Page 21 of Alien Dragon's Bride

“Sorry.” Now Levx blushed and the color brightened his golden eyes, stealing her breath. “My English is not good sometimes.”

Her father cleared his throat. “Well, if you can get her to go back to college, even part-time, then I’m forever in your debt. So glad she’s getting out of the waitress-life.” He turned to her. “I didn’t even know you were looking for a new job.”

“Long story. Mitch is selling the place,” she shrugged but gave him a smile, “figured it was time to try something new.”

“I’m proud of you.” Her dad leaned forward, pulling her into a hug.

Shame for lying to him burned a hole in her gut. “Thanks, Dad.”

What would her dad think about what she’d really be doing? Sure, bringing in a new life was admirable but what would he feel about it not being her baby? She couldn’t do that to him. Even if he’d be fine with her using her body to have a baby for a childless couple—or in this case for Levx and his deceased wife—she couldn’t add to his worry and stress by telling him the truth. She couldn’t take that risk of upsetting him.

“Now, leave me alone with your new boss.” Her dad pulled back from their hug. “I’ve got some questions to ask him and I don’t want him worried about what you’ll think of his answers.”

“Dad, you’re being weird.” Megan’s anxiety tightened like a noose around her neck.

Her father crossed his arms and by the set of his jaw, arguing would be pointless but she’d try anyway. “I came to visit with you and visiting hours will be over soon.”

“And I’ll be here again tomorrow and the next day unless it’s my time to go. Now give me a kiss and wait out in the lobby for your new boss.”

Wow, if her dad treated her new boss like this, what would he do if Levx was her boyfriend? She shook her head, where had that thought come from? Levx was a business arrangement, nothing more. She let out a groan, kissing his cheek, then giving a please-don’t-sell-me-out look at Levx before she left the room. Outside the door, she paused. She’d made the right decision not to tell her father the truth since he was giving Levx the third degree and didn’t even know the whole truth. Her father’s voice drifted through the thin walls. Part of her wanted to stay and listen, but no, her father asked for privacy and she couldn’t deny him this small request. It was the least she could do since she was lying to him.

Taking a deep breath, she turned from her dad’s room and strolled to the lobby. For a few minutes, she flipped through the hospital’s magazines, not really finding anything interesting to occupy her time while she waited. She paced back and forth in the waiting room. What could her dad possibly be asking Levx? Would he cave under her dad’s scrutiny and say that she was considering becoming a surrogate?

Fear gnawed at her insides while she waited. Every time the elevator door dinged open, she rushed forward to see if it was Levx and each time it wasn’t, her nervousness increased three-fold until she was sure she’d get a brain aneurysm from worrying so much.

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