Chapter 4

4

E mbarrassed by her mother’s rudeness, Lila led Zhoel from the dining room, her heart still pounding from the tension at the dinner table. She pushed open the door to the den, revealing shelves full of ratty paperbacks, several comfy chairs, and a gas fireplace. Only the Christmas lights around the window currently lit the room, and she hit the remote to turn on the fire. Its flames burst into life, casting dancing shadows across the bookcases. Mom’s holiday mania hadn’t fully reached here yet, and aside from the lights in the window, the room was unadorned.

Breathlessly aware of Zhoel’s towering presence behind her, Lila gestured toward the rugged leather couch in front of the fireplace. “Please have a seat.”

The firelight reflected lavender highlights off Zhoel’s cobalt blue skin, emphasizing the cut of his jaw and the sensuous curve of his lips. Lila’s breath caught as he moved gracefully toward the fireplace and plucked up a snow globe from among the family photos.

“What’s this?” he asked, turning it over in his hands.

“A snow globe.” Lila stepped closer to see which one he held. He smelled like cocoa butter and sandalwood, a scent that made her feel pleasantly at ease. “You shake it to make the ‘snow’ inside swirl around.”

“Fascinating!” Zhoel turned it right side up, smiling as the glittering flakes drifted down among the miniaturized skyline of Chicago. “But why is it significant?”

“My dad used to bring them home from his trips, a representation of the places he’d been when he couldn’t be here with us. That’s why my mom goes all out with the decorations. I think she was trying to make up for his absence.”

“Does he no longer take such trips?”

Lila shook her head. “No. He had a heart attack a few years ago. Since then, Mom insists he only drive short routes, which has been hard on the business…” Her complaints died on her tongue as she recalled that terrifying Christmas in the hospital, taking turns sleeping on the uncomfortable pull-out chair next to his bed, holding his hand, praying for him to get better while he drifted in and out of consciousness. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “But we’re just happy to have him alive and home for the holidays.”

“It sounds like his illness must have been difficult,” Zhoel said softly.

“Yes. We still worry about him. It’s why Mom is so insistent about not talking business, especially around the holidays and especially when Dad’s around.”

She reached out to take the snow globe back, fingers brushing against Zhoel’s. A jolt of electricity seemed to pass between them, and her eyes lifted to find him staring at her.

“You are very lucky to have your family so near.” His hand clasped hers gently around the snow globe. “I hope us working together can help ease your stress.” The look in Zhoel’s eyes suggested that despite the date being merely a ruse, there could be more than just business between them.

Praying he couldn’t sense the turmoil his touch had stirred within her, she placed the bauble back on the mantel. She let her gaze briefly sweep the other cityscapes dusted in snowy perfection before turning back. “What about your family? Do you see them often?”

A tightening around his eyes and mouth spoke of some deep-seated pain, but then he shrugged. “The universe is vast. I don’t see them often.” He settled onto the couch, draping one arm casually along the back. “Will you tell me more about Christmas? I saw several instances of rituals with young children while I was in town.”

She laughed. “Rituals?”

“Yes. When I arrived, I found myself among statues that seemed to be offering reverence to an infant. And then there was a ritual with a man in a red suit I saw through a store window.”

“Ah.” Lila smiled and sat on the opposite end of the couch. “Christmas is… complicated. It’s supposed to be a religious holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ—that’s probably the statues you saw, a Nativity scene. But the holiday has grown to include many non-religious traditions, too. The red-suited man you’re describing is Santa Claus. Children ask him for gifts, which he leaves under a tree on Christmas morning.”

“Fascinating. Do all humans observe this holiday?”

“No,” she said. She’d never had to describe a holiday to an alien before—or anything to an alien, for that matter. “Not everyone believes in Jesus, or even celebrates Christmas. There are people who just observe the traditions of gift-giving and family time. Other people celebrate different religious holidays around the same time of year—Hanukkah and Kwanza, for instance—and some people don’t observe any holiday at this time of year at all.”

Zhoel’s brow furrowed slightly. “Such diversity among human culture. It’s remarkable. My clients would pay appreciable amounts to experience them all. I hope we can find a mutually beneficial way for our companies to work together.”

Lila glanced toward the open doorway before leaning closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “My family might be listening. We need to keep up the illusion of our date, remember?”

Understanding flickered in Zhoel’s eyes, and he scooted closer, his hip bumping her leg on the couch. “Of course.” His voice adopted a more playful lilt. “As I was saying, I would very much like to enjoy further experiences here on Earth with you.”

His cocoa butter and sandalwood smell gave her the crazy desire to haul herself over his lap and straddle him where he sat. She wanted to give him some experiences, all right.

Good Lord, what’s wrong with me? Did all aliens make human women want to do crazy things? She pulled a pillow onto her lap like a shield, fidgeting with its tassels as she tried to quell her nervous energy. “How did you get into the travel business, anyway?”

The playful light in Zhoel’s violet eyes dimmed, his expression growing serious. He leaned back slightly, turning to stare at the dancing flames in the fireplace. “My parents own a chain of luxury hotels. Growing up, I never liked how the local hotel staff were treated like non-entities by the guests. They were just background scenery for the visitors. When I… left home, I traveled a bit, enjoyed immersing myself in other cultures.”

He rubbed his palms up and down his thighs, as though brushing off a memory before turning to smile at her. “I remember visiting this one planet, Korrax-5... it wasn’t the most glamorous destination, not like the grandeur of Stratonis or the beaches of Maelara. But the inhabitants had a fascinating culture. Their lives revolved around light.”

Entranced by the idea of traveling to alien worlds, Lila leaned forward, the pillow shield on her lap forgotten. “Around light? How?”

“Their days are extraordinarily long—something like a month of your Earth days—and they hold a procession at each dawn and dusk. They gather around these enormous crystal obelisks and sing. The notes start a vibration in the crystals that synchronize throughout the city. Simply amazing.”

“God, I’d love to see that,” Lila said, breathless at his description.

He smiled at her. “I’d love to show you. The best part was the way they brought me into the celebration. I sang with them, feeling the hum of their song from the soles of my feet to the roots of my hair. I still keep in touch with my friends there and want to create that type of experience all over the galaxy—a travel experience that prioritizes a genuine connection with other cultures and personal growth over superficial luxury.”

“That’s a wonderful goal,” Lila said, genuinely impressed. She felt a familiar ache in her chest, one that always surfaced when she thought about the places she’d never seen. Now she could add other planets to her never-ending wish list. “I’ve always dreamed of traveling,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But between the family business and, well, life... I’ve never even left Bloomington.”

“Never?” he asked, shock visible in his features.

Lila shook her head and smiled ruefully. “Pathetic, right? Thirty-two years old and I’ve never even seen the ocean.” She fiddled with a loose thread on her cardigan, avoiding his gaze. “I even thought about getting my CDL so I could drive trucks like Dad, but I failed the test twice and nearly crashed our semi during practice, so I gave up.”

Before her melancholy could drag her under completely, she shrugged. “But hey, Bloomington might be small, but we have lots of things to do here. In fact, our annual Christmas Carnival is happening tomorrow. You should come.”

Zhoel’s eyes widened with interest. “I would enjoy seeing another aspect of human culture. And,” he added, leaning closer, voice taking on a sultry note, “I find I quite enjoy your company.”

She realized he was probably just saying it in case her family was listening, but she was enjoying his company, too. Perhaps he would stay in contact with her like he did with his friends on Korrax-5. Or perhaps he can help get our business back on track and I can actually take a trip to the stars . She let out a slow breath. “Maybe we could extend our… date for a few more days? To, you know, keep talking.”

He nodded enthusiastically, but then grimaced. “There is one minor issue. I assumed our negotiations would conclude quickly. I don’t have lodging. Perhaps you can help me arrange accommodations for the night?”

She wrangled her phone out of her back pocket, excited at the prospect of having another day or two with him. “I’m sure the Bloomington Bed and Breakfast has plenty of rooms available. Let me call them right now.”

Her fingers trembled slightly as she dialed the number. Zhoel wants to stay . And she was pretty sure he was interested in more than just business with her. After Craig, she’d given up on romance—but a fling with an alien? Maybe.

“Hello, Bloomington Bed and Breakfast,” a cheerful voice answered.

“Hi, Mrs. Hawkins,” Lila said, recognizing the owner’s voice. “This is Lila Carson. We have an unexpected guest in town, and I was wondering if you have a room available tonight?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, dear. We’re completely booked through the holidays. You know how busy it gets this time of year.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks anyway, Mrs. Hawkins.” She hung up with a sigh. “They don’t have room.”

Zhoel shook his head sadly. “Are there no other accommodations in the area?”

This is a chance to prove you can handle logistics, Lila . But the Bloomington B&B was the only one within a thirty-mile radius. She couldn’t fail now, and truly wasn’t ready for Zhoel to leave—for multiple reasons. Before she even realized what she was doing, she blurted, “We have a guest room here. Why don’t you stay with us?”

Zhoel’s eyebrows shot up, surprise etched across his cobalt features. “Are you certain? You seem to have many family members. I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“It’s no imposition,” Lila quickly assured him, suddenly giddy at the idea of an attractive alien sleeping just down the hall.

A slow smile spread across Zhoel’s face, sending a flutter through Lila’s stomach. “Then I gratefully accept your hospitality.”

“Great. I’ll go make up the bed for you.”

She rose, feeling light on her feet. Then the realization of what she’d just done hit her like a snowball in the face. Mom had barely been civil to Zhoel during dinner. How was she going to react to him staying the night?