Kirk leapt out of the booth and ran after Kate. He had no idea what was wrong, but he had obviously been remiss.

More than once.

As a bodyguard, he had allowed his charge to become vulnerable in the street.

And as her friend and future mate, he had failed to be the confidante she chose in her moment of distress.

He burst out of the door and onto the sidewalk. His shoulders went down in relief when he saw her small figure advancing into the crowd. He’d been afraid he might lose her out here.

“Kate,” he called to her.

She didn’t slow down.

“Pardon me,” he said as he pressed his way through the crowded sidewalk. “Excuse me.”

On Aerie, this abandonment of basic good manners would have been tantamount to social suicide, but here there was little resistance. Not that it mattered - he would have gladly lost his reputation to find and protect her.

At last he caught up to Kate. She was walking quickly, purple hair of her wig bouncing on her shoulders, her mouth set in a narrow line.

“Kate,” he said. “I’m sorry you are upset. Have I done something wrong?”

“You haven’t done anything,” she said. But she didn’t look at him.

“I can tell that something is wrong, how can I help you?” he asked.

She stopped, took a deep breath and then sighed it out.

“Come here,” she said, sliding her phone out of her pocket.

They walked over to the side of a building, allowing the pedestrian traffic to pass them by.

She held up her screen.

On it was a picture of Kirk looking at her. It was a lovely picture. Kate was smiling kindly at a fan. Kirk remembered her as a young woman who had been empowered by Kate’s role in the television show.

When he first put on the body he now wore, Kirk had felt it was excessive and clumsy.

But this photograph showed him its fine delicacy. He admired the way the curve of his lips and the sparkle in his eyes were the perfect mute expression of the love and longing he felt for his mate. If he had not learned her language this picture would still have shown her everything she needed to know about his feelings and his intentions.

“It’s lovely,” he told her. “Who took it?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “But it’s been published online in a gossip column.”

“Oh,” Kirk said, trying to follow.

“That means that the fans will be trying to figure out who you are,” she explained. “And you don’t have a back-story for them to find. And you’re big and gorgeous. Which means they’re going to put it together that you’re an alien. Especially if they see you with your brothers.”

“Oh,” Kirk said, his heart dropping.

“What can we do?” he asked.

“You have to go away,” she told him.

“I won’t leave you.”

“You can’t stay, Kirk,” she said. “You see what’s happening. It’s only a matter of time.”

“I don’t care what happens,” he said calmly. “I won’t leave you. It is my duty to protect you.”

“I can get another bodyguard,” she said.

It wasn’t the same, and they both knew it. He paused, hoping she would acknowledge this.

“Kirk, this could put you and your brothers at risk,” she said. “And it will end my dream of having a life outside of the world of science fiction.”

“This will end your dreams?” he asked, looking back down at the photograph and thinking how strange it was that their dreams could be so at odds.

“Yes,” Kate replied, placing her hand on his.

He handed her back the phone.

“I can’t leave you without protection,” he told her. “I’ll stay with you until someone else comes.”

“And then what?” she asked.

“My brothers and I can leave immediately,” he said.

“Don’t do that,” she told him. “You can stay with me until you figure out what’s next.”

“We will not impose on you,” he said. “We can find other lodgings quickly once you have protection.”

She swallowed hard.

He wished he could see her eyes. But her expression was impenetrable behind the dark sunglasses.

She began tapping into her cell phone so quickly he wondered if she could be forming actual words.

A moment later it buzzed back at her and she nodded, satisfied.

“Shall we?” he asked, indicating the sidewalk.

But her phone buzzed again.

She looked down at it and smiled.

“Perfect,” she cried, looking greatly relieved.

“What is it?” he asked. Surely the manager couldn’t have found another bodyguard so quickly.

“Cecily says that Solo will act as my bodyguard today,” she said. “You can help her at her booth. That way we won’t be seen together again.”

It was a smart plan. But it still stung to hear her excited about it.

“Guys,” a familiar voice shouted from behind them.

The others had caught up.

“Thanks so much,” Kate said to Solo immediately. “I really appreciate your help.”

“It is my pleasure,” Solo said stiffly.

Jealousy exploded through Kirk’s chest like a wind storm on Aerie in the bright star season. He had never experienced such an emotion. It felt like he was dying.

And Solo did not care for Kate. Kirk should not feel jealous.

Kirk was perplexed by both the intensity and irrationality of his feelings.

He watched as Solo accompanied Kate down the sidewalk, Cecily and Beatrix following and whispering animatedly.

“This is difficult for you, brother,” Buck said, putting an arm over Kirk’s shoulder in a friendly way.

“Yes,” Kirk agreed.

“But she is your mate,” Buck said.

“I am not sure that she will ever believe it,” Kirk admitted.

A woman walking the other direction did a double take at the sight of them.

Buck winked at her.

Kirk elbowed him.

“What?” Buck asked. “We were built to bring them joy.”

“Now that I have tasted jealousy I would not wish it on Beatrix,” Kirk grumbled.

“Perhaps a little jealousy would do her good,” Buck said with a grin.

“You can’t mean that,” Kirk said.

“If the movies have taught me anything about women, it’s that you have three choices when it comes to making things right with them,” Buck said.

“I’m listening,” Kirk said.

“Number one - they love flowers,” Buck said.

Kirk thought of Spencer’s flowers and shuddered.

“I don’t think that’s always true,” he said. “What else?”

“Number two - make them jealous,” Buck said. “If another woman notices your good qualities maybe she will too.”

That was unacceptable to Kirk.

“And number three?” he asked.

“Ah, that’s the hard one,” Buck said, shaking his head. “Number three is giving them space.”

“Like what we traveled through to get here?”

“No, brother. Not like that.” Buck said with grin. Kirk didn’t see what could possibly be funny.

“Like a room or an apartment, then?” Kirk asked. He did not know how much space cost, but he was sure he could not afford anything nearly as luxurious as what she had already.

“No, no, like space between you,” Buck explained. “Removing yourself from the situation and letting her have time alone to sit in front of a rainy window and think things through. And hoping that she decides that she would be better off with you than without.”

“That is difficult,” Kirk allowed.

He thought about what Kate had just told him.

What she was asking for was exactly this - space, distance between them - the one thing that would hurt him most.

But if she asked it, it was imperative that he give it to her. If he didn’t, he was no better than Spencer Carson.

And as much as he resented Solo sharing time with her, he knew his brother would keep her safe.

“I will give her space,” he said.

“Oh, my brother,” Buck said sympathetically, squeezing his arm around him more tightly. “I will try to help you pass the time.”

They had arrived at the Convention Center.

Kate looked over her shoulder at him before going inside with Solo. Kirk imagined that her eyes were sad, even though he couldn’t see them.

His heart ached, but he only nodded at her and watched her disappear. He had no wish to make this any harder for her.