Lexa Dean and the Wellspring (Dr. Lexa Dean, Exoarchaeologist Book 1) by Bethany A. Perry & Cloaked Press
Author:Bethany A. Perry & Cloaked Press [Perry, Bethany A. & Press, Cloaked]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cloaked Press, LLC
Published: 2024-02-02T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter 18
âLexa Dean. Just when I keep thinking youâve had enough of me, you show up again.â Reid smiled through the phone screen, straight teeth shining. It was sunny wherever he was.
Standing in the Kuarpan equivalent to a phone booth, Lexa pushed the folding door with her back to keep it closed. The rain came down in sheets out there in the dark, almost freezing. Cars whizzed past on all sides, the street corner crowded with people.
âNeed a favor, if you would.â
He greeted this with a lascivious smile. âItâll probably cost you.â
Without warning, she thought of the cruise ship. How sheâd âpaidâ for the use of the phone there. How itâd been fine or whatever, but ugh. Not like Jake. It was going to take some time before casual sex was fun again.
She kept her lip from curling by sheer force of will. âWe need to get off this planet discreetly. I donât want any of this traced back to Elani, or Jake. And I need to go forward, not back to Earth. Can you help me? Iâll pay you.â
He waggled his eyebrows.
âMoney.â
His face fell. But he nodded. âYeah, sure. What can I do?â
âYou get that ship booked for Mom and June?â
âNot yet. They wanted to sight-see a bit here on Kuarpa. Theyâve asked me to call your âuptight Ambran friendâ about six times now, to see if sheâll give them a tour. I told them I donât know how to get a hold of you butââhe looked over his shoulderââthey donât believe me.â He narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. âI guess I still donât have your number. Are you at a pay phone?â
âYes. Itâs best if we just keep this all as hands-off as possible.â Some near-freezing rain seeped in the door, wetting her back in a line. She leaned back harder, one foot braced on the opposite wall, sealing it out again. âWhen are you getting the ship?â
âI can get it right now, if you need.â
âI do. File your flight plan for Earth.â
He smiled. âWhere are we really going?â
âIâll tell you once we leave orbit. Gotta make some more calls.â She wiggled her fingers at him. âIâll call you in an hour to find out the dock address.â
âYou got it.â
She hung up on him before he could hit on her again. Was she like that? Did people see her on the screen and think, âNot her again, asking for sex?â
Teeth clenched, she dialed again.
âAlamay Fixâs office.â
âIs Fix in, Stev?â
The secretary looked up. âOh hey, Lexa.â He squinted, curls on the top of his head bouncing. âWhere are you? Is that a phone booth?â
âSome street corner. You look warm.â
He chuckled, the beach hut on the screen behind him filled with warm, red sunlight and reflections from what was surely an ocean. âThere are advantages to having your office in a tropical paradise. Especially if itâs not on Earth.â
âYeah, no mosquitoes.â
Stev laughed, the pale skin of his face reddening across his cheeks. He pointed at the screen. âExactly. Hold on, Iâll get Alamay.
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