Chapter 5

THERE WERE MANY ROUTINE tasks in a typical workday at the clinic. One that wasn't technically part of her job seemed to have permanently defaulted to her: picking up the lunch order. Amy didn't mind, actually, because it gave her a chance to step away from her desk for a little while. The waiting in line that went with it, unfortunately, she could do without. It was inevitable, however, with the limited options for prepared meals in the colony, there were few places to choose from.

In her hurry to return to her desk, Amy quickly navigated through the aisles of the New Hope General Store, which was home to the Lunch Counter. This place had two claims to fame. First, it was the only deli on the planet. Second, and more important, it was an alternative to Milton's Diner.

With her arms full of paper bags filled with sandwiches and salads, and without a free hand, she turned sideways and used her hip to push through the front door. Immediately, disaster struck as she stumbled over the uneven ground. Bags and drinks went flying in every direction, several landing on her. Despite the sweltering summer day, as liquid seeped through her T-shirt and bra, she let out a gasp at the icy chill.

"Well, that's one way to cool off in this infernal heat."

Amy looked up at the owner of the deep, velvety drawl. He loomed over her, incredibly tall, beyond handsome, and, because of her, drenched in tea and soda. The awkwardness of the situation made her cheeks flush with heat, betraying her embarrassment, the curse of fair-skinned redheads everywhere.

"Remus! My goodness, I'm so sorry! I had my hands full and wasn't watching where I was going."

"Apology accepted for the spill," he said. "Mistaking me for my brother cuts deep, however."

Upon a second glance, her gaze rose no higher than his wet uniform tunic, which clung to his chest and abdomen. The outline of his nipples, hardened by the icy liquid, and the sculpted muscles of his abdomen were impossible to miss. When she managed to detach her tongue from the roof of her mouth and met his eyes, she caught glimpses of vibrant blue absent in Remus' irises. Although Tarus seemed more serious than his brother, amusement lurked in his gaze. Probably because she was gawking like an idiot.

Amy scrambled to her feet. "You're Tarus, of course. I'm sorry, but you two are so similar."

He bowed slightly. "I tease. There's no harm done. It's a common mistake."

His gaze dipped down her front. She wore another graphic T-shirt, this one fitted, thin, in deference to the heat, and stamped across her breasts in flowing script the phrase, every once in a while, someone amazing comes along. Here I am . When his gaze lingered, she was almost afraid to look, but forced herself. Seeing what he saw—her practically see-through white shirt adhered to her breasts, nipples twice as big as his poking out like bullets—she gasped and tugged at the wet fabric. But it snapped back into place as soon as she released it, lewdly hugging her body once more .

Flustered, she crossed an arm in front of her and ducked down to pick up her scattered bags.

He cleared his throat. "Let me help you with those."

When their fingers accidentally met while reaching for the same paper sack, an electric shock ran up her arm, sending a tingling sensation down her spine. The sensation was so vividly reminiscent of her encounter with Remus, it jolted her to her feet.

She couldn't tell if he also felt it. He remained in a crouch, swiftly gathering the rest of her bags. "I'm afraid the drinks are a loss and will have to be replaced," he said when he stood.

"I'm late getting back already," Amy replied, her voice trembling and left slightly breathless by the unexpected encounter. "They'll have to make do with bottled water."

"Allow me to escort you to the clinic."

If it was any other time, she'd have jumped at the chance of this drop-dead gorgeous man accompanying her anywhere, even to the garbage dump. But she couldn't fathom doing so in her current state—sticky and wet, her clingy shirt revealing more than it concealed. Her intense reaction to two men at once, particularly when they were brothers, only made the awkwardness worse.

"That isn't necessary," she stammered. "You must have duties to attend to."

"Assisting the citizens of New Hope is one of my duties. When it's a citizen as pretty as you, it makes my job even more enjoyable."

With a scarcity of women in the colony, she had grown accustomed to flowery compliments. Typically, she would smile and brush them off with little thought. Coming from someone she felt an intense attraction to, warmth flooded her cheeks.

She took two bags from him, all he would willingly give up, and used them as a shield. Only then did she dare meet his gaze.

"You're quite the charmer, like your brother," she observed.

His disbelieving grunt came swiftly, followed by a playful smirk that seemed to challenge her perception.

"I beg to differ," he countered. "I'm the more charming, handsomer twin."

Covered and feeling more at ease, laughter bubbled up from her chest. "Funny. Remus said the same thing."

"I'm not surprised." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper as if sharing a confidence. "Between you and me, I don't argue and let him believe that it's true."

Tarus winked, taking her by surprise. This playful side of him was so endearing, it captivated her heart even more. But she couldn't let herself get carried away, not when she still had half a shift ahead of her.

"I should hurry," she announced and started walking.

He fell into step alongside her, matching his long strides to hers. Two blocks later, as they approached the clinic entrance, he inquired, "Are you scheduled to work tomorrow?"

"No, which is unusual."

"How so?"

"Since more help has arrived, this will be my first weekend off since..." She paused to consider the past three months—or nearly that. "Actually, I haven't had a weekend off since starting as the receptionist that I recall. Why do you ask? "

"The park dedication is tomorrow. They're planning a celebration afterward with food, music, and other entertainment. I'd be honored if you would attend with me."

She had to smile at his formality. Their manners and politeness were sometimes incongruent with their old-fashioned societal rules and views on women. She had agreed to comply as an EPIC candidate, but now, with two warriors showing interest in her, she was unsure.

"I don't know," she drawled, half joking, half serious. "You Primarians have a mate-first-ask-questions-later reputation."

"You speak of the claiming of one of your ships," responding to the serious side of her remark. "That was a desperate response to an untenable situation and long before the treaty between our people. Besides, you have no worries with me. I'm not even in the database."

"You don't want a mate?" she questioned, both confused and curious. The revelation challenged the widely held belief that finding a mate was the ultimate mission of every Primarian male.

He pulled her aside as two residents—both established patients with appointments scheduled for the afternoon—approached the doors.

"It's not that I don't want one," Tarus continued after they entered, and the closed doors gave them privacy. "I searched for a long while, but when no match was identified, I withdrew. That's not to say I've given up. I think you humans have an expression—never say never." His intense gaze, containing none of the previous mischief, shifted to her before going on. "If the Maker sent me the gift of a mate, I'd be grateful and overjoyed. For now, I'm content with my mission of protecting the colony. But I'm not on duty round the clock. Will you join me for the dedication?" he proposed again, softly. "It's supposed to be a beautiful day."

"You mean sunny and sweltering?"

"It's better than a monsoon and more mud."

"True," she agreed.

Amy knew the two brothers were competing for her, and she should decline, but she really wanted to go to the dedication. Adria had been talking about it for weeks. As the most influential and respected colonist, and the soon-to-be mayor, Beck would preside over the ceremony. At the conclusion of the food and music Tarus mentioned, they were planning a fireworks display. It sounded like a July 4th celebration and made her miss home—the home she knew as a child when things weren't so bad. More so, she wanted to spend time with the big, handsome warrior when she wasn't in a rush.

She found herself agreeing. "I'd like that very much."

His grin was dazzling. "Excellent. I'll arrive at your apartment to escort you at two o'clock."

"Or I could meet you there," she suggested.

"No," he stated firmly. "New Hope might look more civilized than it did six months ago, but it's still rough around the edges. I'm a warrior first. Never say that I don't protect the female I'm with."

His tone brooking no further discussion of the matter, she let it drop.

"I should get inside." Amy opened the door and held it for him because he had twice as many bags as she did.

Tarus set them on the counter and turned to her with a smile. "Until tomorrow at two. "

"I'm looking forward to it. And, again, I'm really sorry for the drenching."

He waved off her apology. "I found it a rather enjoyable experience."

When his gaze lingered on her face as long as it had her chest, heat rush through her and not only to her cheeks.

"If you need help with lunch in the future, all you have to do is ask. I'll be around."

When he left her with a gallant bow, exiting through the same doors as his brother had the day before, she got a weird feeling of déjà vu.

"Duh, Amy. They're identical twins," she uttered under her breath. Still, she got odd looks from the two patients waiting in the lobby. She flashed them a smile, as if she hadn't been talking to herself, and moved behind the reception counter.

In Tarus' absence, without his charm and physical allure distracting her, she couldn't help but wonder if their striking resemblance was the essence behind her deep fascination for both men. Running into him, quite literally, was purely accidental, but she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was more to it than a chance encounter.

AMY AIMED HER FLASHLIGHT at the wet rock floor as she made her way through the tunnel. The path was treacherous, the rocks slippery with water dripping from the ceiling. Each splat resonating in the rock corridor like a gunshot. She could only see a few feet in front of her, and the darkness seemed to press in around her, suffocating her with its oppressive weight .

Winded from anxiety and her rapid pace, she paused briefly, straining her ears to listen. In between the water droplets, she heard the low echo of footsteps. A tremor of fear rushed through her, realizing they were closer than before.

On shaky, weary legs, she took off again. Cold air wafted over her from behind, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end. She chanced a glance behind her, peering into the shadows.

She couldn't see anything, but sensed a sinister presence.

Amy pushed herself forward, although her strength was nearly gone. With a splash, she stepped into a cold puddle and lost her footing. As she fell, she reached out with both hands to catch herself. Her flashlight clattered to the tunnel floor and blinked out.

She swore she heard laughter with the next burst of chill air.

Amy didn't move. How could she, in the pitch darkness when she didn't know up from down, forward from back, or left from right?

All hope seemed lost.

Out of nowhere, a brilliant beam of light cut through the pitch-black darkness ahead. Her breath caught in her throat as a muscular, bare-chested warrior, clad in nothing but a small loincloth, emerged from the shadows and approached her. He covered a lot of ground with his long strides, long black hair flying out behind him.

Within seconds, he was by her side and swept her up into his arms, shielding her from the unknown entity that lurked nearby. She wrapped her arms around his neck, basking in the warmth and security his big body provided .

Before she knew it, they were outside, greeted by the breathtaking view of Terra Nova's three moons and a sea of twinkling stars in the deep-purple sky above.

Amy inhaled deeply before expressing her gratitude. "Thank you. I thought I'd never breathe fresh air again.

"Thanks are unnecessary, mate. I will always protect you," her warrior hero murmured.

When Amy's eyes popped open, she wasn't shaking in fear, sweating, or screaming. And, for once, she remembered. Except the dream abruptly ended before she could glean one important detail. Who was the warrior who had saved her? Something else suddenly clicked into place. He'd called her mate. A million questions swirled in her head.

It was still dark, so she rolled over and closed her eyes, hoping she could fall asleep quickly and pick up where it left off. Naturally, sleep wouldn't come; neither did answers.

"It was only a dream," Amy whispered, trying to console herself.

She failed.

Instead of hurling her pillow across the room, she buried her face in it and muffled her scream of utter frustration.