Page 11 of An Alien for Her Heart

Varek tilts his head the other way, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. “Age is marked by the spirit within.” He leans forward and I stiffen again. He’s suddenly too big. Too present. “You are radiant. Your spirit shines brightly, and that is what I see.”

His words catch me off guard, and I find myself staring at him, unsure how to respond.

“Radiant,” I murmur, more to myself than to him. The word feels foreign on my tongue, yet it sparks a warmth in my chest. I want to laugh it off, like I would do any polite compliment. But there’s sincerity in his voice, a depth of understanding I hadn’t expected. It’s been so long since anyone has spoken to me like this. With true appreciation. And it’s coming fromhim. Someone I wouldn’t have expected to say such a thing to me.

“Yes.” His voice is so soft, it sounds more like a low hiss than an actual word.

My gaze meets his, and those slitted eyes bore into mine. Dangerous. He’s a predator with the eyes of a snake. I shouldn’t trust him. At least, that’s what my brain says. Everything else says something else. He hasn’t once done anything to suggest he’s dangerous to me. Heck, Eleanor is mated to his brother, and I’m pretty sure that means they’re getting busy beneath the sheets every night. I’m putting a lot of trust in her taste in alien equipment here.

My cheeks flush at where my thoughts have gone and when Varek’s gaze shifts over my face, I can tell he notices the change.

I clear my throat. “Thank you.” Brushing non-existent dirt from my tunic, I take a step back. “That was very nice of you to say.” I clear my throat again. What were we talking about before? I seem to have forgotten. Oh, right. The fact he said he’s here to work. “Now, about you working here…”

Varek eases back, standing tall again. “You need my help.” His gaze shifts around the farm. “You are my kahlesta’s comrade and that Raki has done nothing to get you settled into your new home. I will fix that.”

Right. So he’s offering because I’m Eleanor’s friend. That makes sense. At least she’s making contacts. The only person I’ve managed to form any sort of relationship with since coming here is the Raki who doesn’t even want to speak to me. Not really a budding friendship happening there. I have to count myself lucky that Eleanor’s awesome extroversion has allowed her to settle in so quickly and that I’m bearing the fruits of that labor.

My gaze shifts over Varek now, watching as he turns in a slow circle as he scans the farm. His muscles are like guns, powerful and ready. I’ve never truly understood the meaning of that term until now.

I straighten as he turns to face me again, only realizing I’m staring when his lips shift into what looks like a self-conscious smile. I blink, clearing my thoughts. His words are sincere, his expression earnest, and it makes something in my chest ache. When was the last time someone offered to help me without ulterior motives, without expecting something in return? But I’m powerless in this world. I don’t have much money or influence. I have nothing to offer but a few credits and maybe a cold drink from my supplies. He’s not doing this because he wants to get close to someone with the Richmond name. Out here, my name means nothing.

And he’s right. I need his help.

I tilt my chin, forcing myself to speak through the anxiety rising at the base of my spine, as if swelling to the beat of a drum. This won’t be for long. He’s probably offering to do a day’s work. “Well, there’s a few jobs I could ask you to help with, if you’re up to it.”

Varek’s shoulders lower as if he’d been holding his breath. He was afraid I’d say no? Okay. What’s the catch?

“Perfect,” he purrs, and I try not to dwell on how the sound rumbles from his lips. “Now, let me take a look at that roof.”

He gestures for me to lead the way, and I do, but not before noting that he lifts the heavy scissors so I don’t have to carry them. A ball rises in my throat as we walk towards the barn. Am I doing the right thing? If he’s anything like Eleanor’s mate, maybe this is the best thing I can do for my farm. I can’t help but sneak a glance at him from the corner of my eye as we walk, taking in the strong lines of his profile, the way the morning light plays across his iridescent scales.

He’s…beautiful. The realization comes suddenly. A wayward thought that makes me frown as I stare at him. Heisbeautiful. Not just physically, but in the way he carries himself, the quiet strength and gentleness that seems to radiate from him. His long green hair flows over his shoulders, not a tangle or knot to be seen. His jaw looks sculpted by female hands that truly appreciate the male form—strong and chiseled, yet not harsh or overbearing. His prominent brow and cheekbones make his face an angular masterpiece. And his eyes…those yellow depths seem to see straight into my soul.

And they’re looking at me now.

I shift my gaze away, clearing my throat again. It’s so silent between us, only the sounds of our shoes hitting the ground as we walk, that I can even hear the insects I’m going to pretend are crickets chirping in the long grass.

We reach the barn and I open the door. Stepping inside, I look up at the hole-filled roof. It’s a mess, and I feel a pang of embarrassment even though he’s seen it all before. I’ve been giving the Raki the benefit of the doubt, but with Varek here now, it’s very clear that maybe the Raki wasn’t the best hire.

“I don’t know how much you’ll charge to do the roof, but I’m willing to pay your full rate.” I hope he understands what I’m saying. That although he’s Eleanor’s brother-in-law, that doesn’t mean I expect the job to be done for cheap or free. If I cultivate a business relationship from the start, it will work in both our favors. “How much would you charge to get the barn roof recovered?”

Varek sets down the scissors he’s been carrying and looks up at the roof, assessing the damage. His expression is unreadable as his gaze flicks across the rotten beams and over the holes above us. He turns in a slow circle, hands on his hips, and I try not to look at the muscles bunched in his back with the pose.

I frown at myself, partially ashamed and partially horrified.

“New support needed there.” Varek points at a spot before his finger shifts to another section. “And there. There too. I’ll need to strip the whole thing. The fibers are rotten. Need replacing.”

I nod, as if I understand it all. It sounds like a lot of work, but there’s something reassuring about his confidence, about the way he seems to know exactly what needs to be done.

“That’s fine. As long as the pom-poms have somewhere dry to sleep before it rains.” I don’t miss that his lips twist in slight humor at my nickname for the umus. “Do you need anything? From me?”

When he turns, his gaze shifting to me, expression still unreadable, his stare is so intense that I run the question through my mind again.

Oh crud. I need to be specific.

“In terms of supplies.” But even as the words leave my mouth, I realize that my attempt at clarifying may have only made the unintended insinuation worse. Heat crawls up the back of my neck. “Is there anything you need me to get? Supplies? Or anything I need to help with?”

For a moment, he doesn’t reply. So much so that I wonder if he heard what I asked. I clasp my hands in front of me, wondering if I should ask again, but I’m sure he heard me, right? He was hearing me fine before.

---