"Sharon Green - Diana Santee 2 - Gateway To Xanadu" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Sharon)

frowning in confusion. He watched me step up on the utility table, which put my head an inch or so
above his, then stood there in speechless shock as I emptied the large plastic container of water I had
gotten, right over his head. Once the last drop had been emptied I tossed the container away, then put my
fists on my hips.

"I'm not having second thoughts about anything," I told him, watching calmly as his big hand wiped the
water out of his eyes and pushed his sopping hair back. "How about you?"

He looked at me with thunder and lightning blazing in those eyes for about five seconds, and then a grin
broke through.

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"No, no second thoughts," he said, tossing a lock of wet hair back out of his eyes. "How could I have
second thoughts when I haven't even come to terms with my first thoughts yet? I can see I'm never going
to know what to expect from you, Diana, but maybe we can narrow the field a little."

I didn't know what he was talking about, and I didn't realize I was about to find out. One minute that grin
was right in front of me, and the next I was off the table, turned around, and held about the waist by one
of those should-be illegal arms. Five or six hard, fast smacks were delivered to my bare bottom, and then
I was set back on my feet on the deck carpeting.

"First you use words alone, and then, if that doesn't work, you try something else," he lectured with one
finger pointing at me while I stood in outraged speechlessness with my hands rubbing behind me. "The
next time I have to tell you that, you'll spend some time standing up."

I was so mad I couldn't say a word, but having a chat wasn't what I wanted to do with him. I actually
took one step toward him before I had control of myself again, and then I turned and stalked away to my
cabin, slamming the heavy but well-balanced door behind me. The nerve of that jerk! Go ahead and try
to help someone, and see what you get for it! I stalked back and forth across the tiny cabin, trying to
calm down, but it took quite a while before I made it. No one but a backwoods hick of a second from a
backwoods outpost would be stupid enough to spank a Special Agent, but that was the second time that
jerk had tried it. The first time had cost him a lot of blood, but he didn't seem to learn from anything that
happened to him! It was fairly clear I should have taken someone else in his place after all, but it was too
late for that now. I'd just have to teach some manners to what I had, over and over again, if necessary,
until the lesson stuck with him. I sat down on my bunk and drew my knees up for my chin to rest on,
then began making a mental list of possible lessons.

I let a few hours go by before I left the cabin again, and when I did I made it very clear that Val had
turned invisible. He was sitting on a couch reading a slim, leather-bound book when I passed him, and I
paid no attention to the way he followed me with his eyes and a grin. I went into the control room and
ran a quick systems and course check, made sure my double-check tape run was progressing properly,
then went to the galley. A synthburger and coffee were enough to take care of what little appetite I had,
and these I carried back to my cabin with me, slamming the door again behind me. When I'd come out of
the galley with my food Val had been back on his couch, but it was obvious he'd left it briefly by the
presence of the blanket he was wrapped in. He made sure to begin shivering violently as I passed, but he
hadn't done anything about that stupid grin. I swallowed my meal with my nose stuffed into a book of