The Alien's Little Sister (Stolen by an Alien #8) - Amanda Milo Page 0,7

like that would probably land me in prison for the wrong reason, but that’s about the only thing that would put my mind at ease.

Inara is searching my face, and it’s a struggle, but once I’m out of my head, I have to work to stay focused on her eyes. The rest of her is too damn cool to look at, her features—especially her curves, which, covered in scales or not, do everything in their power to catch attention.

They’re definitely trying to steal my attention.

My eyes have no trouble staying locked to hers the moment her next words leave her mouth though. “I parked in the woods.”

“The woods?” Stacy asks the question I almost bark—although she sounds more softly puzzled than pissed.

“Why,” I ask slowly, “did you feel the need to park in the woods, sweetheart?” I ask my new employee, who has no address, no ID, and who is giving me all sorts of bad feelings right now as she bites her lip and tries too late to avoid my eyes.

She waves a hand. “That’s not important.”

The fuck it isn’t.

“The point is, I assure you—”

Oh, here we go.

“—I’m fine, and I don’t need—”

Good God, save me from women who don’t need help.

“—your help,” she finishes, and I want to turn, walk back to my desk, and proceed to bang my head onto the walnut until I see stars or until women start making some fucking sense.

I don’t do that. I opt for what I think is a reasonable approach. Sometimes, I forget that it rarely works to reason with a woman. “You got it anyway. Let’s get Stace here to her car, then we’ll—”

“Mr. Shawnessy,” Inara cuts in softly, with what sounds like strained patience.

I can relate.

“I promise you, I’m fine.”

I nod. “And I’ll be right beside you to ensure that. Just let me get Stacy—”

“Matt!” Inara enunciates through her sharp teeth.

That’s when I lean in until we’re nose to nose. She’s tall for a woman. And her nose, covered in little scaly bumps? It’s cute. But I’m about to put it out of joint, figuratively speaking. “Keep up the attitude. It’s only going to piss me off while we do this.” I pause, letting her see I’m all sorts of serious. “You are not. Walking. Alone. We’re doing this.”

Inara’s eyes roll, the flash from her too-colorful irises to white orbs happening so suddenly that I flinch, and I hope she didn’t see me do it.

Stacy, still behind me, definitely did see it though, and I know this when she lets out a surprised little snicker.

“Can it, pipsqueak,” I warn her.

No, telling the kid this doesn’t work. It never works. Makes her laugh though, and that’s almost as good as if she just shuts her trap and behaves.

Fuck, why do I keep paying these little headaches. I should troll senior centers for my employees. Although, I grew up watching Golden Girls. Those old ladies threw sass just as bad. Shit. Women never grow out of it, do they?

To Inara, I tip my head and give her my firmest smile. “Let’s go.”

CHAPTER 5

We get Stacy to her car without incident.

The incident starts when Stacy’s still got her car door open, when Inara informs me that she can really get to her ship just fine.

“Your ‘ship,’” I repeat. “The one you parked in the woods?”

“Yes. That is the transport I mean.”

“Oh, crap, Matt, can I come with you?” Stacy breathes.

I cut her a wide-eyed glance. “I’m not sure.” Should I… have a witness? No, no—I can handle this. I don’t care if Inara is cracked, just as long as she shows up looking and behaving tomorrow just like she did today.

I shake my head. “Thanks, but I think you’d better get home.”

“Are you going to take her in your car?” Stacy asks in disbelief.

She’s got reason to be pretty stunned. My car is almost a holy relic. Practically created by God himself, it’s the Mustang to end all Mustangs: it’s a classic black Boss 429. It was my grandpa’s, and it was to be my dad’s. And would have been, if he hadn’t passed away so early.

I think that’s part of why my grandpa let me have his car. He was crushed to lose his son, and it hit home hard that life is too fleeting. And that’s when the vehicle stopped being a showpiece and started being a daily treat to drive. He wanted to enjoy every moment he had with it—and he wanted me to enjoy the car while