Page 6 of An Alien for the Farm

Panic rises within me. I’m alone. I’ve got arthritis. And there’s someone at my door. How the hell will I fight them off if I need to? Will I have to? They said this was a relatively peaceful planet. As someone or something moves near the window, I catch a glimpse of purple and green, pink and blue. Iridescent scales. Oh shit. Something big is out there and the human in me can’t just push my caution away. My gaze drops to the cutlery New Horizons made for me and I creep forward, hand closing around a small paring knife before my gaze shifts to the window again. Not big enough. I grab the carving knife instead.

Three blind mice. See how they run. Except, I’m pretty sure that what’s outside my door is no little mouse.

There’s a knock again, or rather a bang. Either this intruder doesn’t know his strength or he’s trying to be intimidating. Either way, he knows I’m here. Why else would some random be knocking on a dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere? Whoever it is knows there’s someone inside.

That doesn’t set my soul at ease one bit.

I want to stay silent, hoping whoever it is will go away and then I can peer at them through my window curtains as they depart. But then I remember I’m new here and I’m supposed to be making friends. What if it’s my neighbor?

But you don’t have neighbors, Eleanor! At least, not close by. Shit.

“Who’s there?!” My voice sounds almost shrill and the sudden silence behind the door only makes the small hairs on my arms stand on end.

“Zynar.” The voice is a deep growl, so incredibly masculine that the hairs already standing on end go ramrod straight along my arm. “I’m here for the job.”

I blink, the carving knife faltering in my grasp. “The job?”

The alien, who is undoubtedly a male, makes a soft hum in his throat that reaches me all the way through the door, and I blink some more. Job? He’s here for a job?

Oh shit!

Knife in hand, I move as fast as I can back to my bedroom. Grabbing the communication device from where I left it on the bed, I bring it to my face. I must have left my glasses in the bathroom last night because I can’t read a thing on the screen.

“Computer, the job ad that you posted, is it still up?”

The device pulses. “The job ad has expired.”

“What do you mean? Why?”

“The job ad has already been answered. A Kari has accepted your request for labor.”

I blink, swallowing hard. Already? “Um, computer, what does a Kari look like?”

The device pulses again. “Kari. A bipedal race known for their iridescent scales, physical strength, and virility. Originating from the planet Karicek Minor, Kari have been displaced since the war.”

The device pauses, then continues. “Kari males are known for their exceptional courtship rituals, often involving impressive feats of strength and demonstrations of skill. Caution: Kari males are notoriously persistent when they find their mate.”

I grunt as I glance at the door, heart racing. The male outside must be a Kari, then. And persistent. Great. “Let’s hope that persistence works well with getting my roof fixed before it rains in a few days.”

When I hear a grunt of amusement coming all the way from the front door, I almost quail. He can hear me?

“Um, just a moment!” I shout in his direction, though, apparently, I don’t need to raise my voice at all. I’m still in a robe and I haven’t even gone through the clothes New Horizons supplied yet. My summer dress from yesterday is too sweaty to wear again and probably wet from where I left it hanging by the tub. I hurry to my bag, opening it to rifle through for something to wear. I throw on another dress, this one just a plain brown thing that lands just below my knees. No makeshift bra or panties. No time. Hiding the knife behind my back because, first impressions and all that—don’t want the guy thinking I lured him out in the middle of nowhere to kill him (but yeah, I still need protection)—I head to the front door.

It unlocks a moment later and I swing it open, pressing a smile to my face.

“Hi! I didn’t expect you…so…soon…”

My smile falters immediately. I must not be seeing clearly, or my vision is getting worse. Blind as a bat, I’ll need my glasses for more than just reading soon.

Standing before me is a towering figure, easily over six feet tall, with iridescent scales shimmering in the morning light, reflecting hues of purple, pink, and blue. It’s so utterly beautiful, almost hypnotizing. The male before me is imposing. Taut muscles. Bulging arms. I can tell he’s powerful even though he’s standing still. Gaze shifting upward over defined pecs, my eyes widen slightly at the strikingly handsome face before me. High cheekbones, a strong jawline, deep-set yellow and vertically-slitted eyes. A mane of thick green hair frames his face.

My breath catches in my throat. This isn’t just any alien; he’s like a living work of art. I can see why the device mentioned his virility. He’s a different species, but I’m aware of him anyway. Everything about this male exudes pure, raw masculinity. As if he’s the type to throw a woman over his shoulder, take her to bed, and make her see stars.

Some lucky alien lady must be getting her dues every night.

Clearing my throat, I realize I’ve been standing here staring at this male for a good minute. He must be wondering what’s wrong with the strange human. “I only put up the job ad last night. I didn’t expect anyone to answer so soon.”

It’s only then that I realize he’s staring, too. He still hasn’t moved since I opened the door either, and there’s a frown on his brow. Those yellow-slitted eyes slide from my head to my feet, then back up, and I’m suddenly completely aware of myself. Suddenly aware of what a tangled mess my hair is, and suddenly aware I was rushing so much I didn’t even put on a bra!

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