Page 52 of Tarek

I understood that more than he probably realised. I'd applied for the sheriff's position because I wanted to do work that mattered to people, and because I wanted to live somewhere that felt like a home rather than a temporary stop between cargo shipments. I was tired of protecting cargo while captains made foolish decisions that could endanger everyone aboard, sometimes putting us in situations where the air itself could and did vent into space. I wanted actual ground beneath my feet, breathable air that wasn't dependent on a ship's or station’s life-support systems, and work that helped people rather than simply safeguarding somebody else's freight or stopped crew from missing lift off because they were passed out drunk at a bar. Hearing Darren describe the same hope from his perspective made me feel that we had more in common than the matching system alone could explain.

“Then I think we've both chosen the right place,” I said.

He looked up at me, and his smile was quieter this time. “I hope so.”

For a while, we continued exploring the information package, discussing the town layout, the sheriff's office, and the limited services currently available to residents. It was easy to talk to him. Easier than I'd expected, given that we were strangers who had become legally mated before we'd even shaken hands. He had a dry sense of humour, a quick mind, and a way of making even an ordinary conversation feel engaging. I found myself relaxing more with every passing minute. Working with him was going to be a pleasure, I decided.

The children were still playing on the floor, their voices rising and falling around us, and Laura remained asleep. Skye had eventually abandoned her post beside the toys and stretched out on the floor near my feet.

I glanced at the time display.

“Hmmm…”

Darren looked up. “What is it?”

“We've been talking for nearly three hours.”

He stared at the clock, then sat back in astonishment. “Three hours? How the hell did that happen?”

“I was about to ask you the same question.”

He laughed and looked toward the children. “And we skipped lunch.”

I realised he was right. We'd been so absorbed in the colony information and our conversation that neither of us had thought to stop for a meal. Yet the children hadn't complained once. They'd been happy playing together, and Laura had slept through the entire afternoon.

“That's a minor miracle,” Darren said. “Usually, someone starts asking for food about five minutes after I've finished cleaning up from the previous meal.”

“Perhaps they're saving all their complaints for dinner.”

“Don't say that. You'll tempt fate.”

As if summoned by the word, someone knocked at the door. Darren looked at me, and I looked at him. We both laughed.

“Speak of the devil,” he said, getting up to answer it.

Sarah Bennett stood outside, looking cheerful and entirely unsurprised to find us still sitting among the colony information and children's toys.

“Are you two ready for supper?” she asked. “Nick and I thought we'd gather everyone together in the chow hall. I think the children are going to need feeding before they decide that toy cars are edible. Unless you went for a very late lunch so we missed seeing you, I rather suspect none of you have eaten since breakfast.

Darren glanced at the time display again. “Actually, yes. We'd completely lost track of time.”

“I can see that.” Sarah's gaze moved between us, and her smile became just a little more knowing. “Well, come along, then. We'll see you there.”

Once she'd gone, Darren turned to me with a slightly sheepish expression. “I suppose we'd better get ourselves organised.”

“Probably.”

We asked the children to put their toys away, and they set about returning their cars and shuttle to their cases. It took only a few minutes, although Matt insisted on parking every car in its proper place before closing the lid. I helped Darren make sure Laura had everything she needed, while he checked her supplies and got Skye ready to come with us. I carried the folded high chair he'd kept from going to cargo, and soon we were all heading for the chow hall, with Vrann walking comfortably alongside Evan and Matt.

It was busy but welcoming, with tables arranged around the central serving area and a bank of replicators offering an impressive range of food and drinks. Sarah and Nick had already found a table large enough for all of us, and they waved us over as we arrived.

We chose our meals from the replicator menu, and I helped Darren settle Laura into her high chair before taking the seat opposite him. The children immediately began comparing their food and discussing what they'd like to do once we reached New Haven. Vrann was happily listening to Evan explain the school playground he hoped they’d build, while Matt tried to persuade everyone that the sheriff's office would be even better if it had a secret tunnel so they could sneak up on the bad guys, as he put it.

Darren laughed at that, and I found myself watching him rather than my own plate.

He was handsome, but what caught my attention most was how his whole face lit up when he laughed. The warmth in his brown eyes, the way his expression softened whenever one of the children spoke to him, and the easy affection he showed them made it difficult to look away. There was a quiet strength in him, too, a resilience that came from having endured more than he should have had to and still choosing to build something better for his family.

He caught me looking at him, and for a moment, neither of us looked away. Then his gaze dropped to my mouth, and I felt my own attention drawn to his lips. The awareness between us had been growing all morning and afternoon, but now that we were sitting across from one another with a table between us, it seemed impossible to ignore.