Chapter One

Cassid City, Colony Planet of Darmain

Who damaged this machine? Teague scowled and tried to start it again. Nothing. Not even a click.

Teague glanced toward the drive. The low whine of a skimmer droned as it came up the long drive through the orchard and vineyards. Eh, one of the people working near the house would see what their visitor wanted and send them over if needed.

He turned back to the harvester and peered at the wire and metal. Why wasn’t it working? He’d tried to repair it, but something was still not right. He shook his head. This wasn’t a mistake or accident.

The machine sat outside the big, double-doored equipment barn. Apparently, someone left it there last night. Not normal practice, but maybe it stopped running and the employee couldn’t move it. It certainly wasn’t going anywhere this morning.

The harvester worked the day before. This morning, one of the workers reported it didn’t work. The laborers took the older harvester out this morning so there was no delay in gathering the fruit.

He grimaced. It could have been an accident. One of the workers might have left it out because another piece of equipment needed to go in first. Still, this was an expensive piece of equipment. Whoever left it out should have made sure they knew it wasn’t working. Or if it did run, made sure someone knew to put it up before leaving.

Putting up the machinery and reporting a breakdown when it occurred was almost rule number one. The staff of the farm and winery knew how important it was. Someone had taken advantage of the opportunity to get to the machine.

Someone disconnected lines and cables. Too many lines were loose to be accidentally dislodged, but since it was out, they had no way to prove anything was done to it. He’d rewired the inner machinery. Even with that done, he couldn’t get a response from the harvester. Either he’d done something wrong or there was some damage he couldn’t see.

Teague sighed. The wrench clanked as he put it down. Fixing farm equipment wasn’t his specialty. Give him a search for a space pirate any day. Almost any mission with the Planetary Defense, the PD was less frustrating.

He stared at the machine. Definitely not an accident, but that left so many questions. Who would damage the harvester and why? Prank or something more? With only this incident, he couldn’t tell.

On top of that, which came first? Did the machine stop working or was it left out and the vandalism caused it to stop running? This couldn’t happen again. They needed to take steps to make sure the destruction didn’t occur again. Some monitoring equipment was the first step and new procedures for anyone using the equipment.

He stepped back from the machine and tried to catch sight of the skimmer. The big black bin of the harvester blocked his view. He looked at the harvester and shrugged. Maybe some time away would help get a little perspective. He could see if the person was a visitor or there for business. Not many skimmers came down the private drive.

He glanced at the tools. They’d be safe for a short time. Berenger might not like it if he arrived home soon, but it wasn’t worth putting them back on the rack only to take them back off in a few minutes. First, he’d see who this was and then, he’d get back to staring at the inside of that harvester. Was it someone looking for him Kassius or Berenger?

He walked away from the big machine and toward the drive. The repair could wait. After connecting the wires, he hadn’t made much progress. Teague took care of simple repairs when he could, but this job would probably fall on Berenger’s shoulders.

Berenger could fix any vehicle, and did in his shop in Cassid. Today he’d have some work to do after hours. Otherwise, he’d be here.

Teague went around the big piece of equipment. A gap in the trees offered a thin, clear view to the front of the house. He tilted his head to get bit better view.

Samuel’s black Duce passed. Teague relaxed. He was one of Kassius’s fathers. Why had he decided to stop by? Was something wrong? Teague walked away from the broken equipment and left it. Frustrating himself further could wait.

Teague hurried to meet his friend’s father. Samuel climbed out of the Duce skimmer as Teague rushed around the bush-lined fence. After Samuel stepped down from the skimmer, he looked around the area. He spotted Teague and headed straight for him. Teague stopped and grimaced. That determined, angry scowl on Samuel’s face was all too familiar. Every one of his commanding officers had that look before they tore into someone for doing something wrong.

Teague scowled. What put that expression on Samuel’s face? His normally perfect, graying hair stuck up at odd angles, as if he’d run his fingers through it too many times.

Teague shrugged. He hadn’t done anything. Whatever this was about, he should be safe. But what happened? Berenger or Kassius hadn’t done anything to draw Samuel’s ire.

“Hi, Samuel. How are you?” He smiled at the older man.

“Where are Berenger and Kassius? I intend to speak with all of you.” Samuel glared at Teague. His piercing blue gaze bored into Teague.

“Berenger is still at his shop, and Kassius is in the orchards.” Teague raised his brow. That didn’t explain much, but the problem apparently involved all three of them.

“I’ll talk to you and Kassius, and the two of you can tell Berenger. Let’s go find my son.” Samuel narrowed his eyes.

Teague shrugged. He wasn’t arguing with him about it. Samuel wouldn’t talk about whatever bothered him until they found Kassius. The man was stubborn. Better just to get this done. He led Samuel into the grove of envia plums on the east side of the property. Kassius planned to work there today. He used the dark-orange-skinned fruit in brandies and flavored rum, any excess he sold.

“He’s helping with the envia plum harvest.” Teague walked through the rows of trees.

Kassius always oversaw and participated in the harvest, especially the envia plums. The delicate fruit required hand harvesting because the fruit bruised and crushed easily. At times, the fruit got all his attention. Kassius worried over the fruit being bruised, proper harvest time, and the overall taste.

Samuel nodded. They strolled into the section where Kassius had his crew harvesting plums. Teague looked over the men. At first, he didn’t spot Kassius. Then he saw him. Kassius stood on the lift near a tree.

“Kassius!” Teague called. If he waited, Kassius could raise the lift to begin filling another basket.

Kassius turned on the platform and smiled before he hopped down. He strolled over to meet them. His smile slowly turned to concern. Yeah, he’d recognize that expression from their training even if he never saw it on his father. Kassius’s eyes swung to Teague.

“Dad, how are you? Is something wrong?” Kassius took the final two steps between them.

“We have to talk. Let’s walk.” Samuel turned and headed away from the workers in this section of the grove.

Kassius looked at Teague. Teague shook his head. Yeah, still no idea what this was about. If he had a clue, he would have told Kassius.

They followed Samuel away from the envia plums and through a gate to a field of berry bushes. The skin of the round berries had a slight purplish tint, but hadn’t turned the deep, rich tone that signaled ripeness. Samuel stopped in the middle of one row of berries.

“Dad, what’s wrong?” Kassius asked.

“You three said no matter how you tried, you couldn’t find Sephanie Lindsey, that she was probably avoiding you. Is that right?” Samuel looked straight at them.

“Yes, I think we said something close to those words.” Teague frowned. That probably wasn’t the exact phrasing.

None of their schedules aligned so they could catch her at work when they knew they could talk to her. Just bad luck and the busy season. This was the first free day Teague had, and chores kept him at the orchard. Every other time, they’d tried to find her at home and work but missed her.

“Well, I thought I’d meet the woman who was avoiding you.” Samuel braced his feet apart and looked at them as if waiting for a reaction. “I know I’ve met her at least once before, but not as the woman who was giving you such problems.”

“Oh damn, what did you say to her?” Kassius lifted his hand and ran it along the back of his neck under his blond hair. It reached past his shoulders and had pulled free of the band confining it. Considering he was up in the boughs of the trees earlier, it probably snagged on a branch.

Teague clamped his mouth shut. They didn’t need anyone’s help with Sephanie. He took a deep breath. Better not tell Kassius’ father that. It wasn’t Samuel’s fault they couldn’t manage to start a conversation with her. They had to get close to her to talk, but they hadn’t had the opportunity yet. Everything should fall into place when they could see and touch her.

A teasing image of Sephanie flicked through his thoughts. One slender hand rested on her curved hip. She stood near a table, almost leaning against it as she talked to her brother.

Her red hair hung down her back in a straight fall. The deep blue of her shirt highlighted her pale creamy skin. She was so beautiful. He couldn’t help staring, especially at the ample cleavage displayed. Luckily, she hadn’t seen him. He didn’t know if he could tear his eyes away.

Her gorgeous figure and looks drew him, but there was so much more to her. She was caring and bubbled with vitality. Even if he didn’t know her, that would catch his attention.

Sephanie was sweet and compassionate. She did volunteer work in the community, especially with young women. She helped them get jobs and housing or put them into contact with those who could help.

It hadn’t been love at first sight. More like lust. He couldn’t deny that. The physical was there, but her actions and her character made him want to get closer. They could build a good relationship with her. If they could ever get some time alone with her.

Somehow, he’d make it happen. He wanted to be with her. Yes, he was interested in touching and tasting from the her lips down to her toes. The sweet curves of her body begged to be stroked and caressed. She grabbed his attention and held it.

Teague shook his head. If he kept thinking of touching her, he’d miss everything Samuel said. Samuel probably hadn’t gone to her bakery with the intention of saying anything to her. Samuel cared. He took an interest in his children and their partners.

Teague only hoped they could finally manage to corner her. The woman had a propensity for disappearing before they arrived.

“Well, when I walked into her bakery, she was sitting with her friends at a table, talking. She looked so relaxed I became angry. I asked her if she was trying to drive you crazy. Imagine my surprise when she didn’t know you were trying to get in touch with her, other than by holo-comm, much less trying to court her.” Samuel glowered at his son.

“We haven’t gotten close enough to court her. We were busy. Every time we try to find her, she’s not at her house or her work.” Teague rolled his eyes. “We were trying to be subtle.”

“She thinks the only reason you’re trying to contact her is you want to apologize. She’s probably avoiding the calls, because she doesn’t feel like hearing anything about it.” Samuel tapped his hand against his thigh. “And at what point did you start dating Lillie Malone?”

“We’re not dating Lillie Malone, Dad. You know that.” Kassius’s tone lowered. He frowned. His hands clenched, and his body tensed as his annoyance began to show. “Why would we apologize to her?”

“Because you three managed to sabotage your relationship with her before it ever began.” Samuel glared at both of them. “On top of that, you were seen around the city more than once with Lillie, at the least, in your company. Even Sephanie’s friends think you’re dating Lillie.”