1. Marco

Chapter One

MARCO

My heart sank as I scrolled through the available job listings.

I'd seen all of these already. I'd seen them every day this week to be exact. I had the website set to alert me every time something new came up, but my email was silent. That didn't stop me from checking religiously, of course.

I needed something now, even if it was temporary. Even if it paid like shit. I would basically take anything.

Sighing heavily, I forced myself to shut the browser just as my phone pinged .

For a split second, I fooled myself into believing it was an email with a new possible job, but no, that was one of my dating aps. Alien Mates , to be exact.

It seemed I'd matched with someone.

A little flutter of hope went through me as I opened the message.

Meeting someone right now would be great. My romantic side hoped for the most—a long-term boyfriend, companionship, love—but then a dick pic came through.

I was taken aback for a full minute, staring at the thing which was distinctly not human. It was kind of shaped like a big, fleshy pear. Would that work ..?

"No, Marco!" I told myself, shaking my head.

I didn't need any weird alien sex that might lead to an ER visit. Not unless the guy wanted more...

Another message came through before I could decide how or if I should respond.

Hey

I rolled my eyes.

And if the dick pic wasn't enough to turn me off, the lazy message was.

I shut my phone, releasing an even heavier sigh and moved from my desk to my bed where I could dramatically collapse with enough room so as not to hurt myself.

My bed bounced under my weight as I threw myself onto it, groaning loudly.

Here I was at twenty-nine, months from my next big birthday with nothing to show for it.

I'd lost my job months ago. My savings were just about gone. I was on the verge of losing my apartment and probably having to move back in with my parents and I was so desperate and lonely that I had briefly considered trying to get to know pear-dick alien a minute ago.

This was where I was in life at the moment. Lucky me.

I'd managed to keep my chin up most of the time. After all, I had realized accounting wasn't for me ages ago. I had loved it less and less as the years had gone by. I just hadn't known what else to do with myself. Lying here now though, with no prospects whatsoever, hopelessness hit me hard.

"What was I going to do?"

My phone pinged again, another message from pear-dick alien, I presumed, so I didn't get up to check it.

I was open to aliens, I didn't discriminate to be honest and some of them were super hot. Of course, I was on all of the other ones too. At the end of the day, they were more or less all the same, but I would meet someone in any way I needed to.

It had been far too long since I'd had someone to curl up on the couch with or whisper to in the middle of the night. My last proper boyfriend had dumped me about five years ago now. Again, at the time I hadn't minded. We had already drifted apart and didn't have much in common. It hadn't bothered me much and casual dating had suited me.

I was sensing a theme; me, ungrateful for what I had until it was long gone. At this point, I would kill for my old job and old boyfriend back, if only for the comfort of knowing them.

Eventually I convinced myself to stop moping, to get up and wash my face and brush my teeth before I fell asleep.

Maybe I could watch a bit of TV before bed. It wasn't that late yet.

On my way to the living room, I remembered my phone and grabbed it, swiping it open to Alien Mates to see what new nonsense my match was sending me.

I paused when I saw the message though and it took me a minute to realize that it was from someone else.

Thank you for matching with me. I see that you enjoy cooking.

Huh. Someone who had actually read my profile and was trying to start a conversation. That was always nice.

I swiped to his profile, walking into the living room to get comfy on the couch while I looked at him.

Hyacinth. I remembered him. A pretty blue skinned alien with what looked like wings behind him. It was hard to tell. He'd only put up one picture and it was a bit dark, but I remembered his profile; Planet Sanctity, six-foot-three, anesthesiologist, single dad...

I practically ran back to the chat, quickly replying because I'd already left him on read for a few minutes and I definitely didn't want him to think I wasn't interested because I was. A tall, sexy single dad who worked in healthcare?! Sign me up even if he had a pumpkin dick!

I love to cook. What's your fav meal?

There is a dish from my home planet I have been fantasizing about.

His reply came instantly, and I grinned. I could only imagine what it would be.

Do you know the recipe? Maybe I can make it for you.

The flirtation banter at the start was always my favorite. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see if he was interested enough to set a proper date.

I don't know if Earth has the ingredients...

To be honest, much of Earth's food is very bland...

Oh. Damn. Either he didn't get that I was flirting or he just wanted to chat, but I couldn't help but try again.

Can you describe it? Maybe I can come up with something similar.

It is a grain dish, filled with large nuts and steamed in the leaves of a common tree back home.

Huh... okay, maybe I couldn't help with that. I didn't think I'd tried anything quite that exotic. I'd been hoping it would be something closer to Italian food.

I should let you go sleep now. You must have work in the morning as most humans do.

Jesus. This guy was a bit on the dry side. I knew there was a cultural difference though, and I didn't have anything to wake up for, so I tried to keep the conversation going if only for a bit longer.

No, I am looking for work at the moment.

It took him a minute to reply while I chewed my fingernails in anticipation.

What are you looking for?

Literally anything.

I'm this close to losing my apartment. Got let go from my job almost four months ago but can't find anything else.

What are your qualifications?

I laughed out loud at the turn of the conversation. Who was this guy?

Why? Do you have a position for me?

I paused, realizing how it sounded, but just as I was frantically typing that I wasn't looking for a sugar daddy, he sent another message through.

Possibly. I have been searching for someone to take a position in my home but am having very little luck. Are you good with children?

Good with children? For a moment I went completely blank, wondering why he'd ask that, and then I remembered that he had kids. Was this Hyacinth looking for a babysitter? Hell, it would be better than nothing while I looked for something else.

I'm not bad with them. I used to babysit my little sister growing up.

Weak resume, but it was all I had.

And I already know you can cook their meals too. Would you like to come discuss details? I'll have time tomorrow if you're free.

My heart started pounding. The idea of meeting him for a potential job—even a small part time gig, made me nervous after months of trying to find something.

Sure thing.

We spent a few minutes going back and forth about the time and then Hyacinth politely bid me goodnight and that was it.

So much for flirting and getting a cute, reliable boyfriend, but hell, at this point a job had to come first. Hopefully he would like me.

I wasn't sure where I'd been expecting an alien immigrant to be living, but Hyacinth's house was a normal one on the east end, which basically meant that he was pretty loaded. Seriously. A house in the city?! Who could afford that?

I had gone on exactly one date with another alien about a year ago and aside from that, rarely met them. But I knew that you never knew what to expect when it came to aliens. The array of planets and cultures out there was infinite.

He'd seemed pretty normal, if a little formal, through text, but I was still nervous as I lifted my hand and knocked.

He was expecting me already but for a moment I was sure that no one was home until I could hear footsteps from within and finally the door swung open.

I opened my mouth to say hi, but the words dried in my throat as I landed eyes on Hyacinth. Holy hell. He was so hot.

He was blue, which I already knew, but for a moment I was sure that he was the model used on the Alien Mates billboards and ads. His skin seemed to glisten and his dark, exotic features were alluring.

And I was staring.

I blinked, tried with all my might to shut my gaping jaw and failed miserably because he shifted and wings lifted up behind him.

Like two ethereal butterfly wings that caught the light in every iridescent shade of blue, purple, pink and green.

"Wow," I breathed.

Then finally, I caught the way that the poor guy was looking at me. Like a deer in headlights, like he didn't know what to say or do.

"Fuck," I muttered. "Sorry."

I clapped a hand over my mouth as I remembered that this was supposed to be an interview to work with children. His children.

"Oh my god, I wouldn't swear in front of your kids, I promise."

He still didn't seem to know what to say and for a split second I considered just turning around walking to the nearest grocery store and buying a tub of ice cream, and using the rest of my savings on booze to drown myself in. I finally had an interview and this was how I acted.

But Hyacinth seemed to recover before I could do anything.

He offered a polite smile and moved out of the way for me to enter.

"Please, come in."

Heart racing, I stepped forward, immediately swept up in a beautiful floral scent as I entered into his home.