Page 16 of Eclipse Bound (Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides #7)

"Which means they probably have specialized equipment for tracking you," Rowan concluded. "God, this is insane. Two days ago my biggest problem was explaining to Mrs. Henderson why her chakra cleansing got rescheduled."

A flicker of something that might have been amusement passed through Eclipse's eyes. "Your adaptation to extraordinary circumstances continues to be remarkable."

"Trust me, I'm freaking out on the inside," Rowan admitted. She took a sharp turn onto a service road that wound behind the retreat. "I just happen to be good at compartmentalizing. A useful skill for both journalists and people whose alien boyfriends are being hunted by evil corporations."

The word boyfriend slipped out before Rowan could catch it. She winced internally. Way to put a label on something completely beyond human relationship categories.

“By boyfriend, I just mean you’re a boy, kinda, and a friend, and?—

"Your designation is not inaccurate, though limited by human relationship parameters. Our connection transcends typical biological pairing." Eclipse didn't seem bothered by the term.

"Right," Rowan muttered. "Not boyfriends. Just quantumly harmonically converged or whatever."

She pulled into the retreat's back entrance, parking in the staff area where her car wouldn't be easily visible from the main road. The morning was quiet, with few guests visible.

"The Desert Suite has a private entrance," Rowan explained as they exited the car. "We can go in without being seen from the main building."

They moved quickly across the grounds, staying close to the landscaping that provided cover.

Rowan led Eclipse down a winding path to a secluded building set against the red rocks.

The Desert Suite was the retreat's most exclusive accommodation, designed to blend with the natural landscape while providing luxury and privacy.

Rowan used her master key card to access the suite. Inside, the space was dim and quiet.

"Solar?" Eclipse called softly. "Lunar?"

No response.

"They must not have arrived yet," Rowan said, moving through the suite to check the rooms. Solar was supposed to be at The Crash Zone with Dani the night before, and Lunar was with Poppy. She hid a bemused smile. Maybe all of the aliens got lucky last night.

The suite was empty, but showed signs of recent occupation. The blackout curtains were up in the western room, and the full-spectrum lights she'd provided had been installed in the eastern one.

"I should try calling them," Rowan suggested, pulling out her phone.

Before she could dial, the door opened. Rowan spun around, heart pounding, only to see Stephanie saunter in.

"There you are!" Stephanie exclaimed. "I've been looking everywhere for you.

Did you hear Milano canceled? Rumor is they're sending some bigwigs to investigate the UFO incident instead of running their stupid team building exercises.

" She paused, noticing Eclipse. "Oh, hello tall, dark, and literally stellar.

Those contacts are amazing. Where did you get them? "

Eclipse glanced at Rowan, clearly unsure how to respond to Stephanie's rapid-fire speech.

"Steph, what are you doing in here?" Rowan asked, moving to block Eclipse from view. She cared about Stephanie, but also accepted that her friend couldn’t be trusted with a secret this big.

“Introduce me,” Stephanie whispered, trying to push past. “What is your name, handsome?”

“My name is Eclipse.” He took Rowan's phone from her and moved away from them. She watched him lift it to his ear and wondered if he faked a phone call to avoid Stephanie.

It didn't work.

"Eclipse? Cool name." Stephanie tried to move further into the suite, oblivious to the tension.

"So, are you guys hiding out here or what?

And have you seen that hottie with the gold highlights?

He was at The Crash Zone last night with the fire dancer.

The whole place went nuts when the lights started flickering. "

Eclipse maintained his diplomat's composure and dropped his arm. "Solar is expected to arrive shortly."

"Solar? Another space name? What are you guys, some kind of astronomy club?" Stephanie laughed, turning to go to one of the sofas as if to make herself at home.

Rowan grabbed her friend’s arm and pulled her toward the door. “You can’t just walk in here.”

“Ow, hey,” Stephanie protested, trying to pull away.

“Steph, I’m serious,” Rowan persisted, forcing her from the room.

When they were alone outside, she said, “Are you trying to get me fired? They paid for complete privacy. Not even housekeepers. You can’t just walk into the guest suites unannounced.

With all of the cancellations, we need to keep these guests happy. ”

"Whatever. Fine, keep the hottie rich guys all to yourself.” Stephanie looked a little hurt. “I'm just glad you're not hanging out with corporate drones like the Milano people. They gave me the creeps when they checked in yesterday."

Rowan frowned. "Milano checked in? I thought they canceled. When?"

"The team building conference room package thing was canceled.

I told you, the bigwigs came instead yesterday afternoon.

They're all suits and serious faces." Stephanie shuddered dramatically.

"They kept asking questions about the UFO sighting and whether any unusual individuals had been seen around the retreat afterward. "

A cold knot formed in Rowan's stomach. "What did you tell them?"

Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Please. Don’t look so worried.

Like I'd tell those Men-in-Black asshats anything.

I said we get all kinds of weirdos in Duskrock, especially after UFO reports.

They'd have to be more specific." She grinned.

"Though I did mention my video went viral, just to mess with them. "

"You what?" Rowan's voice rose sharply.

"Relax," Stephanie waved dismissively. "They seemed super interested in seeing it. I told them to follow my page. I swear I didn’t say anything to make them cancel the corporate retreat. Darren said that was their lawyers."

"Where are they now?"

"I don't know. Some of them checked out this morning. But one of them— James something— left his card at the front desk for you." Stephanie dug in her pocket. She handed over James Petersen's business card. It was the same one he'd left on their table the night before.

"Thanks," Rowan said, taking the card. "That’s helpful."

"I know, right? I'm not just a pretty face.

" Stephanie started backing away toward the main building.

"Anyway, I should get back to the front desk before Darren notices I'm gone.

Text me if the hot sparkly guy comes back.

Or his dark broody friend. They're both totally my type.

Those two can beam me up to their spaceship anytime, if you know what I mean. "

"You're oversexed," Rowan teased.

"Don't slut shame," Stephanie scolded with a laugh.

Rowan watched Stephanie leave before returning to the suite. She collapsed onto the sofa, suddenly exhausted. "Milano's been at the retreat since yesterday. They're already talking to the staff."

"They move with considerable efficiency," Eclipse noted, his tone neutral but his body seemed to pulse with concern.

"We need to warn Solar and Lunar to be careful coming back before they walk into a trap," Rowan said, taking her phone from Eclipse. She had hired the woman to perform for the retreat and found her likable.

"Solar is aware of the danger," Eclipse stated, pointing at the hotel phone "He called that device when you were scolding the woman."

"I wasn't scolding her."

"You spoke to her for a long time, and I felt the annoyance in your energy patterns even through the door," he countered.

Rowan gave a small laugh. "Maybe I was scolding her a little. She's harmless, but she has boundary issues. And she's a complete gossip. The woman never met a story she didn't want to spread around the internet."

"We do not wish to be a story on your overlord devices," he stated.

"Noted. I'll text Poppy again and try to see where she and Lunar are at." As she typed, the door opened. Rowan jumped, but it was Solar who entered, wearing a hoodie topped by a cowboy hat, and sunglasses that barely contained his golden glow.

Dani followed close behind him. Her expression was tense.

"Eclipse," Solar acknowledged.

"Solar," Eclipse greeted with obvious relief. "Your disguise is effective."

Rowan disagreed with that assessment, but kept quiet. Solar

"Yes. It is," Solar replied, moving past him into the suite. "I am a cowboy."

Dani met Rowan's eyes and gave a small shrug. "He found the hat in my car."

Rowan stood. "I'm glad you're all right."

Solar gave a small frown at her concern, as if he didn't know how to respond to it.

"We need to discuss Milano and the extraction timeline," Solar said, removing the glasses now that they were in secure quarters. "Where is Lunar?"

"Unknown," Eclipse admitted. "He also did not return last night."

"Hopefully still with Poppy," Rowan suggested, trying not to think about what would happen if Milano had found him first. "I just texted her again to let her know Milano is at the retreat. I told them to be careful."

Solar continued to frown. "We must locate him immediately. Milano is actively tracking us, and Galaxy Brides has set extraction for forty-eight hours from now."

Rowan felt her heart skip.

"They contacted you?" she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady despite the sudden flood of emotion.

Extraction. They were leaving in forty-eight hours. Eclipse was leaving. After everything they'd shared, after the connection they'd formed, he would be gone in two days.

She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the immediate threat.

"A Milano representative approached us at dinner last night," Eclipse said. "James Petersen. He mentioned unusual atmospheric disturbances and electromagnetic anomalies."