Page 75 of Stardusted

God. My life was weird right now.

I blew out a breath and smoothed a hand down my braid as I rounded the far corner of the dining area. Half-hidden behind one of our surprisingly realistic palm trees, I had a clear line of sight to the bar. I peered through the silk leaves like a tiger stalking prey.

Only this prey was a cagey bartender.

It was the first glimpse I’d had of him since leaving him on the Crescent dance floor.He leaned across the polished counter, sliding a sunset-colored mixed drink toward a middle-aged woman with too much makeup and a neckline in a fierce rivalry with gravity. She preened, patting her hair and flashing him a coy smile.

He returned it with one of those respectful, guarded grins—reserved, but also smart enough to earn his tips. And that dark curl tumbling over his forehead didn’t hurt, either. He casually pushed it back, then strolled to the bar’s far end to check on two guys in blue coveralls hunched over beers.

Even that small walk oozed a kind of careless grace. It was a dance I was used to watching him perform. Those worn jeans didgreatthings for his ass, too.

Disgusted with myself, I ripped my gaze away and let the branches swish back into place. I wasn’t here to ogle. Not anymore. Things had changed. I wantedanswers.

And this? This was a safe place. Public, familiar. Full of people.

If it went sideways, there’d be witnesses.

Not that it could go sideways,I told myself. This was still Sky. He never raised his voice, let alone his hand. He was always polite. Cordial. A gentleman. The guy had opened my car door for me, for God’s sake.

But then I remembered the way he’d stared down Prince Charming at the club. There’d been a flash of something darker.Colder. Just like there’d been calculation in his voice when he’d asked about the accident.

He was hiding something beneath that polite mask.

Nothing was as it seemed lately. Not my life. Not the truth about aliens. Not even my hot bartender crush.

I squared my shoulders. I was sick of flinching at shadows and overanalyzing every little possibility. This, at least, was something I could control.

I was confronting Skytonight.

I stepped out from behind the palm fronds, lifted my chin, and strode across the restaurant. The squawking calls of jungle birds formed a questionable soundtrack. Nerves leaping, I tugged my uniform dress a little lower on my thighs.

Sky looked up from wiping the counter, and I let go of my hem, inhaling sharply. Our gazes locked, and he paused in mid-swipe, straightening. My steps faltered under the weight of that stare, steady and direct. I wasn’t used to this. Eye contact. With him.

He didn’t smile. Didn’t nod. But something flickered in his expression, quick and unreadable. A flash of tension before that too-neutral veneer slid into place.

He looked away and went back to cleaning, like I was just another customer, though I caught the shift in his posture. His broad shoulders tightened beneath his dark button-up. Like he was bracing himself.

My slow burning irritation flared into something hotter. Recklessness,maybe.

I headed straight for the bar.

Let’s do this.

Chapter 21

ALL THAT GLITTERS ISN’T GOLD…OR TERRESTRIAL?

Skydidn’t look up from wiping down the baruntil I’d nearly reached him. When he did and his dark eyes met mine, I caught a glimpse of wariness before his face shuttered. His movements slowed.

I halted at the drink mat. This was it. My heart rate spiked, and I drew a deep, nerve-steadying breath. I’dpreparedfor this.

But the look he was giving me was penetrating and steady. Too steady. My mind blanked like someone had tugged the power cord, and the words I’d rehearsed all day unraveled into nonsense.

I obviously waited too long to speak because Sky’s mouth twitched and he said, “Hi, Raven.” Casual as can be. He swiped the rag one final time before leaning on his elbows, brows rising. “What can I help you with? I didn’t see any new orders come through.”

The false nonchalance zapped my resolve back to life like a defibrillator to the chest.

He was playing it cool, but I’d seen that wariness. If I was right,noneof this was real. That serene mask—nor the charmingsmiles. Definitely not that dance at Crescent. A blush threatened to ignite at the memory.