Page 76 of Alien Wants A Wife

Mr. Smith and Killan appear next, and it’s much more obvious that Killan’s got Mr. Smith in a restraining hold, with one of the director’s arms twisted behind his back at an awkward angle.

Lydia is on her feet in an instant. Her eyes are flashing, and I think we’re all expecting her to yell at Killan.

“What happened?” I ask Roan, waylaying another argument.

Roan looks at me, and there’s something about the way he’s holding his jaw tight that tells me he’s angry—not Lydia-level angry but angry, nonetheless.

“John Smith and Chloe tried abducting Briar.”

“What?!” Lydia and I gasp at the same time.

“They knew about our business meeting and they knew Briar was going to be alone. After Sorin left, they flew their ship to his house and tried to drag Briar outside,” Roan explains.

A muscle twitches in Killan’s forehead. If I’d thought Roan looked angry, it’s nothing compared to Killan, who looks ready to strangle Mr. Smith with his bare hands. If I don’t get to him first.

“Then what?” I demand.

“Then, Briar fought them.”

“Is Briar alright?”

“She is well,” Roan confirms. “She and Sorin are sharing many kisses and congratulations, feeling well-satisfied with themselves.”

“Let me get this straight,” Lydia says. “Briar was almost abductedagain, but she fought them off. Then… when did you guys get there?”

“When Briar was still fighting,” Roan answers. “Sorin was… not pleased. He stopped John Smith and Chloe from taking Briar, and?—”

“And now we’ve got two prisoners?” Lydia interrupts before Roan can again describe Briar and Sorin’s make-out session.

“Not prisoners. Allies,” says Chloe. “We’ve come to an agreement.”

Mr. Smith hasn’t said anything. He’s got his chin buried in the thick folds of protective skin around his throat, and his tail is flicking back and forth, reminiscent of an angry cat.

Chloe pulls free of Roan and takes a seat at the kitchen table with her head held high, acting like it’s our fault she tried abducting Briar. She’s got balls—or delusions.

Definitely delusions.

If I’d had any trust left in Chloe, it would be shattered. I'm not surprised, though. If she helped to abduct Briar, Lydia and me once before, what was stopping her from trying again? Certainly not her sense of morality.

“What agreement?” I glare at her, as she gives me her best I’m-so-much-better-than-you smirk.

Rather than answering, Roan looks to his older brother. There’s a pause where I’m left doubting Killan will answer, then he pushes Mr. Smith toward the kitchen table, to take a seat beside Chloe. “They will finish filming LOVE GALAXY,” he says, not quite meeting my or Lydia’s eyes. “He will show the universe how my brothers have fallen in love with their Females. He will advertise our farm favorably. And hewillreturn Lydia to her home planet.”

“How exactly are we going to force him to do what we say?” Lydia asks, hands on hips.

“In love…” I repeat, but my voice comes out high pitched, as my heart hammers against my ribs, and nobody appears to hear.

In love?my brain is screaming.In love!

I blink. I feel like I’ve been struck over the head. Or, more accurately, like the past thirteen days have been one huge exam I haven’t known the answer to—until now. Turns out, when you’re seriously considering permanently setting up home on a planet at the outer edge of civilized space where there are no shops, no nightlife and limited opportunities to socialize with more than the same five people, that probably means you’ve fallen in love.

I can feel Roan’s gaze on me even before I look at him.

Of course I love him! I’ve loved him for days. Weeks! But I’ve been refusing to acknowledge those feelings because lovingRoan would’ve been me betraying Briar and Lydia and our cause to return to Earth.

Now Mr. Smith and Chloe are our prisoners (of sorts), the tables have turned. They’ve got to do aswedemand, not the other way around. In one fell swoop, the brothers and Briar have taken back control of our lives.

I step toward Roan, and it’s like we’re magnets, drawn to each other.

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