Page 63 of On a Rogue Planet
“What else do you know, apart from his party-planning skills?” Mal pulled a face. “We aren’t planning to party with him.”
“Well, I heard this morning that invites went out for a ball.” A small smile played around Dare’s lips. “It includes the exact coordinates of Technis and a way to get through Forge’s pretty slick security.”
Mal felt Xander’s muscles tense.
“You have an invite?” Xander asked.
“No.”
Mal’s shoulders drooped.
Dare’s smile widened. “But I know someone right here on Galaxy’s Edge who got one.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Back on theInfinitas, Xander listened to the Phoenix clan arguing who would accompany him and Malin to misappropriate the invite to Technis.
Apparently, a Galaxy’s Edge denizen by the name of Blon Arar was a regular on Technis. He owned several bars and clubs here on the station. And he liked pretty women and loud parties.
He was holding a party tonight.
And Xander would be gatecrashing.
They’d agreed that all six Phoenix men could hardly attend. They were too noticeable. What they needed was to slip into the party and out of it with Arar’s invite as quietly as possible.
He glanced back toward the cabins, waiting for Malin to appear. She’d gone to dress for the club where Arar’s party was being held.
“Fine, we’ll draw straws,” Dathan snapped. “One of us and one of you guys.”
Dare stared for a second. “Fine.”
Xander wondered just how off-the-charts the testosterone readings in the room would be. He wanted to tell them he hardly needed backup, but he knew they were all more concerned with Malin’s safety and that he couldn’t argue with.
He initially hadn’t wanted her to come, but he knew he’d blend in better with her by his side than alone.
“Dammit,” Zayn muttered. Some of the others grumbled as well.
“Okay, Nik you’re it, and looks like Justyn will be with you,” Dathan said. “You take care of Mal.”
“Think I’ll just keep any eye on Xander since he’ll be glued to Mal’s side,” Nik said dryly.
Dare stood. “Justyn knows how to dress the part. Nik and Xander, Arar’s clubs like their clientele to dress up. Slacks, silk shirts, that kind of thing.”
Nik and Xander traded a glance before Nik sighed. “Fine.”
That was when Malin walked in. Xander felt a crazy kick in his chest.
He’d seen her in practically nothing on Rhage, but for some reason her outfit now made his blood heat even more. Maybe because he knew this was something she’d choose to wear when she wasn’t in her salvage yard or workshop.
The dress was a bright-silver color and hugged her body. It came up high around her neck and slicked down to just above her knees. It covered far more than her Rhage disguise and it shouldn’t affect him this way.
“Who won the argument?” she asked.
“Nik and Justyn,” Dathan said from his slouch against the holo-table.
She stopped and turned. “Will I do?”
Every single drop of blood in Xander’s body headed south. The dress…had no back. It left a swath of her beautiful, creamy skin and the delicate knobs of her spine bare. The fabric reappeared just above the gentle curves of her bottom and drew his eye there.
