Page 49 of Tarek

Sarah clapped her hands together. "Right. Before Bob decides to check in with us and tell us we're taking too long, why don't we get everyone settled? We can arrange the children staying together once we're on New Haven, and that will give the adults a chance to catch their breath."

I looked at her. "You mean a sleepover?"

"Exactly. The children can have a proper introduction, and we'll make sure they have everything they need. You and Tarek can have a little time to get acquainted without six small people asking for snacks every five minutes, as will Nick and Rethan."

"Laura doesn't ask yet," I pointed out.

"Really?” Nick said gravely. "From what I recall, babies are remarkably good at making their needs known."

That was very true, so that made me laugh, and Tarek's smile widened. For a moment, I was aware of him looking at me in a way that made my cheeks warm. I couldn't quite decide whether I wanted to look away or keep looking back. I settled for doing both.

We made our way toward the transport area together, with Vrann walking between Tarek and Sarah. He was still close to Tarek, but he had begun to relax enough to look around and ask questions about the station. Tarek answered each one patiently, occasionally resting a hand on the boy's shoulder or slowing down when Vrann stopped to examine something.

When Sarah offered to take Vrann with her and Nick to get a snack while the rest of us spoke to the transport coordinator, the boy hesitated. His gaze flicked to Tarek.

"I'll be right here," Tarek promised him. "You can go with Sarah and Nick. I'll see you in a few minutes. I just have to confirm that our stuff shipping as cargo is to be offloaded when we reach New Haven"

Vrann studied him for a moment, then nodded and went with them. He looked back once, and Tarek lifted a hand in reassurance. The boy turned away again, apparently satisfied. I watched them disappear around the corner before looking back at Tarek.

"You seem good with children," I said.

His expression softened. "I like them. They deserve to know that the adults around them are going to keep their word."

Something about that answer settled warmly inside me. It wasn't just that he liked children. He understood what they needed, and he seemed willing to give it to them without making them earn it. I thought of Evan, Matt, and Laura, and of how much they had already been through. I didn't need Tarek to be perfect. I needed him to be kind, dependable, and willing to love the children as part of loving me.

So far, he was giving me every reason to hope.

The transport coordinator called us over, and we went through the necessary arrangements for our departure. There were documents to confirm, luggage to account for, and declarations to be made that no contraband was in the boxed cargo belonging to Tarek and Vrann. It was all ordinary enough, but I was acutely aware of Tarek standing beside me, close enough that I could catch the faint scent of cardamom with a hint of chocolate whenever he moved.

It was an unfairly appealing scent.

I tried to concentrate on the paperwork, I really did. But then he leaned over to read something on the display, and I caught another breath of that warm, spicy scent. My body responded before I could talk myself out of it, a little flutter low in my stomach that made me tighten my grip on the datapad.

Oh, this was going to be a problem. A very pleasant problem, perhaps, but a problem all the same.

Tarek glanced at me, and his nearly black eyes held mine for a moment. His expression changed, not dramatically, but enough that I wondered whether he'd noticed my reaction. His nostrils flared slightly, and he drew a slow breath before looking away again. I had a sudden, rather alarming suspicion that his sense of smell was considerably better than mine. My brain scrambled to recall the details Bob had included about the Dragonii, and realized with a sinking feeling that it was. My hope that he hadn't noticed just how much I liked his scent had been in vain. My face warmed, and I concentrated very hard on the transport arrangements.

Tarek, to his credit, didn't say anything. He didn't tease me or try to turn the moment into something more than it was. He simply stayed beside me, calm and patient, allowing me the space to get used to the fact that the man I was apparently destined to be with was standing right there, smelling wonderful and looking far too handsome for my peace of mind. I could work with that. Probably.

Once the arrangements were complete, Sarah and Nick returned with Laura and the rest of the gaggle of children. Vrann was holding a small packet of snacks in addition to his toy shuttle and looking considerably more relaxed than he had when they'd first arrived. He went straight back to Tarek's side, and Tarek asked him whether he'd enjoyed himself.

Vrann nodded. "They have sweet things here."

"They do, huh?" Tarek asked solemnly. "A very important discovery, for which I thank you.”

Vrann grinned, and I laughed. It was such a small exchange, but it made me feel more certain that my first impression hadn't been wrong. Tarek was patient, attentive, and quietly affectionate with a child who trusted him. I couldn't imagine a better sign of what he might be like with my own children.

As we prepared to board the transport, I found myself walking beside him rather than behind him. Our shoulders brushed once, and I felt that same little spark of awareness.

He looked down at me. "Are you all right, Darren?"

I nodded. "Yes. Just taking everything in."

"There's a lot to take in."

"That's one way of putting it."

His smile was gentle. "We don't have to figure everything out today."