Page 29 of An Alien for Her Heart

Oh goodness. I give Varek’s arm a squeeze once more as I lean down and touch the Raki on his shoulder. Varek growls but his annoyance almost makes me smile.

“It’s okay, Raki. It really is. It’s only a bruise and the accident could have happened to anyone. I’m fine with you still working here.”

The Raki looks up. I don’t miss the flash of hope in his eyes. But behind me, Varek is like an immovable mountain.

“He should leave.”

I stand, glancing over my shoulder at the iridescent wall of scales at my back before my gaze rises to Varek’s face. His expression is severe. Not an ounce of mercy in his eyes.

“If the Raki leaves, who is going to finish my roof?”

Varek’s gaze shifts to me. “I can.”

I swallow hard. Of course, he can. I know he can. But even in my periphery, I can see that the Raki is slowly wilting like a flower without water. I can’t just fire him.

“I don’t doubt that you could do it.” I smile at Varek. “But I won’t fire him for his mistake.” Varek’s eyes narrow, not on me but on the Raki.

“You are too kind, sura,” he finally says.

Again, I wonder what that word means, but now is not the time to ask. I face the Raki again, giving him a genuine smile. “Please, if you could finish the roof, I’d appreciate it. No hard feelings.”

His large ears flap, his gaze shifting from me to Varek then back. “As you wish. My feelings are also not hard.”

I grin, a laugh bubbling in my throat that seems to relax the Raki somewhat. He gives me another nod before hurrying away and disappearing around the side of the house.

I release a heavy breath. “Wow. What a day.”

There’s a low grunt behind me and I’m reminded that I’m still gripping Varek. Still standing with him at my back. I shift to the side immediately, my hand flying off him as if I was touching him someplace inappropriate.

His gaze as he watches me is unreadable.

“You should rest now, sura,” he says, stepping out the door. There, he turns to face me. His whole expression is so unreadable now, it’s like the day I first met him and I wish itwasn’t so. Wish I could see behind that crack in his exterior that showed me so much of the real him in the time since then.

But maybe that’s all gone now.

That along with the opportunity to ask him what he’d meant about his brother killing Eleanor withsex. My cheeks heat at the thought even as I tell myself whatever he said must have been lost in translation.

“I will see you on the new dawn…Catherine.”

I nod, giving Varek the best smile I can muster as I watch him walk to his hover truck. But instead of getting in, he pauses, stops, his shoulders rising and falling.

“Varek?”

Turning, he faces me once more.

“I know you said you’re fine…” He pauses, studying me in the dying light of the setting sun. “I know you said you’re fine, but I would feel better if I could stay for a while. Just to make sure you’re truly safe.”

I can’t even react. His words aren’t words I expected him to say.

“I can wait outside by my truck. I will hear you. If anything goes wrong, you only need to call my name.”

His words catch me so off guard, that my mouth opens but no words come forth. Instead, I feel warmth bloom in my chest at his thoughtfulness. Part of me wants to decline, to insist that I can take care of myself. But the way he’s gripping the first-aid kit tells of his genuine concern. That plus the dull throb of my bruise makes me reconsider.

“I…That would be very kind, Varek. But I wouldn’t want to keep you longer than you have to stay.”

“I cannot, in good conscience, leave you unwell.”

More cursed warmth. I study him. He’s like a puzzle.

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