Joshua was the kind of person who could master anything he set his mind to in an astonishingly short amount of time.


    Her high praise brought a wide smile to Joshua''s face, but he demurred. "Most guys have a natural love for cars. I used to be into this stuff, but I got too busy and let it slide. I''m just picking it up again, so it''sing back quickly."


    The two of them chatted as if no one else was in the room,pletely oblivious to Leonard and Aurora. It wasn''t a deliberate slight; their rapport was so natural and familiar that they could understand each other without having to spell everything


    out.


    Finally, Leonard''s cold voice cut through their conversation. "Even if you managed to stumble upon the right design, rebuilding the Dawnlight won''t be that easy."


    Ste and Joshua both turned to look at him, their expressions nearly identical in their annoyance at being interrupted. Seeing their synchronized re, Leonard felt an unfamiliar prickle of irritation. He had always looked down on Ste, viewing her as a failed housewife who was foolishly trying topete with Aurora. He''d thought she was nothing without a man to lean on-first Haynes, then Neville, and now Joshua.


    But he was beginning to realize that the Ste he had so easily dismissed was not as useless as he''d believed. As much as he hated to admit it, she was formidable. She had protected Joshua at his most vulnerable, leaving no openings for his enemies. She had masterfully deflected the family''s attention by leaking the news about Israel. And now, she was even willing to take responsibility for the Dawnlight. He nced at Aurora beside him. She was as elegant and radiant as ever, yet she had never once done something as simple as handing him a bottle of water.


    Just then, Aurora spoke up. "Star, it''s almost lunchtime. Would you like to eat with us?"


    Joshua''s voice dripped with


    sarcasm. "I don''t think we can afford to eat with Ms. Williams again. Last time, she promised to treat us but then had someone else demand we pay. A single meal with Ms. Williams ended up costing us hundreds of thousands."


    Aurora''s expression faltered for a second before she recovered her smile. "I apologize. That was a misunderstanding on Israel''s part. I''ll be sure to return the money to Star—"


    Before she could finish, Joshua cut


    her off. "If it was a


    misunderstanding, why didn''t you clear it up at the time? And was, Israel demanding we rece your car also a misunderstanding?"


    Aurora''s face froze, her customary smile finally vanishingpletely. She knew Joshua could be viciousz with his words, but she hadn''t expected him to be somerciless in front of Ste and Leonard. She instinctively looked to Leonard for support, but he only frowned.


    "It''s just a meal," Leonard said tly. "I''ll pay."