Page 19 of Alien Dragon's Bride

“Hi!” she breathed out. Her eyes brightened when she looked at him and his heart thumped harder. “We were just playing a game. Sorry, I got a little claustrophobic in your office.”

He doubted that very much. “You’ve not changed your mind about our agreement, have you?” Fear clawed up his insides. He’d let her keep the money. Renjerians had a ton of it from their planet’s gold.

“No, not yet.” Her gaze dipped to the papers in his hand. “Those for me?”

“Yes. Everything should be in order but if you or your lawyer have any questions or need anything changed, just let me know.” Would she run once she knew she had her dad’s bills paid off and any continuing expenses for the next year? Or that he’d put money into her bank account and set up to find a kidney donor for her father? Some women would. But he wouldn’t make her feel obligated no matter how much he wanted to be around her and get to know her better.

He cleared his throat. “Remember, all of this is up to you and under your control until…well, until implantation.”

“Right.” She shuddered. “Sounds so impersonal but I guess that’s the way these things are. Business first and foremost.”

“Boys!” His sister hollered from down the hall and the triples scampered off after retrieving the dinosaur mask from Megan.

When she moved to stand, Levx held out his hand to help her up. Her skin was soft and warm and fit into his grip perfectly. “As I said, I would like to get to know you. Let us both become more comfortable with each other. No need to rush into anything yet.”

Her face flushed highlighting the sprinkle of freckles on her cheeks. “Um, thanks. I’ve never done anything like this before.” She took the paperwork he handed her. “I hate to ask but did you get a chance to speak with the hospital? They were going to move my dad this evening if I didn’t—”

“Everything is taken care of.” He smiled at her widening eyes. “Would you like a ride to the hospital? My car is in the garage downstairs.”

“Sure, thanks.” The papers crinkled in her hand.

“Give me a minute to email a copy of the paperwork to you and your lawyer an electronic copy to review. Save a little bit of time of having you to ask or make copies.”

“I-I don’t have a lawyer.” She swallowed hard. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to have a few days to review the contract and run it past a friend of mine that’s studying to become a paralegal.”

“Of course.” He nodded. Half an hour later, he’d emailed the contract to her and they sat in silence in this BMW on the way to the hospital.

“Your dad must really be something for you to work so hard at his care.”

She shifted in the passenger seat. “He is. After my mom died of cancer, his health worsened. We had her medical bills and funeral expenses to cover, then he lost his job. Through everything, he’s been my biggest supporter. Telling me to go back to college, to figure out what I want to do with my life because I don’t want to be a waitress for the rest of my life.”

“He’s right.” He gave her a side-long glance. “You should go to school and not put your life on hold for anyone.” His admiration grew for her father, dealing with his health issues yet wanted his daughter to have a full life and realize her potential. All the schools on his home-world had been abandoned during the wars. Parents and whoever was available taught the young ones. Before they came to Earth, there’d been little time to even show the hatchlings how to fly. It always had to be under the cover of night and with a dozen warriors standing guard. Here, it still had to be done at night but only one or two dragons were needed to ensure the younglings were protected.

“I know but I can’t think of school or much else while he’s suffering,” her voice caught.

To comfort her, he laid a hand over hers and warmth spread through him as they drove in silence. The fact she didn’t pull her hand from his gave him a funny feeling in his chest like he’d swallowed the tickle berries of Zaboria.

“If your dad was better, what would you study?” he asked.

She shrugged, biting lip. “I don’t know. Mom got sick just before I entered high school, then dad went on dialysis my junior year. Never thought much about a career except getting one paycheck to the next to help with the bills.”

“Well, if you agree with the contract, no pressure,” he added with a wink, “then you can use some of your free time for college. What subjects did you enjoy?”

Her hand eased from his to place both of hands under her thighs. “Math and maybe science I guess. All the other waitresses were surprised I could tally things in my head when I first started when it had taken them years.”

“So what employment heavily uses math that you may like?” He paused not knowing all the jobs humans could have that might involve figures. “A professor?”

She let out a chuckle of laughter that made him smile. “No way. I mean I like kids and all but don’t want to have to worry about them being bored by lectures and stuff. Guess I could try a bit of engineering…that might be fun.”

“Engine-ing?” He frowned looking down at the dashboard. “You wish to work with cars?”

“Wha—ah, no. Engineering…design things from machines to rockets to computers.” She cocked her head to the side, her brow furrowed. “Sorry, don’t they have engineers in your country?”

He stiffened. How many times had people told him they couldn’t place his accent? Megan must think the reason he didn’t know about the profession was a language barrier when in reality it was an inter-space issue. He focused on how she had pronounced the word and tried again. “Never paid attention to engineers before.”

When she turned back to the road as they exited the freeway, he let out a breath. His plan had been to get closer to her, get to know her, not for her to discover his secret. At best, she’d scream or faint. At worst, she’d call down the authorities on him and his people. One thing about humans that hadn’t changed in centuries was that anything new and different frightened them.

Last thing he needed was to be hunted by humans or set up on a scientists’ dissecting table.

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