Page 14 of An Alien for Her Heart

It doesn’t sound right. The whole purpose of the New Horizons Initiative, the one I signed up for, is to repopulate this section of the planet that apparently has an abundance of abandoned homes.

“Maybe they can sign up to the Initiative,” I suggest. “I think I’m part of the trial run, but I believe it will be successful.”

Varek glances my way. His eyes twinkle a little as he agrees with a sharp nod. But something in his gaze makes me think I got it all wrong.

I decide to change the topic. I can sense we’re going into territory filled with hidden memories and thoughts that can be like landmines. Probably because I have so many hidden triggers myself.

“Do you come to town often?” In my periphery, his head tilts slightly and I know he’s still watching the road. It’s the only reason I let my gaze wander over to him. His jawline is frickin’ art.

“Often enough,” he replies, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine as his gaze suddenly shifts to me. “I live there.”

I feel like a fool, and maybe the look on my face makes him chuckle again. That same deep, rich sound.

“I used to live there with my siblingkin, but he has…” I’m watching him closely enough to see the flicker of something pass through his eyes. “He’s mated now.”

I nod. “And you?”

The moment I ask is the moment I wish I’d bit my tongue instead. It had been such a natural lead on from what he said that the words simply slipped past my lips.

“I have no mate.”

I try to lighten the sudden load of landmines I’ve thrown in my path by chuckling. “Well, I guess we have that in common. I don’t have a mate either…not that I’m looking for one.”

More landmines.

“You aren’t?” His question throws me for a loop, flustering the thin foundation I’ve been walking on between us.

“Well, that part of my life has already passed.” There’s a crack in the wall I’ve built around myself. Enough for me to feel it. Emotions I’ve hidden away threaten to show on my face and I close my eyes briefly just to push them back. “I’ve put that all behind me.”

“Unfortunate.”

Not the response I expected. “For me?” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

“No. Not for you.”

I’m not sure what to say next. The silence returns, but it feels more thoughtful now, like we’ve each gone deep into our heads. I look out the window again, watching the landscape change as we get closer to town.

Eventually, the buildings become more frequent, and we pass a few small shops and homes. The town is modest but bustling, with beings going about their daily routines. Varek navigates the truck expertly through the narrow streets until we reach a central square where he parks.

He gets out first and comes around to open my door. I smile at the gesture, again surprised by his gentlemanly behavior. Maybe Eleanor’s been giving them lessons on what we human females like. As I step down, I take in the surroundings. The market is lively, with stalls set up under colorful awnings, vendors calling out their wares, and townsfolk chatting and bartering. There are so many different types of aliens, it’s hard not to stare. Reptilian aliens that look like lizards, some that look like armadillos, even a few that look like snakes. Then there are furry beings; some that look like bipedal canines, others that look like felines, even some that look like human-sized mice people. The sights are staggering, but if I close my eyes, it’s almost like being back home. If I close my eyes, I could pretend I’m visiting the farmer’s market on a Sunday.

I take a deep breath, letting the familiar yet foreign sounds of the market wrap around me. It’s comforting, in a way that I didn’t expect and maybe I grow wistful, because when Varek steps up right beside me, close enough I can smell his cologne, I don’t even react.

Whatever he’s wearing is sweet. Mingles in with the scents all around us while still being distinct. When I pop my eyes open,he’s towering over me, blocking the sun. His shadow falls across my face and I tilt my head to look up at him.

The look in his eyes catches me unaware. His gaze shifts over my hair, watching it blow in the slight breeze before moving to my eyes. He holds my gaze there for a moment before it slips down my face. My nose. My lips. All the way to my throat. When I swallow, he watches the movement, too.

As Varek’s gaze lingers on my throat, a sudden wave of self-awareness washes over me. His focus is so intense. I don’t think he’s doing it on purpose. I don’t even think he’s aware of it.

I clear my throat, breaking the spell between us. “So, where to first?” Even to my ears, my voice is a bit too bright, too cheerful.

Varek blinks, as if coming out of a trance, and his slitted pupils grow slightly narrower for a second. He turns his head, looking toward a far-off section of the town but doesn’t move. I realize then that he’s standing between me and the bustling foot traffic of the street at his back. He’s like a shield between me and the aliens who would be bumping into me as I daydreamed.

He’s very…sweet.

“The lodge vendor should have all that we need,” he says. His gaze turns back to me, growing slightly larger again across those slitted pupils. “After that, if there is anything you would like to do while we are here…”

How thoughtful…

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