Avelyn and the Alien Daddy (Intergalactic Brides 3) (3 page)

“If you want to go out for a while, explore the town, I’ll arrange for a limo to take you wherever you wish to go,” Thrace offered.

She sank onto the sofa and beckoned for him to join her. “I was hoping that maybe we could just relax around here today, and then if you don’t have to work tomorrow, maybe Lily and you could show me around.”

“I have to work in the morning, but I may be able to leave early. They want me to report at five o’clock, but Lily and you could come meet me for lunch if you’d like. You didn’t get a chance to see the Terran station here. I could introduce you around. That way, if you ever need me and can’t reach me, you’ll have people you can turn to.”

“That makes sense. We’d love to have lunch with you. Is there a certain limo I need to use?”

“There are always drivers waiting in the lounge area downstairs. Just tell them you’d like to be taken to the Terran station and one of them will gladly take you. And there are always limos at the station, waiting to return us to the hotel. We haven’t been cleared by your government yet to drive cars ourselves, so we have to rely on the drivers. Since we tend to be rather large males, it made sense to hire a fleet of limos instead of relying on those small yellow cabs.”

“I have a lot to learn, not just about Lily, but about how life works for Terrans on Earth. I don’t want to say or do something that I shouldn’t and have it reflect badly on you.”

Thrace smiled. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m sure everyone at the Terran station will make allowances for you until you get the hang of things, especially since you’re taking care of Lily. No one around here wanted that job, not even the daycare at the station. I took her for a few days and then they told me to never bring her back again.”

“How horrible!” Avelyn narrowed her eyes. “They shouldn’t be allowed to work with children if they can’t handle one crying baby. Lily is sweet. She didn’t mean to disrupt their day; she just wanted to communicate with them. It wasn’t her fault they weren’t listening.”

Thrace thought his heart melted a little at her words. She sounded so fierce, protecting his child. Yes, she would make an excellent mother. He just wished he could make her Lily’s mother, but he couldn’t figure out how to dig himself out of the hole he’d dug. She’d become angry with him if he asked if he could court her, after bringing her here as a caregiver to his child. She might think he’d brought her here under false pretenses.

“Did I say something wrong?” she asked.

“No. I like that you’re protective of Lily already.”

“I can’t imagine not wanting to hold her and love on her. I don’t see how anyone could have called her a problem and told you not to bring her back.”

“Well, it worked out for the best. If they’d agreed to keep Lily, then I wouldn’t have brought you home with me.” Thrace smiled. “And Lily seems to really like you. I think it will be good for her to be home with someone who obviously cares about her. I know they say it’s good for a child to be around other children, and to learn how to socialize, but I think there’s plenty of time for that.”

“With the way things are going between the humans and alien races, I imagine it will only be a short amount of time before the human daycare and parents-day-out facilities begin accepting children like Lily. When that happens, you can send her to parents-day-out for a few hours a day twice a week so she can learn to play with other children, but still be home most of the time.”

“You’ve thought of everything.” Thrace fought the urge to reach for her. He wanted to touch her so badly he ached.

She smiled wistfully. “I did a lot of research when I found out I was pregnant. Now I can use that knowledge to help Lily.”

“Until you have a child of your own.”

She gave him a startled look. “I can’t have children.”

Thrace thought he’d misheard her. “What do you mean you can’t have children? You said you were pregnant before.”

“When my ex pushed me down the stairs, and I lost my baby, there was internal damage that couldn’t be repaired. The doctor said it was very unlikely that I will ever carry another baby. Not impossible, but highly unlikely. And if I do get pregnant again, there’s a good chance I won’t carry to term.”

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “You’re so good with Lily. I can’t imagine you not being a mother.”

He watched as tears gathered in her eyes, but she quickly dashed them away.

“Thank you. That’s the kindest thing someone has ever said to me.” She gave him a weak smile. “Being a mother is all I’d ever dreamed about, and because I was too afraid to leave, I’ve lost that chance forever. Maybe it’s for the best. What kind of mother keeps her child in an abusive situation?”

“You were doing what you thought was right, Avelyn. Don’t be so hard on yourself. The important thing is that you did get out. You saved yourself and now you’re here with Lily and me, and we’re very glad you’re a part of our lives.”

“That’s so sweet of you to say.”

“I mean every word. Lily already is attached to you and it’s only been a day. From the moment you took her in your arms, she’s been fascinated with you. She loves your hair; I’ve watched her smile when you smile, and she’s quieter for you than anyone else. It’s almost like you belong together.”
Just like I think you belong with me
.

“Lily is a very special, very sweet girl, and I’m honored that you’ve entrusted her care to me. I promise I won’t let you down, Thrace. I know you didn’t have to bring me here and give me a job, but I really appreciate it. And I know it’s probably too soon to say it, but I think I love Lily already.”

He smiled. “She loves you too, Avelyn. Anyone who sees the two of you together can’t deny it.”

And it was true. It was almost as if Avelyn was meant to be Lily’s mother, and Thrace had screwed it all up by asking the woman to be a nanny. If they’d had more time, if he’d gotten to know her before employing her, then maybe he could have asked for a different situation. Maybe he could have found the courage to ask her to be his bride instead of his nanny.

What was he supposed to do now?

Avelyn lifted Lily out of her car seat and set her down in the stroller. As much as she loved holding the little girl, she didn’t want Lily to think she would be carried everywhere they went, especially as she grew. Once she was buckled in, she waved to the driver, who had promised to wait for them, and hurried inside. The station was set up a little differently from the one in Las Vegas, but the reception desk remained the same. She approached, pushing Lily in front of her.

“May I help you?” the woman asked, scanning her from head to toe.

It made Avelyn a little self-conscious; she smoothed her ponytail and pulled down the hem of her knit shirt. She’d dressed for comfort, but now she wondered if maybe she should have gone for style. Not that she had many nice outfits. She hadn’t been able to scavenge anything her ex had bought her and had purchased most of her clothes at secondhand shops.

“We’re here to see Thrace,” Avelyn said.

The woman peered over the desk at Lily and her eyebrows shot up. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen her quiet before. Did you drug her?”

“Of course I didn’t drug her!” Avelyn had never been more affronted. As if she couldn’t handle one little baby without resorting to medication. The nerve of the woman! And to imply that Lily was a horrible baby. Avelyn wanted to reach across the desk and smack the woman. She clutched the stroller handle tighter so she wouldn’t give in to the urge.

The woman shrugged and picked up a handset. “Thrace, please come to reception,” she said over the loudspeaker.

Avelyn glared at the woman and pushed Lily off to the side in case anyone else needed assistance while they waited for Thrace. They didn’t have to wait long, but she noticed that he had paused when he saw them. He had asked them to come, hadn’t he? Had she misunderstood? No. She remembered clearly that he said they could meet him for lunch.

“What’s that fierce expression for?” Thrace asked. “Did I do something wrong?”

“I’m contemplating murder.”

His eyebrows climbed into his hairline.

She pointed her finger at the receptionist. “That… that
cow
insinuated that the only way Lily would behave is if I had drugged her! I just want to slap the crap out of her!”

Thrace bit his lip, but he couldn’t hide his grin for long.

“Why are you smiling?” she demanded. “She insulted our… I mean,
your
daughter.” Not much time had passed, but Avelyn couldn’t deny the pull she’d felt toward Lily. From the first moment she’d held her, she felt like the baby was hers.

“Our daughter?”

Avelyn felt a blush rising to her cheeks and shrugged. “It was a slip of the tongue. I meant your daughter. She insulted your daughter and I think you should do something about it.”

She couldn’t afford to slip up like that again. What if Thrace became angry that she’d tried to claim his child? She hadn’t meant the words to come out, but the more time she spent with Lily, the more she wished she was the precious girl’s mother and not her nanny. And the fact Lily came attached to such a handsome daddy just made the darling girl even more tempting. Avelyn had spent a restless night with damp panties as she’d thought about her boss. At least, she assumed he was still considered her boss. They hadn’t filled out any forms or contracts since arriving in Kentucky, and he hadn’t mentioned any. What if he wasn’t happy with the care she was giving Lily? It would break her heart to walk away from the little girl. From the first moment Lily had smiled at her, she’d had Avelyn wrapped around her tiny finger.

“What would you like me to do, Avelyn? The woman works here and has been witness to many of Lily’s tantrums in the past few months. Everyone at this station knows that Lily usually screams her way through the place, regardless of who is holding her.”

“I don’t care what they’ve seen in the past. They should treat your daughter with more respect.”

His smile broadened. “You are very fierce when protecting my daughter. I like that.”

She felt her cheeks warm even more.

“Come with me and I’ll introduce you around. We’ll start with Lily’s doctor, in case you ever need to bring her here for a check-up or if she’s sick. You’ll like Xonos. He’s married to a human female and adopted the woman’s human daughter as his own. They were with me the day I decided to adopt Lily.”

Avelyn walked alongside of Thrace, and pushing the stroller, followed him inside the clinic. He rang a bell and a moment later a Terran doctor came out of the back. He smiled when he saw Thrace and immediately hunkered down in front of Lily to greet the baby. Avelyn decided she liked him on sight.

“And how are you today, Lily?” Xonos asked.

The baby babbled at him and waved her fists around.

He smiled and stood, holding out his hand to Avelyn. “I’m Xonos, the main doctor at the station. Are you Thrace’s potential bride?”

She opened and shut her mouth a few times, but nothing came out. Bride? She rather liked the idea, but knew it would never happen. In order to be a bride, you needed to have the ability to give your mate a child, and she couldn’t do that. As much as she’d like to keep Lily and Thrace for herself, she knew it would never happen.

“This is Avelyn,” Thrace said. “She’s going to be Lily’s nanny. I found her in Las Vegas and brought her home with me.”

Xonos shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Avelyn. What do you think of the Lexington area so far?”

“Oh, well… I haven’t really seen any of it. We went straight from the airstrip to the hotel, and I left the hotel to come straight here today. I haven’t really had a chance to explore, but I’m hoping Thrace can show me around soon.”

Thrace winced. “About that… I can’t get off early today like I’d planned. There’s going to be an influx of potential brides and mates this afternoon and they’ve asked me to stay over to help with security. And I work all day tomorrow, so that’s out too.”

She felt disappointed, but she understood that his job came first. “It’s all right, Thrace. There will be other days to explore.”

“I have an idea,” Xonos said. “What if I called Victoria, my mate? She could show you around either before school lets out or after. Our daughter, Evie, loves Lily.”

“Well… “ She looked up at Thrace. “Would you mind if Lily and I went around with Xonos’ mate?”

“Not at all. There will be plenty of outings for us in the future. We’ll make plans for my next day off,” Thrace said.

Avelyn smiled at Xonos. “Then Lily and I would be delighted to explore the city with your mate, but I’d… “ She blushed. “I mean
we’d
like to have lunch with Thrace first, if that’s all right?”

“Of course,” Xonos said. “I’ll call Victoria and have her call you at the hotel. You can discuss when would be a good time to explore. It doesn’t even have to be today. You could always go in the morning after Evie is dropped off at school.”

“Thank you. That’s very kind of you. I look forward to meeting her.” Avelyn smiled. “I don’t have any friends here yet.”

“I have a feeling Victoria and you will become the best of friends,” Xonos said.

“Come along, Avelyn. There are other people I’d like for you to meet, but we’ll save that for another day. I’m only given an hour for lunch.”

Avelyn waved bye to Xonos and followed Thrace through the station and out into the sunshine. She walked toward the limo that she’d taken to get to the station and began unbuckling Lily. As she lifted the baby from the stroller, Thrace held out his hands. Avelyn passed Lily to Thrace and then climbed into the limo so she could help get the little girl settled into the car seat while the driver stowed the stroller.

Once Lily was situated, Thrace claimed the seat across from them and lowered the window to inform the driver of their destination. Avelyn used the time to study his profile. He wasn’t classically handsome, but she was very drawn to him. When Thrace looked at her, she had the urge to strip off her clothes and beg him to make love to her. She’d been in lust with men before, but something was different this time. She didn’t just want him for his body, or his daughter, she found him to be quite smart, funny, and very considerate. Avelyn truly enjoyed being around him and had looked forward to today’s lunch all morning.