Page 38 of Alien Engineer's Mate

"You look beautiful," he rumbled, the words sending a shiver down her spine.

"So do you." The words escaped before she could stop them. Heat blazed in her cheeks. "I mean... you look nice. Different. But different's good!" she said quickly. "Gooddifferent."

His lips quirked at the corners, the look in his eye saying that he knewexactlywhat effect he had on her. "I hope you don't mind… I asked the kitchens to prepare something special."

"Speaking of food," Eira seized on the chance to focus on practical matters before she embarrassed herself even more, "Leo, there are protein packs in the cooling unit. And the emergency contact protocols are-"

"Mom. I've been doing this since I was twelve." Leo shook his head in exasperation. "I know where everything is. I know all the emergency protocols."

"But Kyle's medication?—"

"Is scheduled for 2100 hours, after he does ten minutes of breathing exercises." Leo ticked points off on his fingers. "Grace needs to be in bed by eight thirty or she gets cranky. No sugar after 7 PM. The station's emergency services are on speed dial. I tried to add the Earth President and the Latharian Emperor too, but their offices haven't gotten back to me yet. Did I miss anything?"

"Smartass," Eira didn't manage to control her smile as she reached out and ruffled his hair, making him squeak and duck away.

"Try Duke Karrigan next time," Maax advised in a deep rumble. "He's the warrior responsible for human affairs on the station. He can'tnottake your call."

"Maax!" she hissed at him as Leo grinned. "Not. Helping!"

Kyle chose that moment to emerge from his room. "Are you doing the list thing again, Mom?" He grinned up at her. "Leo's got it. He always does."

"I know, I know." She crouched to hug him, tugging him close and breathing in the familiar scent of his hair. "Be good for your brother?"

"'Course." Kyle squirmed free and looked up at the huge alien warrior in the middle of the living room. "Will you tell us more stories tomorrow? About the shapeshifters?"

"If your mother agrees." Maax's expression softened the way it always did around children.

She nodded. "Though perhaps with fewer gory details next time."

"Aww." Kyle's disappointment lasted about two seconds before Emily called from Grace's room about a ribbon-related crisis. He raced off to investigate, leaving Eira still trying to think of more instructions.

"Mom." Leo's voice gentled. "We'll be fine. I promise not to burn down the station while you're gone."

"But—"

"Nope." He started herding her toward the door. "Go. Have fun. Be an adult. Do whatever adults do on dates."

"Leo!" she hissed as her cheeks heated.

"What?" He blinked at her innocently, but that didn't fool her for a second. "I just meant dinner and talking. What did you think I meant?"

Maax's quiet laugh rumbled through the space between them. "Your son has a point, Lady Coleman. We will be in public."

Leo's grin widened. "See? Even the warrior agrees. Now go, before you think of more instructions!"

"But—"

"Going!" Leo practically pushed them through the door. "Have fun! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

The door slid shut on his laughing face, leaving them alone in the corridor. Her cheeks burned as she realized how the last few minutes must have looked to him.

"I'm sorry," she started. "I don't usually?—"

"Don't apologize." His massive hand found hers, wrapping around it. "It's good to see them settling in. All of them."

The simple contact of his palm against hers sent electricity skating under her skin. She looked up to find his golden eyes warm and dark as he looked at her.

"They are settling, aren't they?" She squeezed his hand. "I wasn't sure... everything happened so fast. But Leo's making friends, and Kyle's treatment is working, and Grace..."

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