“Uh?” Cyra had no idea how to respond.
“Tell me.” Rhysa closed the space between them, close enough to kiss. “Is it as good as they say? I’ve never had the chance to find out.” She batted her eyes. “But I would be all over trying it.” Rhysa glanced under the table. A frown wrinkled her forehead when she rose.
“That was the previous captain.” Doc said flatly. “It’s a long story. Suffice it to say,CaptainMaejzur is a good captain. She just needs a crew capable of making the next delivery.”
Cyra appreciated Doc defending her, but she would have to learn to address these rumors herself and quickly.
“So it’s short term?” Rhysa asked.
“Not necessarily.” Cyra rubbed her hands along her legs. Why was it so much more difficult to deal with Rhysa than Blaize? Probably because Blaize already knew what Varik was capable of and still wanted in. “I’m willing to sign you on a trial basis. See if it works for us.”
“Who else is on the ship?”
“The engineer. Blaize Dreheer?” Cyra added a questioning tone to the statement, wondering if Rhysa knew her.
“It’s all females?”
“So far, yes.”
“Who else are you hiring?”
“Just a navigator. Possibly a communications specialist. For now.” If they could find one willing. Their conversation didn’t seem promising.
“You’re in luck. I’m from Blaque Poll.”
Cyra looked to Doc unsure of the significance. Doc gave a slight nod. Apparently he’d guessed her origins correctly based on her looks.
“We’re only the best navigators in…well…anywhere.”
“I’ve heard that,” Doc said. “Are you looking for a job?”
“I’ve never worked on a ship that didn’t have males.”
Dez’s name sat on the tip of Cyra’s tongue. But he wasn’t crew. He was cargo. And he was off-limits. “Is that a problem?”
Rhysa grinned at Cyra, heat in her pink eyes. “Might be a benefit in the short term.”
“Why aren’t you contracted now? You should be in demand.” Cyra couldn’t figure the female out. If she was the best, why was she talking to them?
“I got kicked off my last ship for initiating an orgy.”
Wow. Given a hundred guesses as to why Rhysa was unemployed, Cyra wasn’t sure she could’ve figured it out.
“You like to have sex with your fellow crew members?” Doc asked but made it sound like a statement.
Rhysa shrugged. “I liked it with them. I didn’t like the captain. He was pissed I turned him down for a private session.”
“That won’t be a problem between us. I won’t be asking.” Cyra wasn’t convinced she should hire Rhysa. There were already enough crazy rumors.
“Don’t get offended if I offer. I won’t be offended if you decline.”
Cyra gaped then closed her mouth. She took a sip of her drink. There had to be a way to turn the conversation. “I should probably explain our financial situation to you before you agree.”
“What’s the problem?”
“I can’t pay you until we deliver our current cargo.”
Rhysa leaned back again and tilted her head. She narrowed her eyes. Cyra would have felt less pressure if she’d been shoved under a microscope in a biology class. Finally Rhysa said, “It’s not like I’m going shopping between here and there. I assume you’ll be returning to the station after the delivery.”
