Page 15 of Mate for the Space Cowboy (Match Made in Space #3)

Chapter Fifteen

MELODY

When I return home that night, Hunter has prepared a feast for me. I’ve discovered he loves to cook. I look around at the amount of food on the table, and my heart feels like it will burst out of my chest with joy.

“This is a lot of food,” I point out. “There’s no way I can eat all this tonight.”

“You’re pregnant,” he says, as if that explains everything.

“Um, yes, but only so much food will fit inside me.”

Hunter’s eyes dip from me down to the table and back again before a sheepish smile curls his lips.

I stop beside him and lean up to press a kiss on his cheek. “I love you for wanting to overfeed me,” I tease.

I’m savoring this time with Hunter because he has to leave again. This time, he assures me it will only be a few days. Asher and Jane are traveling to another town on the planet, and the security detail is going with them. This is the town where the group of emissaries from Earth have traveled. I admit to being very curious about this group. I knew from growing up on Earth that even though it’s been at least a century since Earth reigned supreme in the galaxy, there are still those there who believe Earth to be superior. Now that I’m here, I recognize how ridiculous that is. Of course, Earth did offer much to the galaxy once upon a time, but other planets also have many contributions.

Earth’s history teaches the rest of the galaxy what it means to destroy your own environment. Jane has assured us she’ll report back so we can hear all the gossip about the Earth group.

The morning before Hunter leaves, he studies me with worry flickering in his eyes. “Promise me you will contact the medical team if anything comes up,” he says.

“Hunter, I’ve already promised you that. The doctor assures me I’m healthy and my pregnancy is going well.” I lean up to give him a lingering kiss. “You need not worry.”

I’m supposed to learn to ride the horses soon, but Hunter’s asked me to wait until after I have the baby. I think that’s a little ridiculous, but I’m willing to humor him. In the meantime, we have a chienne, this planet’s version of a dog. She is sweet and loving with luxurious silver fur. Hunter wants me to have company when he’s gone. I’m relieved she’s here because the house feels so empty when he’s not here. Back on Earth, all I wanted was to be alone.

“Promise me you’ll be safe,” I say as I hold his hands beside the mount he will ride to travel with the prince and others.

“Always,” he says.

I watch as he mounts before taking to the air. When I’m home that night, I miss him.

Two days pass, and all is quiet. But that night, I feel the burning tug on what I think of as the cord that connects Hunter and me—our infinity pulse. I tell myself it just means they’re traveling home because they’re due home tomorrow.

Yet I feel a sense of uneasiness, and I’m grateful for our dog’s comforting presence.