He found Samantha waiting for him just inside the door.
She turned off the lights, put on her mask, and stepped outside. “How did it go?”
He started down the stairs, Samantha behind him. “I can’t talk about it.”
“Right. Sorry.”
“How’s the Cosmic Microwave Background?”
“I had a hard time concentrating. I couldn’t stop wondering who poisoned the wine. I guess I freaked myself out. Every little noise made me jump.”
Thor could understand that. “Knowing there’s a murderer here has put everyone on edge.”
Especially the killer.
Whoever they were, they had to know they were out of time.
“All I want right now is some supper, a glass of wine, and an hour in the sauna. Sitting at the computer all day makes my neck stiff and gives me a headache.”
“Sorry about the headache. How about two out of three—dinner and the sauna?”
“I’d like that.”
But when they walked into the galley together—he, Samantha, Segal, Jones, and Kristi—the room fell silent.
“Do you feel like they’re all giving us side-eye?” Kristi whispered.
Thor leaned down. “You and Kristi shouldn’t sit with us. It might make people think you’re getting special treatment.”
It was probably a bad idea for them to be seen together, which put a damper on Thor’s plans. He hadn’t forgotten how sweet it had been to kiss Samantha. He’d meant what he’d said. They weren’t finished.
But a lot of shit had happened since then, and his role here had changed. Until the killer was exposed, he needed to keep his distance from her.
Fuck.
Of course, the sauna was public. Anyone could walk in. But if he and Samantha just happened to be there at the same time…
* * *
Samantha brushed her teeth,combed her hair, and tried to decide. Bathing suit or towel? The bathing suit had padded cups and made her look curvier, but it also made her seem inhibited—which she was. Also, if by some miracle, Thor undressed her, he would discover how much was padding and how little was truly her. She should do what most people did and just wrap herself in a towel.
Make up your mind!
Thor was in the sauna. Right now. Waiting for her.
The thought sent excitement shivering through her—and made her nervous.
Of course, there was no guarantee that Samantha would be alone with him. And even if she was, it’s not like they could just pick up where they’d left off. If someone walked in and saw them kissing, the entire station would know within hours.
Even so, she wanted to be with him. In all this chaos, he was the one person who’d gone above and beyond to support her.
So, bathing suit or towel?
You need to lighten up, be brave, let yourself go.
It was something Patty had said to her so many times over the years—when Samantha had been reluctant to try sushi, when she’d refused to join in karaoke night, when she’d turned down an invitation to go sky-diving.
Patty had always been the outgoing one, the brave one, the true adventurer.