Buck by Tasha Black

Author:Tasha Black [Black, Tasha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 13th Story Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

17

Beatrix

Bea sat on the sofa, drawing butterflies again.

She’d been drawing them absentmindedly ever since having that crazy dream. This batch was in colored pencil, and she was getting good enough they looked like they could practically float off the page.

Cecily sat beside her, stitching more scales onto the costume she’d been working on.

Katie was curled up with her laptop reading the gossip columns out loud to them. So far there was no mention of Carson.

What they were all really doing was trying to pass the time with the boys out of the house.

As far as Bea could remember, they had never gone anywhere without one of the women since their arrival. She hadn’t even known they had money to shop with.

“Rumor has it a certain comic book author and her child star ingénue are running into money troubles with their pet project,” Kate read. “They say funding is in the works. But word on the street is that a big guy with a big grudge has pulled his support. Better pinch your pennies, girls, money’s gonna be tight.”

“Well, there’s your answer,” Cecily said.

“It doesn’t say he’s actively blackballing me,” Bea pointed out.

“It can’t say that,” Kate said. “Even in this vague form they can’t risk being sued for libel.”

Bea’s heart sank. Kate was right, of course. And Dirk had no reason to lie to her anyway.

The sound of the guys at the door made her smile in spite of herself.

It was funny how just knowing Buck was near made it easier to deal with the roadblocks to her career.

The guys came in, Kirk followed by Solo.

Then Buck.

He wore his usual jeans but with a white Oxford shirt and tie and a navy-blue blazer. His too-long hair was slicked back with gel.

“Wow,” Bea said. “You look great.”

Buck grinned, then he straightened his face into a more serious expression. “I am going to a party,” he said.

“Oh,” Bea said. “What party?”

“The Intergalactic Gladiators invited me,” he said. “There will be parfait jello shots. I’m going with Angel. She’s going to pick me up in a few minutes.”

Bea felt a pang of hurt. Why would he go to a party without her? She hadn’t even had the chance to tell him about her lunch with Dirk.

And she didn’t like the sound of this woman, Angel. When had Buck had a chance to meet another woman? And hadn’t he told Bea that he loved her?

Maybe love meant something different to an alien.

To Bea it meant forever.

She stared at him, unable to respond.

Cecily put a hand on her knee.

“Hey, Bea didn’t get to tell you what happened at lunch today,” Kate said brightly.

“That’s true,” Buck said. “But Dirk Malcolm wanted to speak to her privately, so she may not want to share what was said.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine,” Bea said. “It’s great news, actually. He agreed to be in the movie.”

She only wished her voice didn’t sound so small and sad.

To her surprise, Buck didn’t even congratulate her. He merely nodded, his mouth a narrow line.

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