Page 108 of Alien Haven

“Refugee, huh? Or were you sentenced ahead of the Dark invasion mess?”

“The timing kind of coincided. The calls to consider leaving Galactic Council space had barely begun when I left with a bang. A literal bang.”

Detodev snorted. “City and college girl, no less. I doubt you’ll enjoy our town’s brand of entertainment. It’ll bore you.”

“There’d better be a diversion while I’m sentenced to stay. If I’m bored, I’m a problem. Ask anyone. Especially my last professor. Come on, there has to be something resembling fun here.Anything. Including ronka tipping.”

He sighed and rubbed the back of his hand against his arrow-straight nose, a feature rarely seen on an adult Nobek. He left a smear of dirt on its tip. “There are a couple of bars. Bar, Bowl, and Barrel is your best bet of the two. Less fights, better drinks, and the customers are evenly split between Kalquorians and humans. It has an attached bowling alley plus pool, vid games, the works.”

Bowling and pool. It sounded as hokey as Charity could imagine. “No dance clubs?”

“Dancing’s at the other bar, Steve’s Roadhouse. It’s probably not the kind of dancing you enjoyed on Jedver. I have no idea what they call it, but it looks clumsy as hell.”

“You don’t get out on the floor and show them how it’s done?” she teased.

She earned an unamused glower. “Kalquorian men don’t dance.”

“Except the historical exhibitions. I know, Detodev, I was teasing. You’re a regular laugh factory, my friend.”

He began reassembling the field monitor. “If you go to the Roadhouse, be sure your friend can defend you.”

“It’s bad, huh?”

“Law enforcement patrols theinsideof the place.”

“Wow.” She was betting it was where he hung out when he left the farm. Nobeks loved to brawl.

As for her and Ilid, Bar, Bowl, and Barrel was the favored destination. If it was all they could find to enjoy themselves until they found a suitable inn to spend at least a few private hours, it would have to do. She set the hovercart to head back to the farmhouse. “Thanks for the tip, Detodev.”

“Sure.” Hunched over the machine, he’d already put her in the background.

Charity refused to let him have the last disinterested word. “See you around. Try to have fun in the field, happy man. Keep those laughs coming.”

* * * *

Sara answered the knock at the back door, off the kitchen. She wasn’t surprised to see Dramok Dolgra on her back porch, nor the package he held despite her not expecting a delivery for at least a week.

She was happily clanned to two incredible men, but it didn’t keep her from indulging in deep appreciation for her visitor. Dolgra was drop-dead handsome. His chiseled good looks screamed masculinity, and his tan delivery uniform did next to nothing to hide the beefy body it clothed. Sara had the absurd urge to pat her hair to ensure it wasn’t a mess. She wished she’d put on makeup that morning.

She reminded herself she’d had her fair share of husbands and clanmates…and enough heartbreak from the loss of half of them. The fact Dolgra’s job as a deliveryman was a front for a more dangerous career solidified her refusal to consider him as more than an incredible view.

She smiled as she held out her hands for the plain brown box. “Hello, Dramok. Our new ward is settling in well.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He gave her the box, which was surprisingly heavy.

“An actual package?”

“Consider it a thank-you gift for helping the empire hide Matara Jennifer. No problems at all?”

“None. The reports of her being hard to handle must have been exaggerated. She’s a real sweetheart.”

Sara noted she was measuring the width of his shoulders. He was easily a match for Groteg’s muscle. Perhaps being a spy for the Kalquorian fleet, which was determined to maintain Charity Nath’s safety from those who’d harm her, meant he was as canny a fighter. And survivor.

Stop it. You’re thirty-seven and a mother of three. You’re too old and too clanned for a silly crush…especially considering your bad luck.

“No one has stopped by to see your new boarder? No one suspicious lurking around?”

“I haven’t come across anyone who might suspect who she is. The only interest she’s been shown was from a young man who arrived on the shuttle that brought her to Haven.”

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