My story in Package Deal, a BBB Publishings anthology, is Hacking Planet Fun.

Kam, Master of the Thieves' Guild Academy on the planet Kelthia, deals with a school full of fledgling thieves, con artists, and hackers, and doesn't need attitude from students or faculty. When he rejects a half-feline half-human prodigy for unmanageable behavior, his ex, Brinn, fosters the girl himself.

Brinn handles the unruly child well, and Kam grudgingly agrees she shows great potential as a future thief. Missing Brinn, Kam seeks to win him back. But when the child comes under suspicion as having hacked Planet Fun, an empire-renowned anti-gravity theme park, Kam must decide whether to trust his well-honed instincts... or his long-divided heart.

A twist on academy stories, the male-male science fiction romance Hacking Planet Fun focuses on the staff, and introduces a classroom of tiny precocious thieves who will steal your heart.

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In this scene, Brinn has picked up Dresden, his four-year-old foster daughter, and is bringing her home for the first time. With him is Hahlibeth, his co-teacher, a fellow master thief he has known since Hahlibeth was three. Theirs is a brother/sister relationship. Dresden has been impossible for others to handle, but Brinn insists he can set the little one on the right path. Here, we see the beginning of her relationship with Brinn.

Brinn got out and opened the rear door for Dresden. "Would you like help carrying your bag?"

"I can manage. I'm strong." The girl hoisted the tote bag onto her shoulder. The sack was nearly half her length, but she held onto it all the way to the door.

The garage led into a short mud room and then the kitchen. The tantalizing smell of garlic and onions wafted to him.

"Welcome home, sir." One of the house droids greeted him. "Welcome home, Ms. Hahlibeth, and Miss Dresden."

"You know my name?" The girl blinked up at him.

"I do. All the house droids will recognize you. Sir." The droid turned to Brinn. "Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes. Would you care for a drink before dining?"

Before Brinn could respond, Dresden stepped forward. "I'd like milk, please."

"I will prepare it at once. May I take your bag?"

"Oh, thank you." The girl pulled it off her shoulder and dropped it to the floor. "That thing is heavy."

"Not to worry, Miss Dresden. I'll see it's delivered to your room at once."

"Thank you."

The droid walked away with the small satchel.

Hahlibeth looked everywhere but at Brinn.

"You know," Brinn said, stooping beside Dresden, "I did offer to help you with your bag."

"He's a droid. He's supposed to help people. I don't owe him anything. If you helped me, then I'd owe you. I don't want to owe anybody anything."

"I see." He moved to one knee. "Why is that?"

"Because if you owe people, they can control you." She narrowed her eyes, and a predatory gleam came over her face. "And nobody controls me."