Then she saw him. Or at least, the cowboy with crossed arms who leaned insolently against the check-in desk sure looked like Walter Sheridan. She stared at his hologram often enough to have his features memorized, yet the man watching her wasn't exactly what she expected.

His face looked sculpted from stone, with a squared chin and sharp cheekbones. Wives' tales claimed smiling caused wrinkles, but no tell-tale lines marred this man's face. He had the coloring of someone with brown hair, but a sweat-stained, dusty cowboy hat hid everything north of his brows. When their gazes met, his eyes gave her pause. Green as late spring fields depicted in laser paintings, they were also penetrating and unforgiving. This man wouldn't trust easily or give any quarter.

Like Kevin.

Oh, God. She couldn't breathe. For a panicky moment, she thought she might pass out.

Turn around! Get back on that shuttle. Make them pry you out if need be.

She swung back toward the door only to find it locked. Fanning her face with her hand, she fought nausea and the dots swimming in her vision. Coming here had been a mistake, a horrible mistake.

Run! Anywhere would be better than --

"Are you okay?"

She didn't look but knew instinctively who stood beside her and took her elbow. He firmly guided her to a chair. When she sat, he forced her head between her knees.

"Breathe," he ordered.

"I'm fine," Sabina said at last, and she did feel better, though a little silly. Millions of miles separated her from Kevin. It took months of beatings, but she finally found the courage to yank back her life. Her method of escape might prove strange and impulsive, but she didn't care. As long as coming here didn't mean jumping from the solar roaster into the core generator.

Please don't let Walter be like Kevin.

With her head down, she couldn't help but notice the dust covering his boots and the hems of his worn jeans. This was the way he came to meet his new bride? The lack of care on his part didn't bode well. She chose this planet for its distance from Earth and Kevin, thinking her former fiancé would never find her here or think it not worth the trouble and expense to come for her. She had to stay, she had to. Yet if Walter took so little care when coming to meet his potential wife, what did it say about his wanting a wife?

"I'm fine," she repeated, then added, "Thanks." Reluctantly, she looked up. And up. Warm pools of emerald colored eyes stared back with a hint of worry.

His shirt wasn't in much better shape than his jeans and boots. A threadbare collar topped a dull khaki-colored shirt, almost completely faded. Spots of rust-red plaid marked the fabric here and there. He’d rolled up his sleeves, showing muscled, tanned forearms sprinkled with light-colored hair.

"Are you Sabina Volt?"

She nodded.

He stared a moment longer, examining her face. He must have agreed that she was better because he said, "I'd about given up on you bein' on the transport. Everyone else who got off is long gone." He scooped up her bags and took a few steps away before stopping to turn around and look. His gaze softened. "You comin', or do you need another minute?"

In that instant, she knew this man was nothing like Kevin. Kevin wouldn't have given her a moment's thought. Sabina's stomach stopped its loop-de-loops, and her head quit spinning. Standing, she said, "Before we go, I'd just like to be sure of who you are."

He took in a breath and huffed it out. "We don't have time to waste pullin' out papers. You have my hologram. You should know I'm Walt Sheridan. Your future husband." He stared and waited, as though letting that sink in. "Now my truck's parked outside, and the sooner we get going the better."

"Well, I'm sorry," she said as she rushed to try to match his long strides. "I didn't know you'd be in such a big hurry." The terminal was huge, but at this pace Sabina expected they’d be wherever he parked in seconds. "Can you slow down?"

"If I have to." He cast a quick look down at her. "The thing is, the law being what it is on this planet, if you leave anything unattended for too long folks tend to think it's theirs."

His stride lengthened again, leaving Sabina with the idea he always moved this fast. She sighed.

Speed. Not a great trait in a lover.

Well, there were worse things than not being satisfied during sex. Much worse.