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someone while she was supposed to be working. Business hours were almost over, but damn. She was a businesswoman and should be more conscious of the place than this. She pulled out of Kassius’s arms.
    He grinned at her but let her go. She made her way back behind the counter. She waited on the two women who had entered. Kassius, Teague, and Berenger stood to the side until the women left.
    “Baby, we’ll let you get back to your work. We’ll pick you up tomorrow for our date. We want to make it special for you.” Teague reached across the counter and skimmed his fingers over her cheek. “Don’t back out on us, or I might have to spank your ass.”
    “What time, and what should I wear?” She took a deep breath while she tried to collect her thoughts. The last threat didn’t worry her. She heard the laughter in his voice and knew he was teasing.
    A sudden, huge case of first-date jitters knotted her stomach. She knew it was silly. Still, the feeling rose in her, sharp and fast. She wondered where they would take her. She shook her head. Damn, she was acting as if the fate of the world rested on this one date. She wanted it to go right so much, maybe too much.
    “We’ll pick you up around eight. Wear something pretty and shoes to dance in. I want to hold you out on the dance floor.” Kassius smiled.
    “I look forward to it.” She leaned forward on the counter. That had gone so much better than she’d thought it would. No awkward apology, and they were interested. Happiness bubbled through her. She had a date with them.
    “We’ll see you tomorrow, Sephanie.” Berenger clasped her hand and squeezed it.
    “Tomorrow night.” She watched them leave the bakery.

Chapter Three
    Kassius walked up the path to Sephanie’s small house. It had matte-gray siding, reminiscent of the prefabricated buildings brought to the planet by the first colonists. He knew she’d bought it from her uncle when he’d moved.
    She lived on the edge of the city. There weren’t many houses here, and the few other residences were spaced out with large yards, trees, and bushes separating them. He’d rather her live in a place with more neighbors, more people to help her if she had a problem.
    Hopefully, they could convince her there was a fiery chemistry between them. He didn’t think they’d have too much trouble moving the relationship forward after that. With a little luck, they wouldn’t have to worry for long about the isolation of this place or if someone broke in while she was alone. Once she realized they were right for one another, he intended to move her into their house without delay.
    They’d wasted enough time. It seemed as if they’d never have an opportunity to show her they wanted her.
    He pushed the button that would announce their arrival. Teague might have made a joke about spanking her ass if she tried to run from the date, but Kassius would warm her butt. She’d agreed, and she’d better be there. He waited.
    A thought ran through his mind. Her Duce was sitting on the pad, so she should be here. Was she deliberately late or hesitating to answer? He couldn’t wait to see her.
    He looked forward to spending some time with her. Finally build the closeness he craved with her. He wanted to learn the little things about her, hold her, and pamper her after a hard day’s work. After the misunderstanding while watching her, he didn’t want another mistake. She wasn’t a woman they only wanted for a short time.
    The video monitor beside the door flared to life. He saw Sephanie’s face. His gaze followed the line of her neck down to where she appeared to be holding something in front of her chest. He lifted his eyebrows, and his thoughts centered on the pale green fabric she clutched to her chest.
    “Hi, Kassius and Teague. Berenger’s somewhere behind you, right? I’m running late. Give me a moment, and I’ll be right out.” Sephanie smiled, and the screen once again faded to gray.
    Kassius looked back at