Jett: Alien Adoption Agency #8 Page 2

  “I’d like to stop in at the general store on the way home, if you don’t mind,” she said. “There are a few things I need to pick up.”

  “Of course,” he told her, already resigning himself to the fact that this was his life now - shopping companion to a mate and child.

  What a fun way for a warrior to spend the next two decades.

  3

  Madeline

  An hour later, Madeline looked around the village, feeling pleasantly surprised.

  Though it was only one block long, it looked almost like a storybook village from the drawings of Old Terra at the library back home.

  On each side of the block, a row of attached two and three-story buildings boasted brightly painted trim and wooden signs declaring what was inside each.

  A park with benches and play equipment on the left marked the end of the shops and the beginning of a neat row of small, one-story houses.

  Opposite the park, a stone church was the only free-standing, non-residential building. A matching row of small houses extended past it, mirroring the ones across the street, until the block ended at a ridge.

  Beyond the ridge, the icy plains stretched all the way to the Chocolate Mountains in the distance.

  “Here’s the general store,” Jett pointed out, gesturing to the largest shop on the street.

  He hadn’t said much on the walk into town. But instead of feeling awkward, his silence had seemed comfortable, as though they were old friends, and didn’t need to fill the empty spaces with meaningless small talk.

  “I’ll just pop in quickly,” Madeline said, wondering if she might get lucky enough for him to wait outside.

  “We’ll come with you,” Jett said. “I could probably pick up a few things myself.”

  She buttoned her lip, nodded, and resigned herself to the fact that she would have to shake him inside the store somehow.

  He held open the door like a gentleman, making the bells over it jingle.

  She stepped inside, and was greeted by delicious warmth and the rich smells of a hardware store and candy shop all at once.

  The proprietor was a gigantic Bergalian, curled around a tiny holo-reader, peering at the floating text through a pair of old-fashioned reading spectacles.

  “Oh, hello,” he called out, standing to greet them, and showing off his two-meter-tall, furry brown form in the process. “Welcome to Atropos, I hope you’ll like it here.”

  Madeline blinked at him, wondering how he had known they were new.

  “Atropos is a new frontier, missy, and you’re in the only general store,” he told her with a smile. “If I haven’t seen you yet, it’s because you’re new.”

  “That makes sense,” she said, smiling back and feeling a little foolish.

  “Saunders Bly,” the Bergalian said with a wave.

  “I’m Madeline and that’s Jett and little Taj,” she replied.

  He nodded, with a smile for the little one.

  Next to him, even the burly warrior seemed short.

  “So, what can I help you with?” Saunders asked, looking back and forth between them.

  Shoot.

  “Oh, I, uh, just wanted to look around a bit,” Madeline said, hoping she didn’t sound as sketchy as she felt.

  “Make yourselves at home,” Saunders said, handing each of them a shopping basket. “And let me know if you need anything.”

  “Thank you,” Madeline replied, pretending to look at the items behind the counter.

  On the wall were valuable tools and materials, like chain and stone.

  There were shelves covered in bolts of colorful fabric beneath the tools and supplies. That meant there were probably no wardrobe printers. She supposed she would have to learn to use an old-fashioned machine for making clothing.

  Inside the glass counter were bins of dry supplies, candies, nuts and other treats.

  She kept walking, exploring aisles of cleaning supplies, cooking implements, and even a small selection of jewelry, sparkling in a case with floating lights.

  She grabbed a few supplies and toiletries she knew they would need, but tried not to over purchase without first seeing their home set-up.

  Jett followed her, carrying Taj on his hip. He had a couple of items in his basket as well.

  At last, she reached a shelf with reading materials. Most of them were ancient, printed books. That might increase her odds.

  Please, let there be a book of the good faith.

  She recognized the irony of praying for help in fooling people into thinking she was a member of a religious order. But she hoped if Maggie’s saints were listening, they would know she wasn’t trying to harm anyone. She only wanted to fulfill her sister’s calling to do good on the frontier and care for a child who needed a family.

  “You a big reader?” Jett asked, as he watched her pore over the shelves with shaking hands.

  “Sure,” she told him distractedly.

  It wasn’t a lie. She had always liked to read.

  “You looking for anything in particular?” he asked.

  She sighed, wondering if there was any possible way to distract him. The books were organized in no conceivable way. It would take her a few minutes to look through them all.

  “Mahhp,” Taj said suddenly, pulling his fist out of his mouth.

  “Hi, my love,” Madeline replied, charmed.

  The baby gazed at her, his eyes wide, feet kicking.

  “I guess he’s feeling more comfortable with you,” Jett said with a half-smile. “Want to see if he wants you to hold him? I’m glad to look through the books for you.”

  She just couldn’t refuse that offer.

  Taking a deep breath, she held out her arms.

  This time Taj didn’t fuss when Jett handed him off. He wrapped his chubby thighs around her waist, like she had been carrying him around all her life.

  The warm weight of him was delightful. Madeline felt a wave of love and peace wash over her as she snuggled him close.

  “You’re just an armful of happiness,” she told her son softly, nuzzling the fragrant fluff of hair on top of his head.

  Jett cleared his throat and she felt instantly silly for her dopey display of affection.

  “He’s nice to hold, isn’t he?” Jett asked thoughtfully, surprising her.

  “So nice,” she said, smiling up at the baby’s protector.

  She couldn’t help noticing it again, the sizzle in the air when their eyes met.

  She hadn’t been actually attracted to a man in a long time.

  I guess I had that in common with Maggie.

  “So, uh, what kind of book are you looking for?” he asked, tearing his eyes from hers.

  “I was hoping there would be a book of the good faith,” she said, deciding to come clean, sort of, at least. “I wasn’t able to bring anything like that.”

  He nodded, and she watched as he knelt to slide his hands over the spines in a gentle caress that almost made her feel jealous.

  Taj chuckled and grabbed a hank of her hair, pulling it hard, like he was trying to ring church bells.

  “You’re stronger than you look,” she told him, trying to free her hair from his mighty hold.

  “Stroke the outside of his fist,” Jett said without looking up.

  She did as she was told and was shocked to find the little one opened his hand instantly, freeing her hair.

  “Wow,” she said.

  “There are all kinds of little tricks,” Jett said. “But that’s a good first one for anyone with long hair.”

  “Agreed,” Madeline said. “Thanks.”

  “Well,” he said, standing. “Unfortunately, I don’t think they have what you’re looking for here. But they’ll have it where we’re headed, don’t worry.”

  “Aren’t we headed home?” she asked.

  “We have one more stop on the way,” he told her.

  “What stop?” she asked.

  “Let me surprise you,” he said, a hint of teasing in his deep voice.


  “Fine,” she said.

  He led the way back to the counter, and she couldn’t help checking him out just a little.

  His shoulders were so wide, his waist narrow, and his butt looked amazing in those breeches. She wondered if he had joined the Invicta with the sole purpose of rocking their armor. It was a fantastic look for him.

  They were nearly at the counter when she saw a display of colorful bottles of spirits.

  Madeline wasn’t a huge party animal compared with some of the women she knew back home. But the idea of a stiff drink after the day she’d just had sounded impossibly appealing. Her nerves had been on edge for too long.

  But she couldn’t be seen purchasing it. She was pretty sure that wouldn’t be in line with the teachings of the saints.

  Quick as a thought, she snatched a random bottle and slipped it into Jett’s basket.

  As soon as it was done, she immediately wanted to slap her own forehead.

  What was she supposed to do when he went to check out? Obviously, he was going to notice the bottle.

  She scurried forward and smiled up at him.

  “You’ve been such a help,” she told him. “Can I take care of your supplies? You’re welcome to run your other errand while I pay if you want.”

  His eyebrows lifted and he studied her suspiciously, those dark eyes narrowed.

  “I’m good,” he told her at last. “Though that was mighty generous of you. Besides, I’ll need you along for that last errand.”

  “All right,” she told him, bracing herself for him to freak out when he saw that bottle.

  Now that she was beside him and they had reached the counter, there was no way she could pull it out again without him noticing.

  “Did you find all you needed?” Saunders asked, standing again and placing his holo-reader and spectacles on the table behind the counter.

  “You have a very well-stocked store,” Madeline said.

  “Thank you,” he replied, making a delighted little bow.

  He scanned her items under the chip reader, and then she paid.

  Things were expensive. She figured it was because most of what she had chosen was imported from off-moon. She would have to start paying attention to alternatives that were made on Atropos.

  She focused on the baby while Jett had his items scanned.

  “Xirxian potion, eh?” Saunders asked, winking at Jett as he scanned the liquor.

  Saints of the book, of all the bottles, had she really grabbed a Xirxian potion? That stuff had a reputation for putting people in a very amorous mood.

  “Uh, sure,” Jett said, shocking her by going along with it. “A man needs a stiff drink after a long day.”

  “If you say so,” Saunders said lightly. The hint of a smile was pulling up one side of his mouth, but he was too professional a salesman to outright laugh or tease.

  Madeline concentrated on keeping her cool. Surely, she could find some way to explain herself. Though any reasonable explanation wouldn’t have required her to put the bottle in his basket instead of her own.

  And was there even a reasonable explanation for wanting Xirxian potion?

  Well, there was one.

  She felt her cheeks burning, so she chose to wander toward the door and pretend to examine a hologram advertising saplings and seeds.

  “Ready?” Jett’s deep voice almost made her jump out of her shoes.

  “Yes, absolutely,” she assured him.

  Ready for what was another question entirely.

  As they headed off down the street, she braced herself for him to ask about the bottle.

  But Jett didn’t say a word, and they walked into the cold, late afternoon light together in companionable silence.

  4

  Jett

  When they reached the end of the road, Jett paused dramatically in front of the small stone church and then turned on his heel and headed up the path to the wooden doors.

  After a few steps, he realized Madeline wasn’t with him.

  He turned to her, surprised that she wasn’t racing up the steps to the church. Maybe she was feeling guilty for having lustful feelings about him. And acting on them by tricking him into buying that Xirxian potion.

  He managed not to smile. Barely.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  She nodded, but she was still staring at the building with wide eyes.

  “I thought you would be glad to see that there was a church of good faith here,” he said. “Seems like it would be a happy coincidence. The file they gave me said you were a believer.”

  “A believer,” she echoed softly, nodding and looking like she’d seen a ghost.

  “We’re supposed to check in,” he said. “Hopefully, it will be quick, and then we can get you home to rest.”

  She nodded, buttoned her lip, and strode up to join him.

  What a strange woman.

  Mate, the dragon growled in his chest.

  The church doors opened before they finished climbing the stairs.

  “Come in from that dreadful cold,” an elderly woman cried out, gesturing to them as if she were rescuing them from a blizzard instead of a crisp, clear night.

  They obediently followed her into an entry hall. It was a dim space, with paintings of the saints covering every wall.

  “Father Lorenzo is in the temple,” the woman said. “My name is Peerta. I’ll take your cloak, dear.”

  He watched with interest as Peerta helped Madeline off with her outer layer. His mate had been covered so thoroughly, that he could barely make out the shape of her. And he was dying to see what kind of body was under all that fur.

  The cloak slid off her arms and then everything seemed to shift into slow motion, like something out of a dramatic holo-reel.

  Her scent wafted to him, sending a wave of lust through his blood.

  And her body appeared, bit by bit, small and curvy, and…

  Was that an apron of the good faith?

  His lust-addled blood ran cold.

  It was an apron of good faith. She was more than just a believer. His mate was already bound to the church.

  Desperately, he tried to remember everything he had ever heard about that particular belief system. Did the apron mean she was off limits? Was she supposed to be married to the gods or something? Was she meant to stay celibate her whole life?

  There were so many Terran religions, and right now they were all mixing in his head into a terrible soup of rules and restrictions.

  Why, oh, why, couldn’t these Terran types understand that the gods had given them happiness so they could enjoy themselves, not deny themselves in the name of piety?

  “Oh, just look at the blessed little one,” Peerta quavered, gazing at Taj, who blinked back at her from Madeline’s arms.

  “His name is Taj,” Madeline said with a smile.

  Peerta turned to Jett. “You don’t have a coat, dear?” she asked in her quavery voice.

  “I’m a dragon warrior,” he told her, gesturing to his armor. “I don’t feel the cold.”

  “You could at least have a jacket,” she replied, clucking her tongue. “You’ll catch your death.”

  But he had eyes only for Madeline’s apron, and he didn’t bother to reply.

  Peerta shuffled off, presumably to fetch the father.

  Madeline cleared her throat and Jett looked up from her apron. She was studying him curiously, as if she wanted to know what he thought of her commitment to the church.

  “My apologies,” a smooth baritone announced before Jett had a chance to say anything. “I was in meditation with the saints and did not hear you come in.”

  They turned to see a young man enter, a men’s apron of good faith hanging low around his hips.

  He was tall, built like an Arkadian, with the muscles and long blond hair to match.

  “I’m Father Lorenzo,” he boomed, holding out his arm to Jett. “Well met.”

  “Jett,” he grunted back, clasping the father’s arm and shaking it onc
e.

  “And you must be Sister Atwater,” Lorenzo said smoothly, turning to Madeline.

  Jett barely resisted the urge to shove him away from her.

  Madeline smiled demurely and kept her eyes on the floor, making a small bow.

  Rage bubbled in Jett’s chest. How dare she turn all shy and coy when this joker showed up. Jett was her mate, not the saints, and certainly not this guy.

  The dragon growled in his chest, and Jett did his best to contain it.

  “The agency explained that you were a pre-school teacher back on Terra-13,” Lorenzo said gently. “We hoped you might serve at our local school as well.”

  The dragon sensed her heartbeat speed up, as if she were terrified. Jett looked around, but he could sense no immediate danger.

  “Yes, Father,” she said softly, still looking at her feet “It would be my honor.”

  “Very well,” Lorenzo said, giving her an odd look. “Why don’t you come by tomorrow morning and meet the children? We have a wonderful teacher’s aide who can assist you. We don’t have all the modern comforts they do in the dome-city of Cupola Cove to the south, but I think you’ll find our little village quite charming in its own way.”

  Jett was pretty sure one of his brothers was headed to the domed city with his charge, which meant one of Madeline’s friends was making a new home there. Surely, she would have something to say about that.

  Madeline only nodded again, but didn’t speak.

  “It’s been a long day,” Jett said, noticing too late how loud and rough his voice sounded in this quiet space. “We’ll go get settled now.”

  “Of course,” Father Lorenzo said. “Peerta and a few church volunteers were at the house earlier. Everything should be set up nicely, and there’s food in the kitchen. It was a pleasure to meet you all.”

  “See you tomorrow,” Jett said quickly, helping Madeline back into her cloak.

  He held open the door and they headed down the stairs and into the night.

  She began walking quickly, even though she didn’t know where they were headed.

  Almost like she was as eager to escape the church as he was.

  What a strange woman.