'Come on,' Powell insisted, getting up. 'You can dance the next one with Meachum.'

She didn't especially want to but she also didn't want to make everyone else at the table uncomfortable. 'I have two left feet,' she said warningly as she got up. 'And both of them are wearing spike heels.'

Powell chuckled dutifully and ushered her toward the floor. She shivered as his hand slid across her bare back and settled at her waist, trying to outrun it. It was a harbinger of things to come. The moment they reached the dance floor, he pulled her into an intimate embrace. She would've preferred a little more distance between them, but she didn't want to struggle on the dance floor. 'Did I tell you you look beautiful tonight?'

Sybil couldn't help but be amused. 'I believe you did. Thank you again, I think. I'm starting to feel a little uneasy about my everyday look, though, I have to tell you.'

He chuckled. 'There's nothing wrong with that either. The thing is I was trying to save my marriage and my career and not notice.'

'Except you did?'

He snorted. 'I'm not blinded by the uniform.'

Sybil frowned slightly. 'I know it's none of my business, but?'

He didn't pretend not to know what she was asking. 'I don't know. Regardless of what you probably think-or Betty for that matter-I wasn't in the habit of cheating on my wife. I guess anybody is susceptible given the right situation.'

'And that was the right one?'

He gave her a look. 'Don't tell me you didn't feel a certain recklessness given the situation?'

Had she? She supposed she had, but was that what had led her to Anka? Maybe a combination of hopefulness that it would earn her a reprieve, fear of the consequences if she ignored the opportunity, and a desperate need to feel alive while there was still a chance?

She didn't think any of that was what had driven her, but she could see where it could have influenced Powell and Holly and Kushbu's decision.

She had done it because she had found Anka simply irresistible. had done it because she had found Anka simply irresistible.

An absurd thought popped into her mind. She'd tried to dismiss it, but it teased her. 'You really hadn't ever cheated? Or considered it?'

He sent her a quizzical look. 'I didn't say I hadn't considered it. Actually, I think I said I had, probably a lot more than I should have. Fortunately, I didn't have opportunity none that didn't carry a healthy risk to keep me on track. On Venus want plus opportunity unfortunately brought the wall tumbling down. She was pretty irresistible.'

'Really?'

He grinned at her. 'Jealous?'

She couldn't help but laugh, but she shook her head. 'Don't get your hopes up.'

'I will if I want to,' he murmured, pulling her closer and carrying her in a swirling flourish as the song ended and tipping her back over one arm.

She caught a glimpse of Anka as her head tipped back. She hadn't realized the dance had carried them so close to him and his partner and it wasn't a discovery that made her happy. She straightened abruptly. 'Thank you for the dance, Sir!'

'Not sir anymore, Lieutenant,' he reminded her, sliding an arm around her to escort her back to their table. 'Unless this is age related *sir', in which case, I'm crushed.'

Sybil sent him a quick look and bit her lip. 'That was just a brain uh melt. I forgot.'

Meachum met them before she could get back to the table to sit down. 'My dance, I believe.'

She might've felt like the bell of the ball except she knew Meachum hadn't approached her because he found her irresistible.

'You look beautiful tonight.'

Her smile was a little tight. Honest to G.o.d! Couldn't men think of anything else? Even a slight variation on the line would've been appreciated! 'Thank you.'

'I noticed Commander l'Kartay didn't seem particularly pleased when you danced with Powell.'

It would've been hard to say whether the comment thrilled her or unnerved her more. Sybil missed a step and stepped on his foot. 'Sorry. If he was frowning it was probably because he was trying to place me. I'm sure we all look alike to them.'

'I'm completely sure he has no trouble at all recognizing you,' Meachum returned pleasantly. 'He did ask you to dance with him tonight when you met up with him in the receiving line.'

And where had Meachum been skulking, she wondered? She couldn't think up a response, unfortunately.

'I heard you'd decided not to reenlist?'

Sybil stepped on his toe on purpose that time. 'Sorry. Maybe I drank too much wine? I'm really not used to it.'

His lips curled in a cold smile. 'No comment?'

Sybil smiled coldly back at him. 'There's the d.a.m.nedest grapevine around here! I don't recall mentioning that to anyone and yet Powell knew and you do, too! Isn't that curious?'

'Actually, I overheard the discussion at the table earlier.'

'You have exceptional hearing.'

He smiled thinly. 'I also heard you say you hadn't made plans yet. I might have a job you'd be interested in.'

She didn't think so. She'd enjoyed working with him about as much as she enjoyed sitting in a dental chair. 'I appreciate it, but I imagine I'll be shipped stateside before the discharge.'

'Not necessarily. Think about it. It could be a good career move for you.'

'I'm not sure thinking about it will help when I don't have a clue of what sort of job you're offering.'

'Meet me at the situation room tomorrow-say about ten-and I'll go over it with you.'

Thankfully, the dance ended just then. 'I'll give it some thought,' she responded coolly.

He gave her a look that chilled her. 'Give it a lot of thought. I'd hate for you to miss the opportunity.'

It sounded ominous and she didn't think, considering Meachum had delivered it, that that was just her imagination. She would've pulled away from him and left him on the edge of the dance floor except she discovered the d.a.m.ned heels she was wearing weren't made for running. She nearly turned her weak ankle. It was barely a twinge but enough of a wakeup call to inspire caution.

'You alright?' Powell asked when she settled in chair again, dividing a speculative look between her and Meachum, who'd simply walked her to the table, excused himself, and left.

'I'm fine. I just stepped wrong and deeply regret the decision to wear heels.'

'You hurt your ankle?'

She shook her head. 'It's fine.'

'You want to tell me what Meachum said that upset you, then?'

She shook her head again. What could she say anyway? That she'd felt threatened by his manner? Because that was all there was to it-the nuances of his voice. There was nothing specific specific that he'd said that she could complain to anyone about. that he'd said that she could complain to anyone about.

Chapter Eleven.

Sybil was tempted to simply leave. She realized she should have known that there wouldn't be an opportunity to be with Anka even if he'd wanted to. He was trapped by his position among the visitors.

She might not have felt quite so badly about it if she'd thought that he actually wanted to be with her and couldn't, but even though she acknowledged the circ.u.mstances of their situation, she still felt abandoned and discarded.

She begged off dancing again with Powell on the grounds of the ankle twinge, but she didn't want to sit at the table and watch everyone else dance, and think about who was dancing with Anka and whether or not he was thinking about inviting himself to their room. Worse, what if she did hang around, hopeful, and see him walk out with another woman?

She hadn't considered that-dolt that she was! She'd been so focused on her own need to be with him she hadn't considered for a moment that he might not feel the same way.

After sitting for about an hour, she decided she'd stayed long enough to prevent people from speculating about her early departure and excused herself. 'I think I'll head back.'

'Want company?'

Sybil sent him a look. 'Thank you, but no.'

'I was only offering to walk you back.'

She studied him. 'No, you weren't.'

He shrugged, grinning. 'No, I wasn't.'

Shaking her head at him, she got up. ''Night, Powell.'

''Night Sybil.'

She'd already reached the exit before she remembered the d.a.m.ned hotel room and the transport! Well, didn't she feel like a dumba.s.s! Sighing, she considered the situation for a moment and then checked her watch. To her dismay, she discovered it was far later than she'd realized. The transport she'd arranged should be arriving any time.

She didn't want to spend the night alone in the room she'd gotten for two, d.a.m.n it! It was for sure she wouldn't be getting a refund, though. Changing directions, she headed back across the conference room toward the hotel transport dock. She'd almost made it when the music stopped and someone tapped on the microphone for attention. Deciding she didn't care, she kept going.

'Our guests have offered an exhibition for us tonight of the festival dance.'

Sybil halted abruptly, her heart hammering in her chest as she turned to look back toward the stage. The dance floor began to clear as the Sumpturians advanced upon it. A few moments later, she heard the exotic music she remembered and then she saw Anka, his head lifted as he scanned the audience. Breathlessly, she waited, hoping he would spot her and that it was her he was looking for. He met her gaze and lifted his brows questioningly.

Her legs felt like they'd turned to spaghetti. She didn't think she could make the walk if her life depended upon it. Fortunately, she didn't have to, at least not alone. Anka left the other dancers and strode toward her.

As thrilled as she was, she was also hideously self-conscious when she realized he held the attention of nearly every soul in the ball room as he approached her.

The only thing that could possibly be worse was the nightmarish vision that danced in her head of Anka walking right past her and asking some other woman to dance. Before she could glance behind her to check, however, he'd reached her. He held out his hand in invitation. 'You promised me a dance, nodia nodia.'

She thought she was going to faint. Struggling to catch her breath, she placed her hand in his. 'Wait!' she gasped as he turned to lead her back to the dance floor.

He paused and looked at her quizzically, but she wasn't about to try one of their folk dances in spike heels! Kicking them off and abandoning them, she hurried with him to take their places on the dance floor, ignoring the stir it caused when she'd kicked her shoes off.

Someone started the song over.

Sybil glanced up at Anka and smiled, feeling like Cinderella must have felt when the prince asked her to dance-as if she'd suddenly found herself in a magical dream. He smiled back at her as they began the steps of the dance. She surprised herself by remembering most of the steps and acquitting herself with far more grace than she'd thought she could manage considering she was high with excitement.

Even the reaction of the audience felt like part of the dream when the dance finally ended and Anka turned to her, looking down at her with his eyes gleaming. 'Will you take me to your bed tonight, my nodia nodia?'

Sybil smiled up at him until a sudden thought struck her. Her smile flattened. 'The transport!' she gasped.

He looked disconcerted. 'The transport?'

She moved closer. 'Meet me at the hotel dock. I got us a room!' she whispered.

He looked more confused than enlightened, but he released her and she dashed away to search for her shoes. She'd been pacing the dock for all of five seconds when he arrived. 'I thought you weren't coming!'

He made a sound of irritation. 'The President stopped me. I believe I may have been rude, but the treaty is signed now. Where are we going?'

Sybil stared at him. 'You were rude to the President of the United States? Never mind. Like you said, the treaty's signed now.'

He looked bemused when she led him to the airlock and from there into the transport. They settled side by side on the bench that faced the airlock.

'Is anyone else ready to return the hotel?' the driver asked.

She didn't know, but she sure as h.e.l.l had no intention of waiting for them. 'No. Just us.'

'Hotel?'

'Shhh!' Sybil hissed, anxious now that it looked like they might actually manage to leave without being observed that someone would show up and ruin it.

'Why are we whispering?' he asked, amused.

Sybil shook her head at him. 'Watch the safety harness!'

Anka ducked as the bar came up over the back of the seat and secured them, looking at the apparatus, which was actually more like the safety guard on a roller coaster than a harness. 'What is this for?'

'To keep us from floating.'

He looked startled but the driver pulled out of the airlock just then and his expression was downright comical. 'G.o.ds!'

Sybil bit her lip. 'No gravity-not much anyway.'

'This feels strange.'

Sybil was about to point out that he'd experienced it when they'd moon walked before when it abruptly occurred to her that they hadn't. She'd just been too upset to think about the fact that she hadn't experienced the micro gravity she should have.