He finally glanced away from Cassie to meet Gerri’s gaze. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard you’re a miracle worker.”
Gerri laughed. “I don’t like to brag, but…yeah, I am.”
A smile finally broke through the thin line he’d formed his lips into and changed his features from broodingly sexy to “holy shit this man is smoking hot.”
“Hello, Gerri,” said a man to Talen’s right. “I’m Vander Kasval. I have also heard about your ability to match couples including Alyx and Bella.”
Gerri gasped. “You’re the warrior king from Galaxa aren’t you?”
Vander grinned. His green eyes lit with an internal energy. “Yes, I am.” He picked up her small pale hand and brought it up to the center of his chest. “It is an honor to meet you.”
Cassie gaped. She’d never seen anyone say hello that way. It was so…personal. All that touching freaked her out a little. Gerri didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she appeared to be quite taken with the warrior.
“So nice to meet you.” Gerri turned to Cassie and smiled. “Vander, Talen, this is my assistant, Cassie. She’s here with me to meet the babies.”
Cassie waved at both men, taking a step back and not wanting anyone to grab her hand and put it on their very muscular looking pecs. She might drool and that wouldn’t look good for her or Gerri. “Nice to meet you.”
EIGHT
“This has been quite a day,” Gerri grinned at the men. “Are you enjoying your visit, Vander?”
Vander glanced at Cassie with interest. “I am. Maybe we can discuss my use of your services?”
Gerri frowned. “My current services are normally for shifters but I could probably start a secondary matchmaking service to service others like you. Warriors that don’t necessarily shift.” She laughed. “Otherworldly beings that need love too.”
“It would be an honor to speak with you at some point and discuss this.”
Gerri nodded. “I will definitely get back to you. Leave some communication details for me with Karel and we’ll chat once all this is over.”
Vander was just as hot as Talen in a completely different way. Talen had a whole wild, scruffy look that she swore meant he’d tear a woman’s clothes off and fuck her brainless without needing a bed.
Vander on the other hand appeared to have the “I’m going to fuck you senseless” look down pat. Probably on the wall or doggy style or oh my lord, what was she thinking? Being around them made Cassie feel like she needed to cover up. They were both staring holes into her powder blue dress.
She cleared her throat and decided she had to get a drink before she melted into a puddle from the two men’s stares. “Gerri,” she mumbled. “I’m going to grab a drink.” She turned and walked off before Gerri had a chance to say anything.
Whew! She turned a corner and almost ran into one of the people walking around with a tray of drinks. They appeared to be champagne flutes but with a different kind of liquid inside.
“What is it?” She asked.
“Sidaii wine,” someone said behind her.
She took the glass and turned. “Talen, right?”
He nodded. “Are you unwell?”
She brought the flute to her mouth and drank before replying. “No, just getting used to the travel from Earth, even though we’ve been here close to two days.” And the fact he was so good looking. She gulped down the drink. “It’s kind of hot here.”
She didn’t really like guys with those serious faces and eyes that appeared to look into the very depths of her soul, but here she was daydreaming of Talen stripping down to his birthday suit and banging her like a screen door during a category five hurricane.
“You came from Earth just to attend the welcoming of the babies?” He seemed surprised she’d do that.
“I had nothing better to do,” she mumbled. Her father and Victoria gushing about their own baby made the decision for her. She needed to go. She could barely find a man who didn’t take her for a sucker and then Victoria’s news hit her hard. It shouldn’t have, but it did. It made Cassie realize she didn’t have her life in order. She wanted something worthwhile and special.
Sure, she had a job with Gerri, but she had no decent relationship or even a prospect of one. The worst part was the children. At thirty-seven, she’d always thought she’d have a family by then. Now she got to see her father start another family while she was still learning how to handle men.
She felt like a loser and so she’d chosen to get away instead of staying around and feeling worse for herself.