“This just isn’t what I expected when I signed on is all,” she said with a grimace. “Or after our surprise briefing, either.”
“I see,” Doc said, then shifted in his seat to stare pointedly at the ceiling. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with your efforts to charm our captain, would it?”
Tiffany glared at him for a moment, then broke into a rueful smile.
“Bingo.” She laughed. “You know, when we were on the ship on the way here, I thought that he was just busy planning this operation, and that I’d see more of him once we got settled in. The way it’s worked out, though, what with us working the showroom, I see even less of him than I did on shipboard.”
Smiling, Doc signaled the bartender for another round.
“To be honest with you, Tiffany,” he said, “I don’t think it would make much difference. From all I can tell, our Fearless Leader is pretty much married to his work. Everyone I’ve talked to says pretty much the same thing-that they don’t get as much time with the captain as they would like, while at the same time muttering that they’re afraid he’s pushing himself too hard. All in all, I don’t figure him as being much for play, no matter how tempting the bait is or how often you wave it at him.”
The actress smiled and laid a hand on his arm.
“Thanks, Doc,” she said. “That helps a little. Maybe it’s because I’m spending so much time in front of a makeup table these days, but more and more I catch myself staring in the mirror and wondering, `Have you lost it? Has time finally run out?’ I guess a bit of insecurity goes with the job … or with being a woman, for that matter.”