Stowaway by Becky Black Read Free Book Online Page A

around to see Raine standing in the doorway.
    Kit scowled at the frown on Raine’s face. Great, ruin my moment, you big, clumsy fucker. And what’s that look anyway? Disapproval ? What the hell business was it of Raine’s who had his hand on Kit’s ass? Who died and made him king of asses? King of jackasses, more like. He moved away from Parker with deliberate slowness, Raine’s gaze fixed on him. If he was interested—and he so was—then he should say something to Kit.
    So Kit could tell him to go fuck himself.
     
    “I’d better get back to work,” Kit said as he moved away. He didn’t need to provoke Raine any further. Raine was still wrestling down the surge and rage and jealousy he’d felt when he came in to see Parker’s hand on Kit’s ass. The backwash of it hung around. He’d come in here for some coffee and a snack, but suddenly the thought of trying to eat or drink anything sickened him. He should turn around and walk back out. No. He’d look like an idiot. Coffee might take away the bitter taste in his mouth.
    Kit collected his cleaning gear. He smirked at Raine before he left. Dammit, he knew exactly what he was doing. Probably only coming on to Parker for some help getting off the ship. An officer would be more useful to him than a steward’s assistant like Gracie.
    Parker stood and put his coffee cup on the carousel that trundled around taking used crockery to the galley. He looked slightly embarrassed, which surprised Raine. He and Parker might not be friends exactly. They didn’t hit the bars together on shore leave—though Parker had invited him along a couple of times. But they had moments of mutual understanding. So there was no reason for him to be embarrassed about Raine of all people catching him with his hand on Kit’s ass—and there was the jealousy again. Bile in his mouth. Raine strode over to the coffee urn, pulling off his gloves as he went, and grabbed a mug from the rack and filled it.
    “He’s quite something, isn’t he?” Parker said.
    “Yes,” Raine agreed, turning to Parker. “A thief and a con artist, according to the police file.” Guilt swept in and submerged the jealousy. It didn’t say anything about “con artist” in the police file. He felt even guiltier when Parker’s face fell, a picture of disillusion.
    “Con artist?”
    “I expect he’d do anything to get someone to help him escape this ship before we hand him over to the authorities.”
    “I…I guess.” Parker sighed, disappointment written broadly across his face. And despite the guilt, Raine couldn’t keep himself from going for the knockout punch.
    “He kissed me.”
    “What?”
    He couldn’t believe he was telling anyone about this. But if it kept Parker away from Kit, it would be worth it. Raine couldn’t let Kit go around seducing the ship’s officers.
    “When I was chasing him down after we spotted him. He kissed me when I had him cornered in an elevator.” He laughed and wanted to cringe at how artificial it sounded. “Man, he really made me believe it. But he only did it to distract me so he could get away.”
    Parker nodded, gave another sigh, and looked at his watch. “I’d better go back to work.” He walked out, but stopped for a second in the doorway. “Thanks, Chief. I appreciate the reality check.” He left.
    Raine dumped his full coffee cup on the carousel. He couldn’t face it. Hell, he didn’t deserve it. He strode out. The temperature in the corridor chilled his hands, but he left his gloves in his pocket. Stay cold. You do deserve that.
    He was a total bastard, he decided as he walked back to his office. When he reached his office, the program tracking Kit was open on his screen, showing Kit still in the galley, where he should be. Raine turned the screen off. He didn’t need to see it. There’d be an alarm if Kit went anyplace he shouldn’t. There was no need to act like a damn obsessive lunatic and watch his every move.
    * * *
    The next morning Kit