Titan Encounter Read Online Free

staring at a blank wall, he
coughed.
    She jumped. “Oh, you
startled me.” Her eyes were red and puffy.
    “I’m sorry,” he bit
his lip, “about everything. Ah…well, I’d like you to come to dinner at our
quarters this evening.”
    She looked up in the
direction of the private quarters. “Dinner? With you?
    Justin nodded. “ Yes, and my sister?” I hope you don’t mind Mara.
    “Really, I am okay.
There is no need….”
    “It’s not just about
the bad news. I want to get to know my new employee.”
    Naomi’s eyes
widened. “There is not much to know about me.”
    Her nervousness at
the idea of dinner emboldened him. “Then we’ll have more time to enjoy the
food.”
    “Ah…you are kind,
but….”
    “I insist.” Justin
smiled, turned, and walked away.     
    *              
*              
*
    Hands planted on her
hips, Mara said, “You want me to cook dinner for your date?”
    “It’s not a date.
You’re going to be here and you said we didn’t know much about her.”
    “Then ask her
questions. Use a little alcohol, but not my cooking.”
    “Please Sis. You’re
a brighter cook than I’ll ever be.”
    “Get a wife.”
    I’m working on it. “Speaking of wives,
earlier today Ferren made an offer to marry you.”
    Mara shuddered.
“What did you say?”
    Oh, this could be
fun. Forcing a blank expression on his face, he glanced at her. “You know Ferren is from an old and powerful family.  Networking
with his family and friends would help my business.”
    Mara stared at him.
    Justin avoided her
gaze. “He came into some money recently and has paid off his debts.”
    He could feel her
eyes bore into him.
    “He’s got a good
ship.”
    He turned. Their eyes
locked. He smiled.
    She grinned back at
him. “You never could lie to me.”
    “I told him ‘no,’
but he did ask.”
    She pulled a knife
from her trousers and gave it a little flick. “The day you say “Yes,” will be
the last day Ferren is fertile.” They both laughed
    She sighed. “All
right, you clean, I’ll cook.”
    “Thank you.” Still
grinning he asked, “Do you always carry a knife?”
    Coyly she raised an
eyebrow. “Some things a girl needs to keep secret.” 
    The smell of the
food wafted over the apartment as Justin finished setting the table. He called
over his shoulder, “Come on Mara, she’ll be here any minute.”
    The door to Mara’s
bedroom opened and she leaned against the doorframe wearing a pastel blue dress
that draped from one shoulder. “How do I look?” Pearls dangled from her ears
and graced her neck.
    He turned and looked
her up and down. “You shine up pretty bright, Sis.” I wonder where the knife
is. Images of Naomi in the dress and pearls floated through his mind. He
smiled.  
    Mara smiled back.
“Well, I want to look good for you and,” she said flatly, “your date.”
    “It’s not a date.”
    She shrugged as the housesys announced their visitor.  A holo image appeared of Naomi wearing the same green
coveralls she had worn for days. 
    Justin opened the
door with a broad smile.
    Golden tan-colored
walls greeted Naomi as she entered their home. Her eyes slowly swept the room.
“The quarters I’ve seen here have all been cramped and gray, but this is a nice
size for two and the mix of colors is very warm and pleasant.”
    “That’s my brother.
He’s always had a bright eye for color and design.”
    For several minutes,
they talked and walked, slowly about the living room.  Naomi stopped in
front of each sketch or painting that hung on the wall. Most were of valleys,
rivers, mountains, and brooks.  
    “Who is this?” she
asked, looking at a picture of an older man with gray hair and beard in a green
military style uniform.
    “It may be someone
from my past.” He shrugged. “I don’t really know. I painted it from several
vague memories and a bit of imagination.”
    Naomi smiled and
started to move on, but Mara stepped forward. The two