“Well, that party broke up quickly,” Vix said, wrinkling her nose at what was left in her glass, then downed it in one swallow. It was the good stuff, on Raaze’s tab, and it burned all the way down. She hissed between her teeth as she set the glass down on the table, and looked at Thayer.

Mason had already wandered off, leaving the two of them alone. The sounds of the packed lounge surrounded them, creating a little bubble of silence. It wouldn’t last long, she could already see a group of younger officers eyeing their half empty table. They spotted her looking and suddenly decided pickings would be better over the other side of the lounge.

She stared at Thayer some more. She had a glare that could give a reflection a headache so hopefully, he’d feel uncomfortable and leave her alone.

No such luck. Just like every other time she’d tried to run him off, his grin just got broader and he looked more comfortable. 

“Pity we weren’t invited to the other party then, wasn’t it?”

She arched her eyebrow, and wondered whether she could get away with putting another drink on Raaze’s tab without him there. Probably not. He might act the benevolent old grandfather type, but she knew he’d know down to the second when he left the table and would probably cross reference when she ordered the extra drink. Then she’d end up owing him, and everyone with an ounce of llanarian blood knew you never wanted to owe a Raaze. Ever.

“What other party?”

Thayer winked, his dark hair falling forward over his eyes. He was so handsome he made her teeth ache. She’d fallen for a handsome guy once before. Learned her lesson hard and fast. She wasn’t going down that route again.

“The one on the bridge, of course.”

She snorted and shook her head. “Off duty, remember? Beta shift are on.”

Which was a pity, she’d have liked an early look at those klingons. And their ship. She’d always been interested in ship design, the bookcase in her quarters filled with design manuals, and the way the klingons had found something that worked and stuck with it fascinated her. 

Thayer leaned back in his chair and considered her. “Are you, or are you not, the Chief Engineer on this tub?”

She bristled a little at that. “Tub? Tub!? I’ll have you know—“

Amusement twinkled in his eyes and the corner of his lips quirked upward. “Ahh, there she is.”

“Asshole,” she grumbled under her breath. Then sighed. “Yes. I am. Your point?”

He leaned forward, running the tip of his finger around his glass. “Well, my bridge console has been playing up a little recently. Nothing that I’d normally bother you about while on duty, but…” He looked at her, all wide, innocent blue eyes. Bright, bright blue eyes. “Perhaps you could take a look, if you have a spare minute, of course?”

She stared at him for a few seconds. “Right now, I assume.”

“Now she’s getting it.” He downed the rest of his drink and stood up. “Unless you’ve got something better to do than go check out these klingons?”

“Check out this problem with your console you mean?” She corrected him, her expression deadpan as she stood up. He was a hair taller than her, which was… new, given that he was human.

“Oh absolutely.” He extended an arm in an old world gesture. “Shall we, my lady?”

She eyed his arm like it was a snake about to strike. “No ladies here. Bennett’s are from good working stock, I’ll have you know.”

“Oh, thank god for that, me too.” He dropped the arm and motioned for her to precede him through the close-packed tables in the lounge. “Means I won’t have to put on any airs and graces.”

She looked over her shoulder as they headed for the turbolift, but his gaze was definitely above her waist. He winked at her and she huffed. “Just remember Mason wasn’t kidding. I could twist you into a pretzel.”

He just chuckled. “I’m sure you could.”

She still didn’t like him much.

Even if he was kind of amusing.