Yool holidate with an al.., p.1
Yool: Holidate with an Alien, page 1
YOOL
HOLIDATE WITH AN ALIEN
TANA STONE
BROADMOOR BOOKS
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Also by Tana Stone
About the Author
CHAPTER 1
Brooke
“Are you sure you didn’t do this on purpose?” Dani wrinkled her nose as we entered the bar.
Her reaction wasn’t unwarranted. The dingy place smelled of sour ale and even more pungent bodies. Our shoes stuck to the floor as we walked, and I was pretty sure the things I saw scuttling in the corners weren’t dust bunnies.
“Do what?” I assumed my most innocent facial expression, even though my lips quivered. “We needed to stop to refuel.”
Dani folded her arms across her chest, nearly hiding the Valox insignia emblazoned on one side as she eyed me with suspicion. “There are other outposts with refueling stations, Brooke.”
I twitched one shoulder and winked at her. “None of them have the same bootleg whiskey from Calderon.”
“Or card games running in the back room.”
I pressed a hand to my heart in mock surprise. “Are you implying that I rigged our journey, so we’d need to stop here and refuel, while I helped lighten the purses of these good folks?”
My copilot snorted a half laugh as we both surveyed the slack figures leaning against the long bar or precariously perched on rickety stools or sagging over empty tankards. Calling these drunks, down-on-their-luck mercenaries, and washed-up pirates ‘good folks’ was an undeserved kindness.
As much as I wanted to pretend that I didn’t know what Dani was implying, my fellow resistance pilot and closest friend was right about me. I’d known very well where our patrol route would take us. I’d known which bar we’d visit. I’d known what would happen as we walked through the door. My heart raced and my fingers buzzed with the possibility of holding well-worn cards in my hands, the paper soft at the edges and the colorful figures faded as they peered up at me. I’d known I wouldn’t be able to resist.
“Sometimes I wonder why you joined the resistance when you love this so much.” Dani shook her head, but the expression on her face wasn’t judgmental. Almost everyone who’d ended up fighting with the Valox had some kind of dodgy past. Mine just happened to involve a father who’d taught me to play cards and win. The only differences between me and my low-life dad was that I didn’t cheat, and I would never have left my kid behind when the empire came looking.
“I can love cards and crushing the empire at the same time.” I patted my chest. “My heart is big enough for both.”
I didn’t have to state the obvious. I was an even better pilot than I was a card player, and that was saying something. I also detested the Zagrath, and I’d found a home with other renegades who felt that same way. Even though we’d all but destroyed the empire, with the help of the Vandar, there was evidence that it hadn’t been entirely eliminated, which was why we still flew patrols to look for signs of the enemy.
“Let’s hope this time we don’t get chased out by a Sporolian with a bad temper and a barbed tail.”
I laughed at the memory, although I agreed with Dani. That wasn’t the way I wanted to leave the outpost. Not this time.
“I promise not to take any big wagers,” I told my friend. “I’d be content with a little extra for holidays gifts.”
Dani muttered a curse under her breath. “I’d almost forgotten about the holiday party coming up.”
“How could you forget?” I grinned at her. “Christmas is one of the few carryovers from Earth traditions that I like. Presents, cookies, cheesy songs. What’s not to like?”
She shook her head at me and laughed. “Your obsession with Christmas is almost as unexpected as your gambling skills.”
Dani wasn’t the first person to be startled that a human female with unruly brown curls usually pulled up in a ponytail and a smattering of freckles could be so ruthless at the card table. I didn’t look like the gamblers that frequented card rooms, which was a crucial part of my strategy.
“What can I say?” I winked at her. “I’m full of contradictions.”
The green-skinned bartender spotted us lingering inside the doorway, and his beady eyes narrowed even more. It wasn’t the first time I’d visited the place, although I did like to allow time between my visits so patrons would forget how badly I fleeced them each time.
“Hey Zank!” I strode to the end of the bar and slapped a dull, silver disc on the scarred surface, hoping to pre-empt any complaints with a show of credits. “You still have some of that Calderon whiskey?”
The alien eyed the currency, grunted, and reached beneath the bar for a bottle of dark-amber liquor that changed colors as he poured it into two glasses. “It’s been a long time since you showed your face around here.”
I took my glass and swirled the contents. “Miss me?”
He emitted another grunt, but it wasn’t unfriendly. The credits he deftly swiped from the bar probably helped. “No game today.”
My excitement instantly deflated, even though I made a point not to let it show. “No worries. We’re just grabbing a drink while our ship refuels.”
Dani slid her glass from the bar and clinked it with mine. “To refueling without having to run for our lives.”
I took a slug of my whiskey, but I couldn’t fully savor the smooth burn of the liquor or the sweet kick when it bit the back of my throat or the heat when it hit my stomach. I was too disappointed.
“You know you don’t need to buy a gift for me.” Dani turned and propped her elbows on the bar behind her. “The memory of your face when you realized that you’d won a shipment of Pavellian humming beetles at the card game on Vorren is gift enough.”
I shot her a look. “It took weeks to find all of them after they escaped from the crates, and even longer to find a buyer. You know, I can still hear them humming sometimes.”
“I know! It was my ship they escaped in, too.” Dani unconsciously scratched at her arm and shuddered. “I hate insects.”
We both started laughing at the memory, and I tossed back the last of my whiskey. “Point taken. I need to make sure I don’t accept vague wagers.”
Dani rolled her eyes. “That was so not my point.”
“Okay, okay. I could probably enjoy the party without buying the perfect gifts for everyone.”
She snapped her fingers and pointed at me. “That was my point. Besides, you might have more to worry about this year.”
I put my glass on the bar and tapped it for a refill. “What does that mean?”
Dani shifted from one foot to the other, her gaze dropping. “Remember how I told you that Gregor is interested in you?”
“The new grease monkey?”
“Mechanic,” she corrected, “but, yeah. The guy with short, blond hair and lots of confidence.”
I frowned. “He’s not my type.”
“I’m only telling you what Mika overheard in the mess hall. He’s planning to use the holiday party and the free-flowing booze to make his move on you.”
I cringed. “He already asked me out, and I said no.”
“Like I said, he seems very confident.”
The bartender filled my glass, and I quickly pounded it, welcoming the bite of the whiskey as it slid down my throat. What I did not welcome was guys who didn’t take no for an answer. Did he think I was playing hard to get? Did he think no meant maybe? Did he think I just needed to be convinced? Or maybe he thought I was the kind of woman who wanted to be flattered and pursued and chased until she gave in.
I wasn’t.
Suddenly, I dreaded the holiday party I’d been so excited about, which made me even angrier. I’d always loved the weird Earth holiday, with its fat man dressed in red and his little-people assistants and his flying delivery livestock. None of it made any sense, which was one of the many reasons I loved it. It had also been something that my mother had loved, and my few memories of her were meshed with recollections of colorful presents stuffed into decorated socks and silly songs about reindeer and bells that jingled.
I squared my shoulders as the alien whiskey churned in my belly. “No way am I going to let some newbie mechanic ruin Christmas for me.”
Dani nodded with just as much resolve. “Damn straight. We’ll just have to find a way to stop him from hitting on you.” She held up a finger as I opened my mouth. “One that doesn’t include sedating him or tying him up for the duration of the party or getting him abducted by space pirates.”
“Good idea.” I nudged her. “Let’s consider space pirates our Plan B.”
She sighed. “So, what’s our Plan A?”
Before I could think of one, Zank braced his thick arms on the bar and leaned over. “If you still want a game, a player just walked in.”
I swiveled my head toward the silver-skinned alien standing inside the door, and trie d to keep my breath from hitching as I eyed his bare, muscular chest and dark hair spilling down his shoulders. Things were looking up.
CHAPTER 2
Yool
My nose twitched at the familiar scents—sweat, cheap liquor, desperation. I eyed the dank bar and the patrons hunched over empty tankards as twangy music played in the background. It was good to be back.
My engineer groaned as he waddled up to me, his bald, blue head only reaching my waist. “I can’t believe we’re back in this shithole. You truly are a glutton for punishment.”
I thumped a hand on his shoulder, almost knocking him off his feet. “What do you mean, Wyn? The last time we were here, we left with a heavy purse and a pretty female in my bed.”
“Your purse and your bed,” my friend grumbled. “We’re on a schedule this time, remember?”
I ignored his reminder. “Our client wouldn’t begrudge us a break. Besides, don’t I always share with you? The winnings, at least.”
My Rellian crew mate muttered darkly under his breath about our clients not being understanding in the least. Again, I tried not to pay attention to Wyn, even though he was right. As smugglers who moved various contraband throughout the sector, we were not known for having the most easygoing clients. We were paid handsomely to ensure that their often-illegal cargo reached its destination without delay.
Since the Zagrath Empire had been crushed, we didn’t need to dodge imperial enforcers anymore, but we did have to steer clear of competing smugglers or space pirates out to commandeer our cargo. I gave the customers in the bar a quick once-over, satisfied that none of them appeared to be a threat—or capable of standing without assistance.
My gaze snagged on two humans at the end of the bar who were talking to the bartender. Now that was something you didn’t usually see at a place like this. They were clearly military, but not imperial soldiers. Rebels maybe, but the one with the curls pulled up high looked too innocent to be part of the scrappy rebellion forces in this part of space. Even the dark-haired one who looked less than pleased to be here didn’t strike me as a fighter.
“Don’t even think about it.”
I glanced down at Wyn, who was glaring at me with his shirt arms crossed tightly over his chest. “What?”
“You know what I mean, Yool.” His pale blue eyes narrowed, although they never blinked. “We do not have time for you to charm a female into your bed this time.”
My mouth fell open as I pretended to be offended at his very astute and completely accurate accusation. I’d been wondering which of the humans would be easier to charm out of her uniform pants, and I’d almost settled on the wide-eyed one with curly hair. She might look like she’d never fallen into bed with a stranger, but I did love a challenge.
“Who said anything about bed?” I adjusted the strap crossing my chest and strode toward the bar. “I’m here for a drink.”
Wyn followed me, as did his complaints. When we reached the bar, I gave him a quick hoist onto a stool and leaned my forearms on the edge as I pretended to eye the bottles lining the wall behind the heavyset bartender. I hoped he didn’t recognize me, or at the very least that he wouldn’t toss us out on our asses.
The last time we’d patronized his bar, the female I’d ended up taking back to my bed had been the establishment’s only waitress. It was only after we were lying together naked and catching our breath that she’d mentioned being the owner’s niece.
I swallowed and didn’t meet the bartender’s gaze. I couldn’t be the only Zarbling who’d visited, although I might be the only one who’d banged his niece. At least I didn’t spot the female in question, which was a relief. I wasn’t the type of smuggler with a female at every outpost. I was more of a love-‘em-and-leave-‘em guy, heavy on the leaving.
“What can I get you two?”
I released a breath, grateful that Wyn and I hadn’t been recognized. Then again, it had been a while since our last stop. Maybe I wasn’t the only smuggler who’d enjoyed the pleasures of the bar’s staff.
“Two Parthian ales,” Wyn answered for me, slapping a coin on the bar.
I would have preferred a smoother drink, but Wyn controlled the purse until we got paid, and he didn’t need to tell me that we were running low on funds. That was why we’d taken the cargo no questions asked. It was also why I knew my engineer wouldn’t put up too much of a fight if I could get in a card game. As much as he complained, my winnings were what kept our ship in good repair.
The bartender slid two glass tankards to us, the contents sloshing onto his thick, green hands. Before he turned, I leaned forward. “You wouldn’t happen to have a game room, would you?”
I knew very well that he did, but I felt no need to remind him that I’d been inside the room, won big, and then bagged his niece.
His dark, bushy eyebrows lifted as he studied me.
I tried not to flinch under his assessment, praying that nothing about me jogged his memory.
“I might.” He flicked a wary glance down the bar. “You don’t mind playing with females, do you?”
I blinked at him, then stole a glance at the pair he clearly meant. “The humans?”
“One of them mentioned liking cards, but I don’t know how much she’s played.” He shook his head. “She might not be your speed.”
I put a hand over his to keep him from pivoting away. A female who didn’t know what she was doing? It was too good to believe. “I don’t mind. I’m an amateur myself.”
Wyn choked on his ale, but I pointedly ignored him.
“You sure you just want a friendly game?” The bartender folded his beefy arms as he appraised me. “The big players usually come in later. You could wait for them.”
I shook my head, trying not to seem too eager. “A friendly game to pass the time is perfect.”
He grunted, seeming to accept this, and jerked his head for me to follow him to the other end of the bar.
“Don’t wait up for me,” I whispered to Wyn with a sideways grin before I followed.
“This is a mistake,” he said under his breath.
“How could a card game with some sweet human females be a mistake?” I patted him on the back. “I’ll take their money and be back on the ship before you know it.” My pulse quickened as I spotted the curly-haired female looking at me with wide-eyed curiosity. “If I’m lucky, I’ll bring a guest.”
Wyn groaned so loudly that a nearby alien slumped over an empty glass jerked and looked up. “If you were as smart as you are handsome, we’d be the richest smugglers in the galaxy.”
I frowned at this, even though I didn’t mind being called handsome, even if it was by my friend. “How could I be so good at cards without smarts?”
“I stand corrected. When you’re making decisions with your brain, you’re great. It’s just that you put your dick in charge way too often. Like now.”
I backed away from him and toward the far end of the bar. “I promise you I’m not thinking with my dick this time. You’ll see, once I show you my winnings.”
I spun around and left Wyn complaining to himself. Part of me knew that he had a point. In the past, I’d made some bad decisions and they usually involved females. But this was the opposite of that. This was a surefire way to score some quick credits. I eyed the pretty female smiling at me as I approached, and my heart tripped. Part of me felt guilty that I was going to take all her money, but I pushed that aside.
You can always offer to comfort her in the best way you know how.
This made me feel better. No female could resist my charms once I was pouring it on like the sweetest Valorian syrup. And I’d yet to meet a female I couldn’t please, even if they weren’t always thrilled that I had to run off. But that was part of the fun. No strings attached. No commitments. No regrets. At least for me.
