His Virtual Bride Read Online Free Page A

you?"
    He chuckled. "Only if I thought I could get away with it."
    "A huge if. " She sighed. "Take us to Saturn," she told her ship. Looking at Geoff, she asked, "Saturn, huh? What dive have you chosen this time?"
    "Not Saturn exactly. We're going to one of its rings." Geoff huffed out a sigh of his own, then named the glitziest, most expensive resort in the entire galaxy.
    Keely whistled before she looked down at her plain black flight suit. "I don't have anything to wear. And--thanks to a thieving, nameless snake--I can't afford to buy anything suitable."
    "You can charge what you need to Paris. Or…" Geoff stroked his mustache and out waited her.
    "Or?" she challenged, slanting him an I know what you're thinking look coupled with an I ain't buying it one.
    "You could just don your new jewelry. Nobody'd care what you were wearing."
    One red-gold eyebrow quirked upward. "Or I could go shopping--on your nickel."
    "Sounds like a plan," Geoff agreed, wondering how Keely knew about old-Earth money.

    * * * *

    Keely closed her gaping mouth with a click and wondered what had gotten into cheapskate Geoff. He'd stolen her information and her reward, by the Goddess! Now he was willing to pay for a whole new wardrobe?
    "Saturn," Geoff explained, as Keely waited for permission to land her No-Name spacecraft, "is second in population to any other planet in the galaxy. Its rings are considered the vacation spot for most wealthy humanoids. The string of islands around the inner ring is called Saturnalia. We'll be setting down near The Embassy."
    Keely grunted and muttered, "I still don't know why Paris sent us here. We should be looking for Le Roi in seedier places--ones like you frequent. He's more likely to hide out on Io than in Earth's embassy. And I thought only Jupiter had rings."
    Geoff didn't bother to correct her misconception about The Embassy or about Jupiter's rings, but went on in a tour guide voice. "Thanks to human ingenuity, the weather is temperate and humid."
    "Which means we're going to sweat like pigs."
    Geoff grinned. "Unless we go native."
    Keely quirked a brow. "I'm sure I can find something to wear. Resorts usually have a bunch of fancy boutiques with lots of fancy, pricey clothes. And you're paying," she reminded him.
    Geoff grunted and listened to the controller's voice instruct Keely where to land her No-Name .
    "Bet the mooring fees will eat up most of your half of our reward, Geoff," she sniped, following him down the gangway and into a blast of humid air. "Jonathan Jacob Jones, it's hot!"
    "Perfect for swimming." A tall, dark haired, dark eyed, dark skinned young woman smiled an added greeting. "If you will follow me, I'll show you to your transport."
    Keely poked Geoff's ribs, whispering, "Ask her how much she'll take for her skirt and top. I'm roasting."
    "Are you staying at The Reef?"
    "And I want her sandals, too." Keely added, wondering how the woman managed to walk in such high heels.
    "We're at The Embassy."
    Keely didn't know what to make of the woman's assessing look. But she and Geoff followed their escort along a wide pier. To their right, fifty or more couples waited to board several yachts. To their left, a small speedboat awaited. The driver smiled up at them, then reached up to help Keely down. Small gold letters said this small vessel belonged to The Embassy.
    "This is nice," she said. "Reminds me of No-Name ."
    "Yeah," Geoff groused, "nice and small."
    "Mister, missus like fast trip or scenic tour?"
    "Scenic." Keely suddenly wanted to avoid staying anywhere with Geoff--especially without someone from Paris' staff around to chaperone.
    "Fast," Geoff countered in his flight commander's voice. "The missus finds the heat unbearable."
    "Then the breeze will cool her." With that, their driver started the boat's engine.

    Since she'd done nothing, but complain about the weather, Keely couldn't argue with speed. She sat, holding her case to her chest. After casting off, Geoff settled in the stern