Page 3 of Conquering the Skies

He brushed aside a wisp of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail. “I just don’t want you to be late for work.”

“We’re more flexible in the private sector, remember? And I already accounted for potential traffic and other delays, so we have plenty of time.”

“Of course you did. Well, in that case…” Ash released her and bent over to rummage around in his bag again. “There’s something I want to show you before we leave.”

She raised an eyebrow yet said nothing.

He pulled out a tablet and slid a switch on top to activate the screen. After a few taps on the display, he turned it around and handed it to her. An impish twinkle glinted in his eyes, but he didn’t elaborate further.

Geneva skimmed the file he’d brought up on the device. It was a form from the Terran military; parts of it appeared familiar to her, though his personal information filled the various fields. She read and reread the words until realization finally dawned on her. Eyes wide, she stared at him, her hand trembling as she passed the tablet back to him. “Ash…this is…you’re…”

“I started the process to make my graceful exit from my distinguished career, yes.” He dropped the tablet onto the open duffel bag and took her hands in his. “I’m done. There were one too many close calls, and if my luck ever ran out, the idea of never coming home to you again was unbearable.”

She tilted her head to the side. “I thought you weren’t ready yet.”

“The last few times this topic has come up, I wasn’t.” He rubbed one thumb along her skin and gave her fingers a squeeze. “But, as we’ve experienced over and over, circumstances change.”

Geneva wanted to be thrilled by his startling news, to give in to the joy and excitement hovering at the edge of her mind, but guilt held her back. “You always said, though, that one of us shouldn’t be the reason for the other’s career choices. We can make this work this way for as long as we have to, and I don’t want you throwing away any opportunities because of me.”

“I assure you, I came to this decision all on my own. And I appreciate you never pressuring me either way.” His devilish grin reappeared. “Also, I don’t have any set plans for where I’m going after my last official day. I didn’t want to be presumptuous and show up on your doorstep with all my meager belongings. For all I know, you’ve gotten used to your own routines and having the bed all to yourself most nights.”

She bit the inside of her cheeks to keep from laughing. “You may have a point,” she said, looking around the room with an exaggerated swivel of her neck. “This place may not be big enough for two people on a full-time basis.”

“I see.” He nodded, matching her melodramatic gestures. “Maybe I’ll head all the way back to Dorann, then, and see what I can find with whatever connections I have left there. Or, I have an even better idea! There’s plenty of extra rooms at your parents’ house. I bet Dahlia would take me in. She might even let me redecorate one of them.”

“Don’t even.” She swatted his arm, pretending to be annoyed, but then the anticipation of their future crept up on her again and her stance softened. “You know you’re staying with me. I just need another moment or two to let this all sink in.”

Ash stepped closer, eliminating the gap between them. “Take as long as you need. Before you know it, it won’t matter anymore, because I’ll be here to stay.”

Standing on her toes, she flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. He held her tight, the soothing rhythm of his heartbeat thrumming beneath her ear. When she let go of him, he tilted her face upward with a finger on her chin and pressed his mouth to hers. Everything around them disappeared as they shared a tender kiss, and Geneva allowed herself to believe all the long nights of missing him were coming to an end.

She let her hands linger on his chest when she pulled away. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner? We could have been celebrating and planning all weekend.”

“I think we had a nice time together regardless.” He caressed her cheek, his fingertips skating along her jawline with the faintest pressure. “It’s been tough every time we’ve had to say good-bye to each other when I have to report back to the ship. I figured maybe, for once, we could part ways on a happier note.”

Geneva sighed, though her smile never faded. “This separation might wind up being the hardest one of all, knowing how once it’s over, you’ll finally be all mine.”

“We’ll manage. It’ll pass by faster than we think.”

“How many times have we told the same exact lie, both to ourselves and other people?” Shaking her head, she took a step backward. “But you’re right. It won’t matter. Whatdoesmatter is you not missing your shuttle and me arriving to work on time, so we’d better get going.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Ash chuckled. “You’ve already told me how your work schedule is more relaxed now, so I guess you’re still afraid of invoking the admiral’s wrath?”

“Maybe just a little.” She frowned. “Make sure to tell Walker I had nothing to do with your decision to leave, and it was all your choice.”

“I’ll mention it if your name comes up.” He scooped up his duffel bag and hoisted it onto his shoulder. “Since this is the last time you’ll be dropping me off at the spaceport and leaving right away, can I sit in the backseat and pretend you’re my driver? I have to start learning how to blend in with Pasurea’s upper class, you know.”

She opened the door and shoved him over the threshold. “Now I can’t even threaten you with making you get a hovercab next time because there’s not going to be a ‘next time.’”

“Fine. I’ll sit in the front with you, then.” Ash reached for her hand and raised it to his lips. “But only if you keep saying things like that, because I love hearing it.”

***

“There you are!”

Geneva looked up from the mug of coffee she’d poured for herself. Renae, her supervisor and the owner of Platinum Security Solutions, reached past her and grabbed the handle of the coffee pot. “Sorry, I just got in,” she said. “Did you need me for something?”

“Nothing crucial. And you’re still here before most of the rest of the team, so don’t worry about it.” The older woman beamed at her. “Did you happen to catch any of the news reports this morning?”

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