Page 2 of Mate for the Space Cowboy

“I don’t have any family at all,” I say quickly. “I’m also more than willing to leave here forever.”

I feel her eyes on my arm and realize I forgot about the bruise left from when my brother shook my arm.

“Are you safe here?” she asks softly.

My mind flits to my mother, the only person I ever felt safe with.

“Is any woman really safe on Earth?” I counter.

As soon as I ask that question, Jane’s eyes fill with tears. “Not really, no.

Are you ready to leave tonight?”

“Um, yes.” I nod so fast that I’m surprised I don’t pull a muscle in my neck.

“We schedule these interviews at this hour because I’m familiar with how the shifts run at the factories. I know a lot of women are getting off work now,” she explains.

I think about my tiny apartment and how I have no one to tell I’m leaving. “I can leave now,” I say without hesitation as a sense of anticipation rises.

Chapter Two

HUNTER

I rest my hand on my horse’s neck, smoothing over her shimmering fur. “Thank you,” I say.

My mount has been with me since I was a boy. Our horses live as long as we do. They are similar to Earth horses but have shimmering fur and thin tails with barbed tips. They can also fly.

Our people’s prince glances over to me as he dismounts. “Good work. Are you ready to lead the team to investigate?”

“Of course,” I say as if there could be any other answer.

Prince Asher, a longtime friend, claps my shoulder. “Excellent. Talk with Kayden about it and make plans. In the meantime, I hope you’ll come tonight to the matching gathering.”

My eyes narrow. “Do you think that’s wise since I will often be leaving for work?”

Asher studies me for a beat. “Yes, it will give you a reason to come home. Many of our people travel for work.”

Our planet has dealt with some unrest lately. For the most part, we are considered one of the most peaceful planets in the galaxy. We are a democracy, but we also have a royal family who leads us. On the other side of our planet, a small group within one of our towns has been protesting the royal family and evenkidnapped our new princess. We rescued her, but the aftermath has amped up the stress and concern around their actions. For good reason, of course.

Their dispute is about the royal family succession. I snort to myself whenever I think of it because they want tobethe royal family.

As a member of the security team for the royal family and one of the spies for our government, I will lead the efforts to infiltrate their group. Working in espionage, I’ve always been in the background, and I like it that way.

I hold Asher’s gaze and slowly nod. “If you think I should, but the women they brought have been here for a while now. If I wanted to mate with one of them, I think I’d know by now.”

“Have you even met them all?” Asher asks, a knowing glint in his eyes.

Kayden, another bodyguard and a good friend, approaches. “You have not,” he replies. “You’ve been busy avoiding them.”

“If I can,” I say dryly.

Kayden’s brows arch up. “You must give them a chance.”

“You found the infinity pulse,” I counter. “I don’t know that I will, and I don’t think it’s worth marrying unless I do.”

“Fair point,” Kayden agrees. “Yet you won’t know unless you meet them all.”

“I think you can find the infinity pulse. Give it a chance and come to the gathering tonight,” Asher insists.

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