Page 36 of Solan

“Your friend is right,” Olid said. “Vegas is a straight-talking human. She’s not blinded by offers and bribes. She gets plenty from desperate clients and women who know they won’t make the grade. She can’t be corrupted.”

“Maybe he deceived her.” Solan hovered by the bar. He was torn between going to Vegas and discovering what Boros had offered her and charging straight to Boros and accusing him of deceiving Vegas. It was not the honorable thing to do. It was just the sort of sneaky, underhanded thing Boros would do in order to get what he wanted.

“If he did, any agreement they had will be dissolved when Miss Munro discovers the truth,” Padam said.

Solan shook his head. “Boros is the problem here. I must challenge him. I must win Vegas for myself.”

Olid moved away to serve another customer. “Vegas is not a prize. She won’t want you fighting over her.”

Solan dismissed his comments. He had no clue what he was talking about when it came to Vegas.

Padam nodded. “I’m not sure fighting Boros is a good idea. Miss Munro might not appreciate it. If she has made this decision willingly, she’ll think you’re interfering. From what you’ve told me of her, that would not be agreeable.”

“I’m not interfering,” Solan said. “I’m saving her from a terrible match. Boros might imprison her. He might attack her. I need to protect her.”

“You want to challenge a brigadier?”

“That’s exactly what I will do.”

Padam gestured for Olid to come over. “We’re going to need more drinks.”

Solan knew he was right. He would challenge Boros and win Vegas. This would work. This was the reason she had refused him. It made sense now. He would remove his opponent, and Vegas would be his.

Chapter 10

“And after he’d given me the gifts, he thought it was okay for us to mate.” Vegas swung her feet onto the couch in Heather’s room. It had been almost twenty-four hours since Solan had made his unwanted overtures to her. She was still smarting about it.

Heather sat next to her, a cream throw over her knees and a half-drunk glass of wine in one hand. “It does sound like he’s trying to win your favor. Are you sure you’re not even the tiniest bit interested in him? He is super gorgeous, and you have had his picture as your screen saver for six months.”

“His muscles are fine.” Vegas shrugged off her lustful thoughts about Solan. “But his match has been made. Besides, he’s not the first Galaxar I’ve lusted after.”

“But he’s the one you’ve had on your screen saver for such a long time,” Heather said. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed. The picture changes, but it’s always him. And he’s usually in some state of undress.”

Vegas blushed. “It’s not my fault Galaxars aren’t all that bothered with clothing. And I need to keep tabs on the important Galaxars, so I know who they are when they come to the space station.”

“Sure, you do. And it helps that Galaxars are gorgeous to look at, especially Solan. Even I felt a bit giddy when he turned up.”

“You’re interested in Solan?” An unexpected swirl of jealousy flitted through Vegas’s stomach.

“Not really,” Heather said. “But I have eyes, and I am female. My ovaries definitely jerked into life when he got near. He’s a Galaxar. Why wouldn’t you want a piece of that?”

“Because he’s someone else’s. And he’s a tactless fool. He seriously thought he could win me over with a bottle of wine and some chocolates.”

“Was it decent wine?”

“It was good.”

“And did you eat the chocolates?”

“I might have had one or two.” The empty box sat in Vegas’s room.

“Which suggests you were happy with his gifts,” Heather said. “Don’t forget, he’s new to this human mating game. This is the first time he’s used the agency. He might think that’s all it takes. Give the gifts and then you mate.”

“He would have read the My Single Alien’s brochure,” Vegas said. “And he signed the agreement. Solan knows we’ll make him a suitable match. He’s just making trouble for me.”

“It’s kind of hot trouble, though. I wish I had a Galaxar chasing after me, wanting to mate. I’m not sure I’d have your resistance.”

“I’m not that good at resisting.” Vegas covered her face with her hands. “I let him kiss me. Again.”