Page 25 of Border Control

I gather my unruly locks just in time to see a glistening purple alien emerge from the water like a sexy sea monster. His scales glint in the sun, bicep bulging as he sweeps his arm up to push his hair back from his forehead. He’s a lighter lavender, as if he’s diluted from being submerged, and with his arm up like that, I can see all kinds of nice shoulder muscle definition.

“Dom,” I say automatically when he opens his eyes and the sparkle of amethyst gives him away. Something in my chest pings. Pings.

I bat at it with a scowl. No. Nope. Not happening.

“Awesome, I can't tell them apart yet. Let's go say good morning.” Ellen picks her way down the hill toward him.

I can't exactly argue against it, but I said I'd see him later, not at fuck off o’clock in the morning. What if he lets slip we're going to be meeting today? My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

Driving my nails into my palms, I try to walk calmly next to my friend.

“Hey there,” she says as we get close. “How's the water?”

“Tolerable, mate of Ilia Gerverstock,” Dom says, pulling himself up the bank and keeping his head lowered even when he straightens up to his full towering height. “It is more than sufficient for our needs. Thank you.”

“Great! And how were you all while we were away?”

“A few corrections were needed, but overall the crew were obedient.”

Corrections? Was that what I'd walked into last night?

He's still staring at the ground, dripping onto the grass. Mist steams off him in the cold early morning air.

“Well, I'll let you get on,” Ellen says, just as the awkward silence gets too much for me.

“Get on what?” Dom asks, glancing up at her and then at me. His purple eyes burn before he quickly drops them again.

“It's a saying, it means carry on with your day,” I explain.

The alien presses his fist to his chest. “Thank you for clarifying. I will make the most of my time and complete significant progress on the restoration.”

My muscles unwind. He's not going to even hint at meeting with me today: wonderful.

“Well, see you later,” Ellen says.

His eyes widen. “At what time? I was not aware of the appointment.”

“Another saying,” I jump in quickly. “She means she’ll no doubt run into you sometime today.”

He flexes his fists. “It is your right to run into me should you wish.” There's a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“Not runintoyou literally.” I can’t keep the smile from my face now. He’s adorable, and while I'll have to define every term carefully, I’m a lawyer and we revel in playing games with semantics and meanings.

“Have a good day,” Ellen says helplessly. Should be a relatively safe phrase, unless?—

He bangs his fist to his chest. “I will, female!” His enthusiasm bounces off the quiet hills.

Yep, he took it as an order. Doesn't bode well for getting him to speak his mind.

I grab Ellen and head back to the farmyard. “Bye, Dom.”

“Farewell, Law-rah,” he murmurs, and I’m sure I can feel the intensity of his purple gaze as he watches me leave. He wants me, yes; but does he want to want me?

EIGHT

LAURA

Nicole's messagesaid she would be free at ten so I jump in my car and head over to the stables where she works. My environment is high rise offices and higher heels, and hers is all things… horsey. Or large animal veterinary practice, same diff.