Page 164 of Alien Haven

“For you, it’s free.”

Ilid blinked at him. “You can’t.”

“It’s my business, so yeah, I can. You talked about a trade with the coffee shop. We should do a trade too.” Mitag returned to tapping his handheld.

“How?”

“You said your equipment will be up and running in two weeks? Let’s get together on when you can bake samples for me to hold tastings for upcoming clients. A Kalquorian bakery fits my needs for a number of events this upcoming season. You couldn’t open at a better time.”

“Um, okay.” Ilid wondered if he should feel bad for preferential treatment. After all, Mitag might be doing so simplybecause they had the potential for becoming steady lovers…and more. Ilid would have to prove he was worthy of the Imdiko taking the chance on his work.

If Diju thought the same, she obviously didn’t mind. She clapped her hands gleefully. “It appears Ilid’s Bakery is up and running at full steam before it’s even opened.”

“Ilid’sBakery?” He gaped at his mother.

“Well, you’ll inherit it in the end. Unless you’re as successful as I’m sure you’ll be and buy me out first. Or, if an important event comes up to celebrate in the future, the business would make a nice gift.” She glanced at Detodev, Mitag, and Charity, then exchanged glances with his smiling fathers. She giggled.

Realization swept over Ilid. She’d plotted to let him have the bakery all along and was dangling it as a clanning gift. He looked at Detodev, Mitag, and Charity in turn to see if they’d caught the manipulation.

Detodev had. He was regarding Ilid from the corner of his eye, his brow raised. His lips trembled, as if holding off laughter. At least he wasn’t wearing a expression of horror at the idea.

Mitag was still pounding on his handheld. He wore a slight smile, but Ilid couldn’t tell if it was because he’d understood what Diju was up to.

Charity was taking in their surroundings, giving no indication she’d heard the subtext. “This is a terrific gift. And your name on it. Pretty sweet deal, Ilid.”

It would be sweeter if you were part of it.Ilid brushed aside the regret and bowed in respect to his parent clan. “I’ll do my best to reward your faith in me. Thank you for such an amazing opportunity.”

Charity didn’t dare look at the others. She was afraid they’d see the longing that had sprung up unbidden in her heart.

… if an important event comes up to celebrate sometime in the future…

It didn’t take a rocket scientist, or even an astronomy student, to know Diju was up to her usual matchmaking tricks. Charity often found it amusing how eager she, and to an extent Ilid’s fathers, was to win him clanmates. It was as if they thought love and lifelong companionship would heal the hurts he’d suffered.

Maybe they were right. He’d been brighter since the night before. Not necessarily because of the amorous activities they’d indulged in. No, the catalyst had come from revealing his trials thanks to his Dark encounter and being given nonjudgmental compassion and understanding from his new friends.

He’d returned it to them in equal measure. Charity could see the darkness had lifted substantially from Detodev. The sense of Mitag’s desperate need for close companionship had eased as well, taking him from overeagerness to an engaged but laidback warmth. Her own guilt for lying about her true identity had been absolved.

She could see the three men becoming a clan. It felt right they should do so, even at this early stage. Charity had heard of people seeing “the one” and knowing right away they’d be married. She wondered if anyone had ever noticed it for others as she felt she had for Ilid, Mitag, and Detodev.

She was shocked to find she yearned for it too. They teased her for her impulsive nature, for her often exasperating mischief, and a capriciousness her own family had found irritating. They accepted her as she was.

They wouldn’t run off on me to save the universe.It was another draw for Charity. She was proud of her father and sister. Their selfless giving to the cause of stopping those who’d destroy the innocent was laudable. She respected and loved her familyfor their devotion to justice. But it had left her alone far too many times.

A baker. An event planner. A farmhand. They weren’t glamorous men. They weren’t interested in performing great deeds to change the galaxy. Nevertheless, they were each heroic in their own way, men who’d survived pasts determined to break them. More importantly, they werehere. They had no intention of going anywhere.

But Haven? Planet Farm Hell? You can’t be considering it.

Chapter Seventeen

Detodev felt amused chagrin as Mitag stopped in front of a shop’s window in the middle of Sunrise. Given the day off by parents, guardians, and supervisors, the young people had decided to wander and goof off. They had no particular plans in mind.

The store in question boasted men’s dress clothes, for both Kalquorians and Earthers. Mitag had his eyes on a teal tunic-style embroidered jacket and pants set. “This would be nice for our theater night. I deserve something new for getting through tomorrow’s haybale wedding reception.”

The Nobek thought of his modest account and the less-than-dressy state of his wardrobe. “How fancy are we supposed to be for the show?”

“A chance to dress up? I’m in,” Charity declared.

Mitag grinned, no doubt noting Detodev’s growing concern. “Don’t go by our example. I’d dress up for a feed store’s grand opening. I’ll take any excuse for a new outfit. This is Sunrise. Wear your best jeans and a clean shirt.”

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