She grins and winks. "Don't worry. If I let on that I know about his dark history as a captain wed to misplaced machismo, I'll blame it on Kaylee."

She tugs at a tangle in her hair. "I can't guarantee I'll find it in me to clean myself up. God knows he's seen me at much worse than this. But at least I can take the weight of him worrying about Stepfather Kang off his mind."