by Sadie Carter
They both looked over at the security screen as it chimed. Keely walked over to the pad and tapped on it, accessing the camera that showed the front door. “It’s Tane.”
“Shit,” Ellie said. “I’m not ready yet.”
Keely unlocked the front door remotely and turned to her. “I’ve got a bit of money set aside, babe. Not enough to pay for a new kitchen, but if we all pooled our money—”
“No way. Not happening.”
“What’s not happening?” Tane asked as he walked into the kitchen.
“I’m so sorry I’m not ready,” she said to him. “I’ll just go change my clothes and get things set up so we can go.”
“It’s okay, baby girl,” he told her gently. “I’m early. Thought I’d come over and help you package everything up.”
“Oh. Thank you.” She gave him a smile. “That’s really good of you.”
Keely sighed. “Other people can do nice things for you, you know, Ellie.” There was no bite to her voice, but Ellie heard a note of disappointment.
What had she done?
“What do you mean?”
“You spend all your time looking after us, you always have. Yet you always act surprised when someone wants to take care of you.”
“But…well…I want to do that for all of you. And you do plenty for me in return.”
“Like what?” Tane asked, leaning against the doorframe and folding his arms over his massive chest.
“Well…like…I should really go get ready.”
“Freeze,” Keely ordered. “What do we do for you, Ellie?”
“You’re all helping me with my stall.”
“Which we pushed you into opening,” Keely pointed out. “Next thing.”
“Why are we talking about this?” Ellie asked desperately.
“I want to know because I often get the feeling you think that you owe us,” Keely replied. “That you think you have to make yourself useful in order for us to love you.”
Fuck. Fuck, fuck.
She looked from Keely to Tane. There was no rescue from Tane, who just watched her calmly. She swallowed, trying to calm herself. Why was Keely coming at her about this now? When she was tired and emotional? Even when she tried to catch a few hours’ sleep, she couldn’t seem to do it; she closed her eyes and all she saw was him. All she could smell was him. She imagined his hands on her, touching her, making her scream with pleasure.
“I don’t have time for this, Keely,” she said, turning away.
“You know we love you, right?” Keely said quietly.
She turned back and looked at them both. “Of course I do.”
“Do you love us? Would you do anything for us?”
“You know I would.” She softened as she glanced at them both. “Do you need me to do something, Keely? Is Que bothering you again?” The big warrior seemed to have developed a thing for her friend.
Keely snorted. “I can handle Que.” Although she looked a little uncertain. “But there is something you can do for us.”
“Anything,” she said immediately.
“Let us help you for a change.”
“But you are helping me. One of the guys always sets up the stall for me. You let me take over the kitchen; hell, you’ve been cleaning up after me more often than not. I promise once I get a handle on things, I’ll be able to get everything done—”
“That’s not what I’m talking about. That’s what friends do for one another. I’m talking about what family does. We’re family, Ellie. And family tells each other shit. They’re straight with one another. Because family always knows that they have each other’s backs no matter what.”
“I know we’re family.”
“Do you?” Keely asked. “Because sometimes I think you don’t quite believe that we love you. That we’ll be there for you no matter what.”
“That-that’s not true.”
“Keely, I think that’s enough,” Tane rumbled.
Keely shot him an irritated look. “No, it’s not. She needs to hear this. That we love her no matter what.”
“I know that,” she said gently.
“Do you? Not quite so sure of that. Why do you think we took you with us when we escaped that hellish planet?”
“What?” Her breath caught. Why was Keely asking her about that?
“Why did we take you with us? Do you know?”
She just stared at her friend. Why did they take her? She had no idea. She was grateful. She couldn’t believe her luck. Because if they hadn’t, she had no doubts she’d be dead by now. She wasn’t strong like Blue and Keely. Physically or mentally. She never would have been brave enough to escape on her own. So she would have died there.
But she still had no idea why they’d taken her with them.
Her breath came in rapid pants. What if they’d left her there? She’d have been alone.
Again.
What if they got sick of helping her now? What if…
“Jesus, Keely,” she heard Tane say, although his voice sounded like it was coming from a distance, through the fog filling her mind.
“Sorry. Shit. I didn’t mean to push her so hard. Baby, it’s okay.” Keely’s arm came around her shoulders.
She realized dimly that she was having another panic attack. Two in less than three weeks.
Awesome.
Her legs weakened, unable to hold her anymore. Then Tane was lifting her into his arms, cradling her against him. He sat at the table with her in his lap. Keely crouched next to her, and they surrounded her with them. Their touch. Their steadiness. Gradually, her breathing slowed. The nausea in her stomach disappeared. Her shaking died away.
“Sorry. Sorry,” she told them both.
“No need to be sorry,” Tane rumbled.
“No, if anyone should say sorry, it’s me,” Keely told her. She brushed Ellie’s hair off her face. “Babe, I’m sorry for pushing you. You okay now?”
“I’m all right. I should get ready to go, though.” And she really needed a few minutes to compose herself. Why did this shit keep happening to her?
“All right, but just do me one favor,” Keely said to her.
She braced herself. “What?”
“Think about taking my money. Don’t think of it as a loan but rather an investment. I know I’ll get a return on my investment in you.”
“Me too,” Tane added.
“What?” She looked up at him.
“Got some money set aside. You need it, it’s yours.”
Tears entered her eyes. She blinked them back. “Tane, you don’t even know what I need the money for.”
“Nope. But I know you. And you need it, it’s yours.” He brushed his lips across her forehead.
“No questions?” she half-teased.
“No questions. That’s what family does for each other.”
4
“So this is where my research assistants disappear to each day,” a deep voice said from above her.
She stilled. She was crouched behind her stall at the market. She’d been reaching for another box of agair berry muffins. They were similar to raspberries back on Earth and made for a delicious, moist, and tart muffin.
Shit. Crap. What was he doing here? This was the last thing she needed. She felt drained from the panic attack she’d had this morning. And the lack of sleep and long hours of work weren’t helping either. The panic attack had been a mild one in comparison to some of the others she’d had, but afterwards, she always felt a bit wiped. Add that to her already exhausted state, and she was about ready to collapse.
And none of that meant she was even remotely prepared to take on Racar. But she couldn’t crouch here forever; she had a line of customers. She needed to stand up and show him that he didn’t affect her in the slightest. Which was exactly what she was going to do. Stand up. Act aloof.
Any minute now…
That was exactly what she would do…
Fuck, why wasn’t she moving?
Um…maybe because her leg
s wouldn’t work. In fact, they were shaking so hard, she was about to…
Yep. She’d just fallen back on her ass. She sat there for a moment, groaning silently. Crap. She hoped he hadn’t noticed. Or if he had, she hoped he thought she’d meant to do that.
Right. Like it was normal to fall onto your ass while holding a box of muffins in your hands. Yep, nothing to see here, folks.
“Are you all right! Are you hurt?” His concerned voice rushed over her, and for a moment, she wished she could believe he actually cared. That he was worried about her.
She forced herself back into reality, because living in dreams was what had gotten her into this mess with him the first place.
He stepped around the stall and she hastily set down the box of muffins. “I’m fine.” She rolled onto her knees.
“Stay where you are. You may be hurt,” he ordered.
She snorted. “Hardly. I just slipped. I’m fine. Don’t touch me!” she snapped as he reached out his hand to her.
He snatched it back, looking down at her in shock.
She suddenly became aware of the silence and felt her cheeks flush as she gazed around. At least a dozen people stared down at her, watching things play out between her and Racar.
She did not need this right now.
“Female, you have nothing to fear from me,” Racar told her in a low voice. “I am a healer. It is my job to help you if you are injured.”
Ouch. That stung. Now she was a job to him. Wonderful. “I’m not injured. I don’t need your help. Please, just go back around the stall and I’ll serve you in a minute.”
He scowled. “I do not wish you to serve me.”
“Well, get out of the way, because I’ve got other customers I need to see to.” She pulled herself up onto her feet, trying to make the movement seem effortless when she felt completely drained.
Keely was right. She needed help. She brushed the back of her hand over her forehead.
“Female—”
She turned and growled at him. Actually growled at him. And she wasn’t certain who was more shocked by the noise. Her or him.
“My name is Ellie.”
He sighed. “Not this again.”
She bit her lip. What was it about this guy that made her so angry? She never lost her temper. Only around him. Mind you, she’d never met a more obtuse male in all her life.
She turned to the next customer, an older man. “I’m sorry about the wait. What can I get for you?”
He looked from her to Racar in confusion. “The healer was next in line.”
“He’s not ordering anything.” No, he was only here to be a pain in her ass. “What can I get you?”
“Actually, I am here to purchase something,” Racar announced loudly.
She braced herself then turned to him. Do not let him see you react. Do not let him see how he affects you.
“What would you like?” she asked coolly.
He frowned, staring down at her. He still hadn’t moved back around the stall. Instead, he stood far too close for her peace of mind.
“Racar? I don’t have all day. What do you want?”
“Are you not sleeping?” he blurted out. “You do not look well. You have dark smudges under your eyes. You are pale. Your dots are more pronounced, as are your cheeks. Are you not eating? Why do you look so tired?”
She ground her teeth together. “That’s what you came here for? To criticize my appearance? Was there anything else you wanted to add? Should I have done my hair differently? Do I need more make-up on?”
He studied her, as though taking her question seriously. When was she going to learn that these guys didn’t really understand sarcasm? Well, Safan usually did, but he was the exception not the rule.
“I prefer your hair down, although I do understand why you wear it up while working.”
“So generous of you to understand that.”
What was wrong with her? Why was she letting him get to her? Why did she care what he thought of her? It was annoying to say the least.
“And I do not believe you should wear make-up.”
She smiled at the older man again. She was fully aware of how everyone was watching them. She hated being the center of attention like this.
Why wouldn’t he go away?
“While Racar makes up his mind, why don’t you tell me what you want?” she said to the other man.
He nodded. “Did you make any of those cookies? The ones with the bits of gala gum in them?”
“I certainly did. How many would you like?”
“Six.”
She boxed them up as Racar continued to stand there.
“Do you feel ill?” Racar asked. “You need to come to the medical center.”
“I’m not ill,” she told him with a fake smile for the next customer. She boxed up their order. “I feel fine.”
“You do not look fine.”
She turned to him with a scowl. “Look, if you’re just here to criticize my appearance, then I would appreciate it if you would go. You’re getting in my way.”
“I am not in your way,” he countered. “I am standing well out of your way.”
She wasn’t talking about him getting in her way physically, but he was affecting her concentration. Her body was begging her to turn to him, to touch him, to give him what he wanted.
So he’d give her what she wanted.
Damn it. She’d hoped this stupid attraction to him would have gone away. That seeing him again would make her realize she’d been mistaken. That she didn’t want him.
Yeah, she just wasn’t that lucky.
She got another order ready for the next customer.
“What is it going to take to get you to leave?” she demanded.
“Leave?”
“Yes. Leave. I’m busy. I want you to go so I can work. So what do you want? Don’t you have work to return to?”
“Yes, certainly,” he said somewhat arrogantly. “I should not even be here right now.”
She put her hands on her hips and glared up at him. “Then why are you?”
“You are flushed. You need to stop work and come with me to the medical center.”
Was he truly worried about her? Or was it just because he was a healer and it was his job to be concerned?
“Why?”
“Because you appear tired.”
“I’m fine.”
“I do not believe you are. You could be ill.”
“And are you going to examine me?” she dared to ask.
There was a moment of silence. She gave another customer their order. Her gut was tight and hollow.
“Me? I do not have time for that,” he said dismissively. “But there are other healers equally as qualified to take over your care.”
That hollow feeling grew. When would she learn? He was going to pawn her off on someone else. She got it. She was done. So done.
“Leave. Now.”
“Sunshine—”
“Do not call me that. Do not,” she told him fiercely.
He blinked. Stared at her for a long moment.
“You need to leave now, Racar. Right now. Understand?”
“You look angry.”
“Really? I do? Gosh, I have no idea why.”
“You do not know why you are upset? These mood swings of yours are most worrying.”
She clenched her hand around the knife she was using to cut a slice from the tart pie she’d made this morning. She could not stab him. Violence was not the answer. Violence was never the answer.
“You should get back to work,” she told him, trying for a calm, even voice. If she wielded the knife in her hand with a bit more force than was necessary, she hoped no one noticed. Although the wide-eyed look of Neva, the Joyadan woman in front of her, told her that she might not have gotten away with that.
“Sorry,” she whispered to her.
“It is all right,” Neva whispered back. “I would wish to stab him too.”
She found her first real
smile of the day. “It’s a damn nice thought right now.”
“Want me to go get my mate?” Neva asked her. “He could scare him away.”
She sighed. “That’s a kind offer. But I think I have this.”
Neva gave her a doubtful look and she added a couple of cookies to her order. “For Mellie and Jarin.” They were Neva’s adorable twin girls. Neva smiled at her.
She looked at the next customer. “I am so sorry. Please give me one minute and I will be with you.”
The Zerconian female gave her a haughty look and sniffed. Then she looked over at Racar and her eyes narrowed. “Do not take too long. I do not have all day to wait for you. I have far more important things to do. You are here to serve me.”
“Of course.” Ellie forced herself to smile. She turned, and to her surprise, Racar was frowning at the female Zerconian. She was here most days, but Ellie didn’t know her name. Not through lack of trying, she’d introduced herself, tried to be friendly as she was with all her customers. But the woman had barely even been polite in return.
She guessed not all customers could be like Neva.
“Racar, can I speak with you for a moment?”
He nodded, still frowning at the other woman, but he followed her a few steps away.
“Gerlica should not speak to you in such a manner.”
“Huh?” she said, confused. Then she stared over at the Zerconian woman who was scowling at her. “Her name is Gerlica?” Amusement filled her. “Oh, don’t worry about her. I know the Zerconian women don’t like us much.”
“She still has no reason to use such a tone. You are not her servant.”
“Even if I was, I can’t think it would be that acceptable to speak to me that way,” she pointed out.
“What?” He frowned. “No. I suppose not. I know her mate. I have worked with him before. He is a researcher. I shall speak to him about her manner.”
Like hell. “You will not.”
“What?” He looked shocked at her pronouncement. “What do you mean, I will not?”
“I mean, you have no right to interfere in my business or my customers. So no, you will not speak to her mate.”
He leaned in, although thankfully, he didn’t try to touch her. She didn’t think she could resist him if he touched her. She was afraid of what she might do. She had a suspicion that, at the slightest bit of encouragement from him, she might climb him like a tree and attempt to devour him whole.
