Chapter 3

“All she wanted tonight was a dance. For you to look at her and see –“

His eyes left hers as he searched Kaylee out of the crowd. Not proper when dancing with a lady, but he knew Inara would understand. He couldn’t even remember what she was wearing. River had dominated his attention from the moment she’d launched herself off the cargo bay stairs and into his arms.

Inara saw the worry and the humiliation flicker in his eyes and felt sorry for him. She knew he and Kaylee had been growing closer; albeit painfully slowly for the eager mechanic. She leaned closer to him and whispered the mechanic’s general location and the color of her dress.

They continued to dance, missing not one step as their eyes searched for different people within the crowd.

Inara was pleased to see Mal sitting with River, trying in vain to engage her in a normal conversation. So, she felt, rather than saw, when Simon had finally found Kaylee. His sharp intake of breath and the tension in his body were just two immediate indications that he was pleased with what he saw.

“She’s – she’s beautiful.”

“Yes, she is.” Inara tore her eyes from Mal and followed Simon’s. “She was so proud to look like a lady for you tonight.”

Inara felt hum gulp nervously and then look away as the dance steps dictated they change direction. “She doesn’t need to –“

“Simon,” Inara squeezed his hand. “When it comes to you, she wants to be perfect.”

“Ai ya, Inara.” Simon shook his head, exhaling deeply. “She is. She – already is.” He always wondered why it was so much easier to talk to anyone else about Kaylee but couldn’t manage to tell her how he felt.

There was hope for him yet, and Inara’s heart swelled at the thought. It was time for a more direct approach. Kaylee could hurt her later. “Then perhaps you should tell her that. Because if I have to listen to her cry her eyes out over you one more night, I might just convince the Captain to kick you out the airlock after all.”

Simon’s eyes twitched as he caught the all-t