An Alien for Her Heart (A New Home #2)

3. Catherine

3

CATHERINE

T he sun’s high in the sky today again. I stand just outside the porch staring at it. It doesn’t nearly blind me as much as the sun on Earth did, but it’s not comfortable to stare at either.

My focus shifts to the sky itself. To the wisps of clouds and then to the pink hue behind it all. It’s still so strange to see, even now. As if someone diluted Kool-Aid and it spilled across the canvas above us.

When I first arrived here, transported by a carrier on behalf of the allied rebel camp I was staying in, I’d held my breath, eyes widening as I stared at the sky. I’d been worried I wouldn’t be able to breathe. With a sky like that, the air was probably toxic despite what I’d been told. It wasn’t (obviously). Unless it’s slowly killing me and I have no clue. But, isn’t everything else, too?

If finding myself in this new world has told me anything, it’s that I have less control over my life than I thought. We think we have control, but we don’t. People go. Time moves on. You move on—as best as you can anyway.

I shake my head, clearing my thoughts because I know where they’ll lead. Down that road of old memories and pain. Instead, my gaze drifts to the fields stretching out before me. To the grass swaying gently in the breeze and the oogas grazing calmly now. If I’m lucky, this will be my last home. This farm, this land—an opportunity to create something that heals my broken soul. Something that is wholly mine.

Even if I’m doing it alone.

There’s an ache there at that thought. One that’s so old, so deep, that it feels like a deep fissure embedded inside me. I sigh, turning away from the porch as I head to the barn. Pushing the large doors open, I pop my head in before I enter, bracing myself for any chaos that might ensue. But the little umus are still in their enclosure. As I step in, I can see they’re all lying down on their little bellies, not a care in the world. Now and then, a slight shiver goes through one of them that makes their fluffy bodies vibrate, but apart from that, no one could convince me these were the same animals creating havoc just the day before. A breath of a laugh brushes past my lips. Just yesterday they were little terrors and today they look like soft plushies you just want to cuddle.

“You’re not fooling me,” I murmur as one lifts its head and watches me as I reach for my large grass-cutting scissors. I lift them and snip the air. The little umu continues watching me, before resting its head on what I’m going to assume is another’s butt.

“Nice pillow.” I chuckle, stepping closer to the enclosure. My shoulders are tight as I wait for the animals to react, but they don’t. They ignore me and continue resting. I release a breath of relief as the first genuine smile of the morning graces my lips. “Maybe he was right,” I whisper. “Maybe you really aren’t that bad.”

A swell of gratitude rises in my chest as I think of the alien with the pretty pink and purple scales. If he hadn’t come to my aid, I’d have probably woken up to all my hopes and dreams falling apart. Because of him, I still have my farm. All the oogas are fine, and I even have a set of little alien sheep that promises a second stream of income if I can figure out how to process their fur. I owe Varek…everything. And that’s why I got up early to ensure that his efforts don’t go to waste. “I’ll bring you some hay later,” I whisper, even though the umus still completely ignore me.

With that I’m heading out of the barn, my gaze shifting to the hole-filled roof only briefly. That’s something I’ll have to sort out soon. Fix the roof so I can move all the animals in. Get my field ready for crops and then I’ll be able to finally feel like I’ve got a strong hold on things.

I stretch my back, a yawn escaping my throat as I open the little gate separating the house from the field. The shawl is tied over my head to protect against the rays as I find the spot I was working on the day before. Kneeling, I waste no time as I begin snipping. At once, I’m reminded of how slow and hard work this is. I keep at it, getting maybe about a square foot done before I hear the engine of a vehicle nearby. My head pops up as I listen. With the silence of the plains, the sound of the engine is so obvious when it normally wouldn’t be anywhere else. Perking my ears, I listen. Short of getting up and staring, I have to just assume it’s someone passing by because these high grasses block my view of the road. That’s just another reason to cut them down.

I wait a few moments but the engine sound remains. My hearing might not be one hundred percent, but I’m pretty sure the vehicle is idling at what would be my gate. A second later, the engine sound dies.

Must be the Raki. I don’t have a watch but I know he’s early. The sun—or whatever they call this star, hasn’t fully risen yet. The only reason why I’m awake and on the field is because, like most other nights, I couldn’t sleep.

I turn my attention back to my grass cutting. The Raki doesn’t give two quacks if I rise to greet him or not. It will be just like those other days when I’ve tried to make conversation or just be polite. I’ll say hello and he’ll reply with something like, “Nice dawn. Greetings.” The conversation will end there.

Turning my attention back to the work in front of me, I use both arms to work the tool in my hand. It’s hard going. My arms protest. It’s like using one of those chest fly machines at the gym, except I’m on my knees and my goal really isn’t perky breasts—although those would also be appreciated.

I get a few more snips in when I tug on the scissors as they snag on a bunch of grass. I pull and nothing happens. Grunting, I tug again.

“Gosh darn it.” The blades have locked and won’t reopen. Putting all my weight into it, I tug, but the grass roots are deep and the scissors aren’t opening. I ease up off my knees and squat now, putting my every strength into it as I tug. Nothing. It might be anger. It might be frustration. It surely is annoyance, because I brace my shoes into the earth, giving it all my might. My stubbornness wins as the root suddenly gives. The moment of release is abrupt and I’m thrown back because of my overuse of strength.

“Whoops!” I go down, landing on my back between two dark boots. Blinking, I don’t immediately understand what I’m looking at until clarity chases away the confusion.

I’m not alone.

My heartbeat quickens as I stare dumbly up into the crotch of the alien’s trousers. My throat goes dry as my gaze shifts up along the hard planes of his chest, perfectly smooth iridescent scales coming into view, showing me glimpses of pink, purple, and blue under the sunlight. Corded muscle jumps as if aware of my attention as my gaze slides higher to his face.

He’s back. He’s here .

Varek tilts his head, looking down at me. “Good dawn, Catherine.”

His voice is a deep rumble that sends a shiver down my spine. The fact makes me stiffen because that shiver has no place. It has nothing to do with the cool morning air.

“Are you alright?” His concern makes me stiffen, too. He’s here. Why? Perhaps for payment for his help yesterday? He left in such a hurry, I didn’t even offer him anything for his time.

My breath hitches as he extends a clawed hand, offering to help me up. I stare at it for a moment, my mind still trying to catch up with the fact that he’s here, standing over me, looking at me with those intense yellow eyes. They’re slit like a reptile’s and completely focused on me. So much that his attention is making the hairs on my arms stand on end. Despite that he’s so calm, I feel completely bare underneath his attention.

Swallowing hard, I nod and reach up to take his hand. His skin is warm, the scales smooth against my palm as he effortlessly pulls me to my feet. I stumble slightly, my body colliding with his solid chest before I can catch myself.

“Whoops,” I mumble, my cheeks heating as I quickly step back, putting some distance between us. “I didn’t expect…I thought you were the Raki.”

Varek’s lips twitch, and I’m not sure if it’s amusement I see in his gaze or something else. His eyes are almost impossible to read. “Disappointed?”

“No!” I say too quickly, then clear my throat. “No, of course not. Just surprised. What are you doing here? Is it about yesterday?” I’m still not used to alien customs and there are so many. So many different species exist, while we humans wondered if we were alone in the universe. Oh how very wrong we were. “I can pay you for your help. Actually, I should have paid you yesterday. An oversight on my part.” I smile at him. “I just have to get my comm. I left it in the cottage.”

I’m about to walk around him when his next words stop me.

“I’m here to work.”

I stop in my tracks, my neck snapping in his direction so quickly that I almost sprain a tendon. “What?”

“I’m not here for payment. I’m here to work,” he repeats, a little bit louder this time as if he’s unsure what pitch he should speak so I can hear him. But I heard him fine the first time, I just can’t believe what he said.

“Work?” When did I hire him? Was his help yesterday some sort of initiation into working here? Some sort of interview? I blink at him, trying to piece together the information I have. I mean, God knows I need the help, but I haven’t discussed a contract with him or anything. I’m thinking about all this, thoughts racing across my mind as my brows crease a little. And then I remember his last words before he left the day before.

“ I’ll be back tomorrow with supplies and tools. We’ll get this outbuilding in proper shape .”

Oh God. He was serious?

He crosses his arms, the movement making the muscles in his shoulders and arms flex. I force myself to keep my eyes on his face, ignoring the traitorous flutter in my stomach that’s so sudden and misplaced, it arrests me.

I’m shaking my head as I speak, already thinking of reasons why this is a bad idea. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m sure you have better things to do than help an old woman with her chores.”

Varek tilts his head, his brow furrowing as if he doesn’t understand what I’m saying. “Old?”

My mouth opens and slams shut. I resist the urge to say “ Um, yes, me obviously .” Can’t he see it? The gray hairs. The fact my skin has freckles that weren’t there when I was twenty. The fact I feel so…diminished. But I guess he can’t see that . A sudden rush of self-consciousness goes through me as I wonder if the differences between our species mean he doesn’t perceive age the same way humans do.

“Yeah, old,” I repeat, a bit more firmly this time. “I’m not exactly a spring chicken anymore.” I add a soft laugh to the end, just to soften my words a little. But…what does he see when he sees me? Just a woman? Just a ‘female’ as these aliens say?

It’s not something I considered before with any alien species I’ve encountered this far. You start seeing yourself a certain way and that’s all you perceive others see you as, too.

Varek tilts his head the other way, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. “Age is marked by the spirit within.” He leans forward and I stiffen again. He’s suddenly too big. Too present. “You are radiant. Your spirit shines brightly, and that is what I see.”

His words catch me off guard, and I find myself staring at him, unsure how to respond.

“Radiant,” I murmur, more to myself than to him. The word feels foreign on my tongue, yet it sparks a warmth in my chest. I want to laugh it off, like I would do any polite compliment. But there’s sincerity in his voice, a depth of understanding I hadn’t expected. It’s been so long since anyone has spoken to me like this. With true appreciation. And it’s coming from him . Someone I wouldn’t have expected to say such a thing to me.

“Yes.” His voice is so soft, it sounds more like a low hiss than an actual word.

My gaze meets his, and those slitted eyes bore into mine. Dangerous. He’s a predator with the eyes of a snake. I shouldn’t trust him. At least, that’s what my brain says. Everything else says something else. He hasn’t once done anything to suggest he’s dangerous to me. Heck, Eleanor is mated to his brother, and I’m pretty sure that means they’re getting busy beneath the sheets every night. I’m putting a lot of trust in her taste in alien equipment here.

My cheeks flush at where my thoughts have gone and when Varek’s gaze shifts over my face, I can tell he notices the change.

I clear my throat. “Thank you.” Brushing non-existent dirt from my tunic, I take a step back. “That was very nice of you to say.” I clear my throat again. What were we talking about before? I seem to have forgotten. Oh, right. The fact he said he’s here to work. “Now, about you working here…”

Varek eases back, standing tall again. “You need my help.” His gaze shifts around the farm. “You are my kahlesta’s comrade and that Raki has done nothing to get you settled into your new home. I will fix that.”

Right. So he’s offering because I’m Eleanor’s friend. That makes sense. At least she’s making contacts. The only person I’ve managed to form any sort of relationship with since coming here is the Raki who doesn’t even want to speak to me. Not really a budding friendship happening there. I have to count myself lucky that Eleanor’s awesome extroversion has allowed her to settle in so quickly and that I’m bearing the fruits of that labor.

My gaze shifts over Varek now, watching as he turns in a slow circle as he scans the farm. His muscles are like guns, powerful and ready. I’ve never truly understood the meaning of that term until now.

I straighten as he turns to face me again, only realizing I’m staring when his lips shift into what looks like a self-conscious smile. I blink, clearing my thoughts. His words are sincere, his expression earnest, and it makes something in my chest ache. When was the last time someone offered to help me without ulterior motives, without expecting something in return? But I’m powerless in this world. I don’t have much money or influence. I have nothing to offer but a few credits and maybe a cold drink from my supplies. He’s not doing this because he wants to get close to someone with the Richmond name. Out here, my name means nothing.

And he’s right. I need his help.

I tilt my chin, forcing myself to speak through the anxiety rising at the base of my spine, as if swelling to the beat of a drum. This won’t be for long. He’s probably offering to do a day’s work. “Well, there’s a few jobs I could ask you to help with, if you’re up to it.”

Varek’s shoulders lower as if he’d been holding his breath. He was afraid I’d say no? Okay. What’s the catch?

“Perfect,” he purrs, and I try not to dwell on how the sound rumbles from his lips. “Now, let me take a look at that roof.”

He gestures for me to lead the way, and I do, but not before noting that he lifts the heavy scissors so I don’t have to carry them. A ball rises in my throat as we walk towards the barn. Am I doing the right thing? If he’s anything like Eleanor’s mate, maybe this is the best thing I can do for my farm. I can’t help but sneak a glance at him from the corner of my eye as we walk, taking in the strong lines of his profile, the way the morning light plays across his iridescent scales.

He’s…beautiful. The realization comes suddenly. A wayward thought that makes me frown as I stare at him. He is beautiful. Not just physically, but in the way he carries himself, the quiet strength and gentleness that seems to radiate from him. His long green hair flows over his shoulders, not a tangle or knot to be seen. His jaw looks sculpted by female hands that truly appreciate the male form—strong and chiseled, yet not harsh or overbearing. His prominent brow and cheekbones make his face an angular masterpiece. And his eyes…those yellow depths seem to see straight into my soul.

And they’re looking at me now.

I shift my gaze away, clearing my throat again. It’s so silent between us, only the sounds of our shoes hitting the ground as we walk, that I can even hear the insects I’m going to pretend are crickets chirping in the long grass.

We reach the barn and I open the door. Stepping inside, I look up at the hole-filled roof. It’s a mess, and I feel a pang of embarrassment even though he’s seen it all before. I’ve been giving the Raki the benefit of the doubt, but with Varek here now, it’s very clear that maybe the Raki wasn’t the best hire.

“I don’t know how much you’ll charge to do the roof, but I’m willing to pay your full rate.” I hope he understands what I’m saying. That although he’s Eleanor’s brother-in-law, that doesn’t mean I expect the job to be done for cheap or free. If I cultivate a business relationship from the start, it will work in both our favors. “How much would you charge to get the barn roof recovered?”

Varek sets down the scissors he’s been carrying and looks up at the roof, assessing the damage. His expression is unreadable as his gaze flicks across the rotten beams and over the holes above us. He turns in a slow circle, hands on his hips, and I try not to look at the muscles bunched in his back with the pose.

I frown at myself, partially ashamed and partially horrified.

“New support needed there.” Varek points at a spot before his finger shifts to another section. “And there. There too. I’ll need to strip the whole thing. The fibers are rotten. Need replacing.”

I nod, as if I understand it all. It sounds like a lot of work, but there’s something reassuring about his confidence, about the way he seems to know exactly what needs to be done.

“That’s fine. As long as the pom-poms have somewhere dry to sleep before it rains.” I don’t miss that his lips twist in slight humor at my nickname for the umus. “Do you need anything? From me?”

When he turns, his gaze shifting to me, expression still unreadable, his stare is so intense that I run the question through my mind again.

Oh crud. I need to be specific.

“In terms of supplies.” But even as the words leave my mouth, I realize that my attempt at clarifying may have only made the unintended insinuation worse. Heat crawls up the back of my neck. “Is there anything you need me to get? Supplies? Or anything I need to help with?”

For a moment, he doesn’t reply. So much so that I wonder if he heard what I asked. I clasp my hands in front of me, wondering if I should ask again, but I’m sure he heard me, right? He was hearing me fine before.

“Yes,” he suddenly says.

I nod, glancing around the barn even as I wonder what specifically he was answering to. Probably all the above. “I’ll try to find everything you need. This was once a functional farm, I’m told, and most of the things around here still work in one way or another.” Or I hope, at least.

“What I need is…” He pauses again and when my gaze shifts to him, a slight furrow on my brow, I realize there’s a slight furrow on his brow, too.

“Yes?” I prompt gently.

“Catherine…” He says my name in such a disarming way, it doesn’t sound like my name at all. As if he’s calling someone else entirely. I have the urge to look behind me just to check if there’s anyone else in the room with a name pronounced so tenderly.

“Yes?” This time it’s softer. I suddenly feel like I’m walking on eggshells here. He hasn’t moved since I asked him what he needed from me. His attention has only heightened, the intensity of his gaze growing more potent with each passing second.

“I must go to the town for supplies. The beams for support. Bolts.” He pauses. “Would you like to accompany me?”

His question has my eyelids fluttering. “Accompany you?”

My heart does a little thud that feels like it lifts its head for the first time in a while. Going to the town feels like a trip away from this farm that would do me good. The last time I saw the town was when I first arrived. There was no time to look around because Xarion, the New Horizons representative that accompanied me here, was already there waiting for me. He’d escorted me directly to the farm. But I can’t go to the town just to walk around. Not until things are settled here. There’s a lot to do and random trips will just eat away at the little time I have to get this farm in order.

“You’ll need to choose the right beams for the repairs,” Varek continues, his voice steady. “The type of material you want for the roof fiber and the trim. I’d prefer if you were there to make the final decisions.”

His reasoning is practical, but there’s something in his tone that makes me feel like there’s more to it. I turn his reasons over in my mind. They’re valid. The barn is my responsibility, and I should be involved in the choices that affect it.

“Well,” I breathe, blinking up at him. “I suppose that makes sense.”

Varek nods, and it seems like his eyes get brighter. “We’ll take my hover truck.”

It’s that same moment that I realize something else. Going to town with him will mean being stuck with him for a few long hours.

An uneasy feeling rises within me at the thought. Being alone with him for that long, confined within the small space of the truck… It’s not that I don’t trust him—I do. But the idea of being in such close proximity is unsettling. It would mean conversation. Relationship building. I might have to open up parts of myself that I’ve been keeping locked in a trunk without a key for years before I was even taken from Earth.

“The journey to town will also give us a chance to discuss the repairs in more detail.” Varek’s gaze shifts back to the roof as he speaks. “I’d like to make sure we’re both in agreement about what needs to be done.”

It’s almost like he’s convincing himself too, and that helps. I’m not the only one wary about this impromptu trip. There isn’t more to this, Catherine. He simply wants to do the job well, which is admirable . We still haven’t discussed how much his rate will be for all this so I suppose we can discuss all that on the way, too.

“You’re right.” I give him what I hope is a convincing smile. “It’s important that we get this right. For the sake of the farm.”

He blinks at me before I’m sure I see the faint ghost of a smile.

“For the sake of the farm,” he agrees.

My throat is dry again, so I clear it and swallow. It doesn’t help. With my thumb, I gesture at the barn doors and toward the cottage. “I’ll go get my comm and meet you out front.”

Varek dips his head slightly in affirmation and I spin on my heels and hurry out of the barn.

For the sake of the farm. Yes. I’ll go with that because anything else is absolutely ludicrous.