Page 9 of Alien Mine

“Oh, yes, I did, and shelovedit. Honestly, Rach, if half my clients were as easy to please as her, I’d be rolling in it.”

A faintly bitter note underscored Yasmin’s words. Rachel cupped a hand over her friend’s and squeezed gently. “Everything ok?”

Yasmin shrugged one shoulder and her eyelids slid down, hiding her deep brown eyes. “Marty’s been making noises about Juan again, how shameful it is that his future brother-in-law is in prison for murder. Like I can do anything about it!"

Rachel bit back her scorn. Marty Benfield was a vice president at her bank and a bigwig in local society, if bigwig was defined as a self-important, arrogant know-it-all who threw his weight around whenever he got the chance. What Yasmin saw in the man was beyond Rachel, but it wasn’t her place to pick her friend’s decisions apart.

“I’m sorry,” she said at last. “I thought Marty would’ve come around to the idea that you and your brother are different people by now.”

“Like he believes you and Juan are different people?”Yasmin snorted, an indelicate gesture completely at odds with her refined features. “The divorce has been final for, what, almost two years now? And I’m part of the second generation of my family to be born here, and still, he nags at me about immigration and green cards. I’m a native-born citizen. My grandparents were legal residents, for crying out loud!”

“His prejudices run deep, my young Padawan.”

Yasmin huffed out a short laugh. “What would I do without you?”

“Live a dull, humorless life.”

“That’s the truth.” Yasmin’s gaze drifted to the water. “Oh, dear Lord, are those the swimming trunks I got Fate for his eighteenth birthday?”

“One and the same.”

“He’s a dinosaur, Rach. Take the man shopping and spare us the fashion nightmare.”

“I dragged him to Wal-Mart today, and he went straight to the guns and ammo.”

“Figures.” Yasmin’s dark eyes went round. “Holy moly, who is that and where can I get one?”

Rachel didn’t even have to look to know who Yasmin was talking about. Her gaze drifted toward the beach anyway and landed right on Dyuvad, wading out of the water like a human Poseidon. His wet swimsuit clung to hard, muscular thighs and the bump of his masculinity. He sluiced water out of his short hair and walked toward her, completely ignoring the salacious stares of a dozen women dressed in string bikinis. God’s truth, if a couple of other men had been behind him, it would’ve been like watching the opening credits ofBaywatch.

Her heart did a half-gainer into her stomach and her skin heated hot as fire. She hid her blush behind a long swig of lukewarm coke, then said, “Dyuvad rented my spare room this morning. That’s why we were in Wal-Mart today. He rolled into town with maybe two spare changes of clothes and a wad of cash thicker than my fist.”

Yasmin frowned and leaned closer. “Drug dealer?”

Rachel shot a glare at her. “Do you really think I’d let a drug dealer anywhere near the girls, especially after Juan got messed up in that gang?”

“Sorry, Rach. It’s just, you know. The sudden appearance, the lack of clothes, the cash.” Yasmin shrugged. “Spells fishy to me.”

“He’s a foreigner, that’s all.” Though he’d pulled out a shiny, new Georgia driver’s license as ID when she’d helped him open a bank account. “And he’s good with chores. He pitched right in this morning and didn’t complain a whit. I’m so thankful to get a man like him, I could just spit.”

Yasmin snickered. “I bet you could.”

“Oh, hush. You know what I mean. He’s a real godsend as a renter. Paid cash up front for six months’ board and he’s got a strong back he’s not afraid to use.”

“So you like him for his back.”

“I like being able to pay my taxes without having to scrape and squeeze. The man part, I can take or leave. I sure as tootin’ don’t need one.”

“Every woman needs a man like that, chica.”

Rachel couldn’t quite bring herself to disagree, and thankfully, Dyuvad didn’t give her a chance to. He strolled right up and nodded respectfully. “The water is very nice, Lady Rachel. You will join me.”

It wasn’t a question. She treated it as one anyway. “Maybe later. Dyuvad, this is Yasmin Olvera.”

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Yasmin.”

Yasmin patted her heart with one elegant hand. “I want one, Rach. I swear, I’ll give you half my business if you can dig up a carbon copy.”

Dyuvad grinned. “I have two brothers. One is unmated.”

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