Page 9 of Mate for the Space Cowboy

Romi sighs. “There’s the green zone and the fake stuff online about fake happiness. As much as I doubt it, I see how the prince is with Jane and now Nadine and Kayden. They’re all besotted with each other.” Romi falls quiet and studies me for a few beats.“I’m glad you and Hunter have the pulse, but I don’t care if I do. I’m happy to mate with someone, have a baby, and be safe.” She takes a swallow from her glass. “We have lemonade here. We’re safe and clean and dry. I love my job.”

“What’s your job?” One of the new women walks in. She looks from me to Romi. “I know you work at the flower shop, and Nadine works at the café. Of course, Jane is a princess. But what do you do?”

“I work at the stables. When I was on Earth, I worked at one of the farms, and I’m used to working with animals. Jane told me I didn’t have to, but I like it,” Romi explains.

One of the new women, Risa, looks concerned, her brow furrowing as she glances between us. “But are there that many options?”

“This isn’t like Earth, where there are only a few factories for office work. They have thriving businesses here. When Jane heard I loved flowers, she immediately brought me down there. I heard they have openings at one of the local bookstores and even the intergalactic library,” I offer.

Risa’s eyes widen. “I would love that. There’s hardly anything to read on Earth, but I love to read. Before she passed, my mama had smuggled a batch of books that her mother kept for her. They were passed down through our family. Jane even told me that if I tell her where they are, she’ll send someone to try to find them on one of the trips back to Earth.”

“Oh, wow,” I breathe. “That would be so amazing. I’d love to see them.”

“Well, I’ve already told her where they are. Meanwhile, will we all be attending your wedding?” she asks.

“Of course!” I enthuse. “I’m nervous, though. I need to be ready, and I feel like there’s something I should do.”

Romi starts to speak just as there’s a light knock on the door, and Nadine enters. “Hi, ladies!” She’s holding her adorable littlebaby. “I just thought I’d stop by,” she says as she walks into the room. She’s so pretty with her honey-blond hair and blue eyes. It’s no wonder she met her mate the day she left Earth.

She sits down, and Romi immediately gestures to hold the baby. Nadine happily hands her over. “We were just wondering about the wedding,” Romi says as she presses a gentle kiss on the baby’s forehead. “Melody is worried about what she should be doing.”

“I’m just excited that we actually get to have weddings.” Nadine smiles over at me. “You don’t have to worry about anything. Helena and her team will plan the whole thing. You and I can meet beforehand for your wedding dress. It will be fitted for you.” As she leans back into the couch cushions, I look closely, wondering if her belly already has a curve again.

“Are you pregnant?” I can’t help but ask.

Nadine flushes, her hand curving over her belly. “I don’t think so.”

“How could you be pregnant so quickly?” Jenny, another new arrival from Earth, asks.

“When human women come to this planet, we become very fertile,” Nadine says.

Jenny nods, fiddling with the hem of her dress. “Do you want to—” She clears her throat, looking uncomfortable. “Mate?”

My mind flashes to Hunter and the way I feel with him. I cannot wait to grow his baby inside me.

Nadine’s cheeks turn a little pink, but she nods. “I promise you, whether you experience the infinity pulse or not, men here are good to women. No one will hurt you. If you experience infinity pulse…” Her eyes slide to mine, and my cheeks burn. “You will want to be with your man as often as you can.”

Chapter Six

MELODY

A mere week after Hunter tells me I’ll be his mate, I’m standing in a small room with Jane, Nadine, and a seamstress. They’re adjusting my dress. I’m nervous but so ready and so impatient. Hunter’s mother has just left to go into the area where the ceremony will be held. I met his parents the other day, and they’re so kind.

“What do you think?” Jane asks as she turns me to face the mirror.

I don’t even know what to think as I stare at myself. The dress is made of cream silk that hugs my hips and twirls around my ankles. Nadine has fixed my hair with white flowers in it. As I look at myself, I remember the dingy mirror we had in the house where I grew up. I remember envying those doing a little better and who could buy from the old stash of things to make themselves pretty.

My life here is a dramatic contrast. Here, I bathe every day so I always feel clean, and wear comfortable clothes. Yet seeing myself looking beautiful with flowers in my hair, I almost start to cry.

Jane gently squeezes my shoulders. “This is your life now, and you are marrying the man you love,” she says gently.

My heart starts to beat faster when I think of Hunter. I take a breath to calm myself.

“Are you ready?” Nadine asks from my side, curling her arm around my shoulders.

I turn, looking from her to Jane before I smile. “More than I’ll ever be.”

The seamstress glances over from where she’s putting away her sewing supplies. “You look like a beautiful blushing bride. Now go be one.”

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