Andre Norton - Redline the Stars

Her eyes fell. Initially, she had intended using her association with the Solar Queen as a means of gaining control of the funds currently tied up with the Roving Star and then, as soon as she had acquired the experience and reputation she required to bolster her credentials, to cut loose again and return to her brother's organization on her own terms. Slowly, without her even realizing it, that purpose had altered, and for all her Trader's discipline, she was hard-pressed to face this man without betraying the misery the possibility of his rejection, the possibility that he might fear her, aroused in her. "Seriously, Miceal," she said in the low tone that was all she could trust herself to use steadily, "you are the skipper. If— you don't think I fit in with the best interests of the ship for some reason, I'll take my earnings to date and pull out, no questions asked."

"No!"

She looked up and smiled. There was no mistaking the

decision in that roar. "After all this, I wasn't sure I'd be wanted . . ."

"I want you, damn it!" Miceal gripped himself. He was annoyed by the sharpness of his own response. He made himself go on quickly, as if without hesitation, in a quieter tone. "Doctor, life's been interesting since you've come aboard, right enough, but what you don't seem to realize is that life's been interesting aboard the Solar Queen since the day she was launched. That's not likely to change, and I'm not about to quit the starlanes or my ship as a result, especially since things seem to get just as lively in the supposed safety of a planet's surface."

Rael smiled once more, somewhat shyly this time. His vehemence had taken her a little aback, but it was surprisingly pleasing. "Maybe we'll have a bit more peace and quiet from now on," she ventured hopefully. "We've surely earned it."

"Maybe," Jellico agreed. He, for one, doubted it, but whatever fortune was to bring, he found himself looking forward to facing it. The Queen had seen her share of trials in the past and had claimed a reasonable quota of profit, and right now, her future and his own seemed to shine bright with promise.