Diamond Star by Catherine Asaro

but he didn't think such "celebrations" were her usual mode. Then again, maybe he should hope she was that casual about her relationships. Then she wouldn't expect more of a commitment than he could give. Ricki was the kind of woman you enjoyed for the night, like a fine wine. Del smiled. No, not wine. Whiskey.
    His voice deepened, thickening his accent. "Maybe I come celebrate with you."
    "Talk like that," Ricki murmured, "and I may stay here all night." She took another swallow of her drink. "Ciao, baby." With that, she cut the connection.
    He laughed, shaking his head. "Chow baby?"
    An idea came to him and he smiled. He would wear those pants that had flustered his female interrogator so much, she forgot her questions. He hadn't figured out why they affected her that way, but he had sensed her response the moment he entered the room.
    It would be interesting to see what happened when he tried to leave the base tonight.

    The maglev stop in the Annapolis complex was underground. No trains actually went there; the real station was outside the base. A whiz-car took people to the edge of the base, where they could leave the grounds and board the maglev.
    Del rode in a single-seater with the bubble open so he could relax while the wind tossed his hair. He had on his leather jacket. The Allied military had grudgingly bought it for him when he pointed out they cut him off from his personal funds by denying him access to the interstellar meshes. He needed a jacket. So rather than letting him use the offworld meshes, they paid for the jacket. It was ridiculous. He could buy a million jackets with his personal funds. If he did manage to see Ricki tonight, he could ask her for access to an offworld mesh. It irked him just as much, though, that he had those funds only because he was a member of the Ruby Dynasty. So if Earth's military didn't buy his jackets, the Ruby Dynasty did. Either way it bothered him. If this holo-vid business worked out, he might earn his own money. Then he'd buy his jackets with his own income.
    After the car stopped at the edge of the base, Del swung out and strolled to the automated guard booth. The voice of an AI came out of a panel on its front. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but you aren't cleared to leave the base."
    "I have to go," Del said. "I have an appointment."
    Silence followed his words. Then the AI said, "One moment."
    Del grinned. He'd actually flummoxed it this time.
    A new voice came out of the comm. "Your Highness, this is General Fitz McLane. I understand you wish to leave the base?"
    Hah. The AI had called in the big gun. "That's right," Del said. "I have meeting with my producer."
    "At night?" The general didn't hide his skepticism.
    "She's at the Star Tower Sheraton."
    "She?"
    Del regarded the comm smugly, well aware the general could see him even if he couldn't see Fitz. "Yeah. She."
    "It isn't safe for you to travel alone."
    "I'm a grown man, General. I take care of myself."
    "You're also a Ruby Heir," Fitz said. "Anything that happens to you could significantly impact relations between our peoples."
    Del crossed his arms. "But holding me prisoner won't impact those relations?"
    The ensuing silence surprised him. The last time he had used that line, the general had given him some drill about "establishing a baseline database we can use to determine the optimum approach in our interface with the Skolian institutions most affected by your presence on Earth." Which as far as Del could tell, was Fitz-speak for "tell us Skolian secrets." Fitz's silence made Del wonder if the Skolian government had stepped up their pressure to let him go.
    "I'll send you a flycar," Fitz said. "With a pilot and a bodyguard. They will take you to your appointment and bring you back."
    Del tried to look innocent, just to annoy Fitz. "What if I don't come back tonight?"
    The general answered sourly. "As long as you don't mind having your guards in the room."
    "But I do mind."
    "That's unfortunate, then."
    For flaming