but thinking about their hot, sexy nights kept her plenty warm. Thank goodness, Brody slept soundly.

If Mike’s devotion sometimes seemed a tad over the top, she dismissed the notion to an unfamiliarity with having a loving partner. She’d never been married, never even had a committed relationship with someone who cared about her. There had been a few boyfriends in high school, and she’d lost her virginity to one of them, but those practice relationships didn’t count. She’d known at the time they’d be transitory. So, she wasn’t the best judge of what was excessive.

Working while putting herself through nursing school, she hadn’t dated until she met Kyle Dorn. He hadn’t been a good model for what a partner should be. She hadn’t been his partner or his girlfriend—just a conquest. But the asshat had given her Brody, so she couldn’t hate him too much. And he was dead. Besides, she laid most of the blame for the turmoil on his parents, Nancy and Hakeem.

She wondered what they had done when they discovered she’d disappeared. It didn’t matter one way or another, but she was curious.Was there a way to find out?Security rules forbid residents from contacting their home planets, butmaybe she could view news reports? If the Dorns farted, it hit the news.

She stopped at the library information desk manned by a two-headed woman with eyes in the front and in the back of her skulls.The better to keep an eye on things.She stifled a laugh.

“May I help you?” Both mouths spoke at once, one higher pitched than the other. The woman could sing her own harmony and melody.

“Is there a way to check on news reports from other planets?”

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