Page 19 of Badass Alien Boss
Most people probably considered the tables by the window as the plum spots, but he felt too exposed there and always requested a seat in the back. “Why would you save a table for me? You didn’t know I was coming.”
“Ah, Ruynko, there will always be a place for you at my restaurant. And this time, you brought a lady friend! Excellent! I am glad you took my advice and found yourself a woman. It is not good for a man to be alone. Even a big tough war hero like you. You need a woman to take care of you.”
Maybe dinner out wasn’t such a good idea. At least not dinner here.
She shouted at the young waitress. “Chaumi, bring Ruynko and his lady friend some drinks.” She turned to Michaela who wore an amused expression. “I’m Murta. You may call me, Mama.”
“I’m Michaela Perine. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said.
“It’s very much a pleasure to meet you. A human will be good for him. Girls on Luturna do not wish to settle down. They are too interested in their careers to want babies. I tell Chaumi all the time not to do what I did.”
Michaela’s cheeks turned pink. “We’re not”—she looked at Ruyn—“a couple.”
“She works for me, Mama. She’s my assistant.”
“Bah! That is what you say now. Mark my words. She will be more than that to you. You’ll see. I am always right.”
Definitely a bad idea coming here.
Chaumi set a couple of drinks on the table and flashed a sympathetic smile.
“Do you know what you would like to eat, or do you need a menu?” Mama asked. “The special of the day is excellent, if I do say so myself.”
“Would you mind ordering for me?” Michaela looked at him. “I’m still learning what all your foods are.”
“Two specials.” He didn’t need to ask what it was; it was all good.
“I’ll have it ready soon.” Mama bustled off into the kitchen.
“She is quite a…whirlwind,” Michaela said.
“I’m sorry. I had no idea she would try to couple us up. She has hinted I should find a wife and get married, but she’s never been so blatant. I’m sorry I subjected you to this.”
“It’s all right.” She chuckled. “What did she call you? Ruynko?”
“Direct translation—little Ruyn. Addnkoto any name, and it becomes a term of endearment.”
“Ruynko.” Blue eyes glinted with humor. “She likes you.”
“Mama’s a bit over the top. She is not wrong about women on my planet delaying marriage andbabies. If the trend continues, it will have a serious, negative impact on our population. Mamashould know. She didn’t marry and have Chaumi until late in life.”
“Chaumi’s her daughter? I thought she was a grandchild.”
“Like I said, late in life. How about you? Do you have anyone special waiting for you on Earth?” The question popped out. He had no business asking, but he found himself hanging on her answer.
“No,” she said, and he exhaled with relief. Her mouth twisted wryly. “I guess I’m not much different from women on your planet. I’ve been focused on my career. Being in the military is not conducive to forming romantic relationships. I moved around a lot. If you don’t have somebody waiting for you at home when you join, you’re not likely to have someone when you leave.”
“I hear you,” he said. Been there. Done that. Quick hookups had been all he’d been able to arrange. “You’re out now, though. You’re not old. Far younger than Mama was when she had Chaumi.”
“If you’re fishing for my age, I’m thirty-two. But now I’ve signed on with GAL Friday, which is just as bad as the military for connecting with a romantic partner. I’ve been to five different planets in two years.”
“You still have plenty of time to settle down.” Did she have any interest in getting married? Having children?Why am I even thinking about this?
They had aprofessionalrelationship, the hard-on he often got in her presence notwithstanding. He shifted in his chair to ease the discomfort in his groin.
“We’ll see,” she said. “You must come here a lot to know so much about Mama.”
“I do come here often—the café is close, and the food is good—but I knew Murta—or rather I knewofher—before she retired and opened this place. This restaurant is her second career.”
