Page 81 of Auctioned to the Convicts
“That’s your opinion.”
Ren wasn’t going to admit to making the vase for her. Sersie’s grin was all the proof she needed.
She arranged the three flowers, stepping back to admire them on the coffee table by the sofa. The blooms were too large for the kitchen table and she wanted to see them no matter where she walked in the house.
“Thank you again,” she said, kissing Sersie’s cheek. A slight growl emanated from the kitchen. Ky’Li no doubt.
“Do you want to shower first?” she asked Sersie, ignoring the other men. He had a layer of dirt on his shirt and mud on his pants and shoes. “We can wait.”
“If we wait, they’ll be nothing left.”
“I’ll save you a bowl and eat with you,” Hannah offered.
Sersie brushed the back of his hand along her cheek. He tended to touch her a lot as if he needed to reassure himself that she was real, not some figment of his imagination. That Rissa really did a number on him.
“As much as I’d like nothing more than to have you all to myself in the kitchen.” He winked at her, and she barely stifled her laugh. “I’m starved.” Sersie slid onto the bench next to Ky’Li.
Sersie certainly was confident today. He didn’t care or recognize that he was pushing Ky’Li, the man who could easily break a man in two. Sersie was simply being himself. That made her smile.
“Where’s my kiss?” Ren asked.
“Where are my manners! Thank you for lending me the vase, Ren!”
“A thank you? Really?”
“I’m sorry, am I being rude? Are the customs different down south near All Lions Run? I never travelled beyond the capital on Argus. I was taught to say thank you. How about you, Ky? What do you do on Daraan when someone lends you something?”
“I choose a less painful death for him when he touches my woman.”
“Moving on,” Vaughn said. “Have a seat, Hannah. Eat before Ky’Li and Ren finish off the stew.”
Hannah settled next to Vaughn. This was only their third time in three weeks that they’d all been present to eat together. Usually, one or two worked a shift through third meal and ate upon returning home. She’d made a point of trying to sit with whoever arrived late, so he wouldn’t have to eat alone.
Tomorrow, she’d likely miss third meal if Conway wanted her to finish her training on the crane. That meant leaving on an empty railcar.
“You’re doing it again,” Ky said.
“Doing what?” she asked. They were all staring at her.
“Thinking about the man who attacked you. Letting your nerves take over. I see it in your face, sha’vi and how you’re holding your head low. A minute ago, you were smiling and happy, and now you look as if you’d like to burrow into a hole in the ground and hide.”
“I’m nervous about returning to the port.”
“Tell us the man’s name and he’ll be taken care of,” Vaughn said.
“Absolutely not. I won’t have any of you risk yourselves over this.” Vaughn wouldnotgo down that path. None of them would, if she had a say in it, which she did. “I’m nervous about picking up at work where I left off, that’s all.” Okay, so she wasn’t as good with the truth as she wanted to be.
Telling them her fears about Max, about seeing him every day and possibly ending up alone in the break room or railcar with him again scared her. Having any of these men here getting in trouble for hurting Max, well thatterrifiedher. She’d have to be smart around Max. Never let herself be alone with him somehow.
“You’re avoiding the issue, Hannah. You’re nervous about being alone on the railcar,” Vaughn said. “Or elsewhere at the port. I’ve been there. There are a lot of hidden niches and rooms in which a man could attack you. Areas where no one would hear you scream, assuming they’d care to defend you and not join in.”
She must have paled further, for suddenly Vaughn’s hand was on her back, rubbing in steady circles. “Breathe, Hannah, breathe.”
She closed her eyes and focused on Vaughn’s voice as he talked to her. Melodic and even-tempered. Calming.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
She opened her eyes to the sight of Vaughn staring at her, his eyes filled with something more than their usual worry.
