When Lexi begins to tell another story I stop her. “Please. Can we talk about something else?”

  Logan says, “We sure can. I think I’ve figured out what my career on Earth will be.” He places his arm around my shoulders. “And you are going to be the force behind it.”

  “What?”

  “Eliza Grady is about to become a household name. We’re going to create a homemaking television network with how-to shows on every aspect of caring for a family.”

  “I love it!” says Mandy. “She really is a genius when it comes to the craft of living.”

  “Oh no.” I shake my head. “I’m not an expert at anything.”

  “Yes you are,” says Lexi. “Logan, this idea is brilliant.”

  Caiden says, “I think you’re on to something. If you need any help with the website, just let me and Hunter know.”

  Hunter nods. “Definitely. We could even cook up some fancy interactive programs if you want.” Lexi rolls her eyes at his pun.

  Logan says, “I like it.” He and the guys begin a conversation about mixing the perfect recipes with the table settings and specific holidays.

  I glance at my girlfriends in confusion. “How do they even know about this stuff?”

  “TV,” says Mandy. “I’m telling you, they take what they see as gospel.”

  I watch Logan’s animated way of speaking. He’s excited about his business idea, and I realize that it means I’d spend my days doing exactly what I love. I imagine sharing my tricks and tips with people, and my heart beats a little faster as I get excited too. I smile. He’s perfect.

  When Logan and I make our way home, he holds my hand tightly and describes his plans further. I say, “I’m glad you are so passionate about this idea. I think it’s going to make your life on Earth worthwhile.”

  “Do you even realize the best part of this?” He stops walking and takes me by the arms. “I’m going to get to spend my days working with you.”

  “Oh.” I gaze into his eyes that swirl with chocolate warmth, and my heart swells as I think about being with him forever. “That will be nice.”

  He leans down and kisses me. When he’s done he licks his lips as if he’s savoring the flavor of us and smiles at me. “I’m falling in love with you, my earth girl.”

  That warm sensation I felt around my heart last night returns, and I’m sure it has to do with Logan. Or maybe it’s because I’m ready to let him in. I reach up, and his hair is soft in my fingers as I pull him back down for another kiss. “I’m falling in love with you too.”

  Chapter 6

  “What do you think about starting off the wedding show with ours?” asks Logan. Over the past few days, we’ve settled into a comfortable routine of work, excursions in the city, and making out on the couch, followed by cards. We live together as if we’ve been roommates for years.

  I glance at the array of papers spread out over the coffee table. Logan is creating a business plan that includes me hosting a show about cooking, one for crafts, and another for home decorating. The rest of the network programming will include everything from coupon clipping to home repairs, and I’m overwhelmed by it all. “I don’t know. Do you mean we’d get married on TV?”

  “That would be the final show at the end of the season. I want you to walk the viewer through planning the perfect wedding.”

  “You realize we have to get married before you can officially start work.” One of Lexi’s requirements to keep the aliens from going crazy in a world full of women is that they have to get married before securing a job.

  “We can do the legal version at the town hall.” Logan reaches for my hand, and when I give it to him, he tugs me onto his lap. “You should have the wedding you’ve always dreamed of, even if we’ll already be married.”

  His breath tickles my neck and sends a shiver of desire down my spine, but I’m concerned about his idea. I turn to face him. “It’s true. I always dreamed of a fancy wedding.” I smile as I think about the scrapbook I kept as a girl with all my ideas. “And it might also be true that I know what I want right down to the wedding favors, but I’m not sure I’d like to share that with the world--and all of Eroscia--to watch.

  “Eliza, you’re going to have to get used to being famous. We can have a private side to our life, but part of what is going to make this business a success is you.” He nuzzles my neck. “Gorgeous, talented, smart you.”

  “I’m not cut out for this.” My heart rate increases as I think about speaking in public. “You see the way I get embarrassed all the time.”

  Logan begins to flutter kisses along my neck. “Um-hm, I like the way you heat up for me.” He works his way up toward my mouth, and I forget what the topic of discussion was as I get caught up in my sexy mate and the way he soothes me with his alien touch.

  When we stop kissing, Logan says, “I have an agenda of what we need to do for the next few weeks. Would you look it over and tell me what you think?”

  “Sure.” Keys click as he pulls up the document, and I read the first few days. “Wardrobe inspection?”

  He shrugs. “It’s important you have the right look. I expect you’ll get sponsored by a department store at some point. Or…” His eyes widen with excitement. “Maybe we can get you a clothing line. We’ll need to make sure you portray a distinct style.”

  I shake my head at him. “Your brain never stops, does it?”

  “Nope. I can see it now.” He waves his hand in the air as if he’s reading my name lights. “Eliza Grady Designs, dressing the stay-at-home Mom with style.”

  I hit his arm before I stand up. “Stop. I’m not a trend-setter.”

  “Not yet, but you will be.” Logan grabs my hand and pulls me between his legs. He grips my hips and says, “But first we need to get married, Eliza. I know this is fast, but almost five hundred matches have been made, and all of the ones over ninety percent compatible are still together.” I recall he said his father ran the beta side for Eroscia, and he likely had access to the numbers. “I love you, Eliza. Will you be my wife?”

  I gaze down at Logan who didn’t want to come here to be with me any more than I wanted him to. But we were immediately attracted to each other and willing to try. And it only took days until I was head-over-heels in love with my alien. The odds are in favor of us working out. On paper, he wants everything I do, and now he wants us to work together doing the very thing I love most. But most of all, I know in my heart we’re meant to be together.

  I nod, and Logan jumps up to lift me into his arms as he whoops. “I’m going to make you the happiest earth girl there ever was. Fame, fortune, and family. Just you wait and see.”

  When he sets me down I ask, “When should we go?”

  “I can be ready in an hour.”

  I grin. “What? You need that much time to do your hair?”

  “Very funny. I am going to wear something nice, though. Go get ready, my beautiful bride.” His smile gets big as mischief twinkles in his eyes. “We’re not playing cards tonight.”

  After spending time with a man who makes me feel adored, I’m able to flirt back. “Whatever will we do?” I turn to saunter away and let out a yelp when he slaps me on the bottom.

  Even though I know the only people who will see me besides Logan are a town official and some admin employee, since he plans to dress up, I will too. I put on a cream skirt and fitted jacket I have for fundraising events that I’m required to attend for my job at the museum. Once I’m ready, I wait for Logan in the living room. He appears in dress slacks and a button-down shirt that must have been tailored, because it fits him in a way that emphasizes his broad shoulders tapering down to a narrow waist. “Wow. You dress up those clothes well.”

  Logan smooths out his shirt. “Thanks.” He steps toward me and scans my body with his gaze. “You look amazing too.” He holds out his arm for me. “Let’s go get hitched.” I tilt my head at him, questioning his phrase, and he says, “Beverly Hillbillies. And I should add, you are way hotter than Ellie Mae.”

  I chuckle as we walk out the door.

  The town hall isn’t a long walk, but I don’t think I’d be nervous even if it were. Each step we take is moving me in the right direction. I tilt my face up to the sun, and it’s warm on my skin as my heart soars like a bird. I’m going to secure a future with the man that will be the father of my children and my partner in life. As we approach the municipal building, I notice a camera crew and wonder if someone famous has gone to court today.

  “Logan!” A young woman with purple streaks in her hair comes toward us. “I’m set up around the corner.”

  “Ashley,” he says. “This is Eliza.”

  She smiles at me. “It’s so great to meet you, C’mon, let’s get you two camera ready.” She turns and begins to walk away.

  I ask, “What is she talking about?”

  “Make up. We’ll be washed out on camera if we don’t use it.”

  “Wait. What?” My soaring heart lands with a thump.

  “This is going to be great footage for our show.” We walk to the alley between two brick buildings, and I see a director’s chair and a folding table covered in makeup containers. “I though we might open with the plain legal wedding that will look pale in comparison to the affair you create for viewers over the season.”

  “Oh.” I frown as Ashley motions for me to sit. The chair creaks as I lower myself in it. “I wish I’d known we were going to film our wedding today.”

  “It would have made you nervous, and you’d have spent more than an hour figuring out what to wear, Eliza.”

  He’s right, I would have fretted over what to put on knowing it was going to be captured for an eternity on TV. “I suppose.”

  “Trust me, honey, the more normal you are, the more your fans will love you.”

  I close my eyes as Ashley swipes a soft makeup brush over my face. “Right.” I do trust Logan, and I’m sure he knows what he’s doing. I take a deep breath and prepare myself for my first time on camera. “Of course.”

  The nerves in my stomach are a mix of fear and excitement, because this is a new experience out of my comfort zone, but it’s one I want as part of my new life with Logan. I reach my hand out to him, and he takes it and squeezes my fingers. “This is the beginning of your adventure, my love.”

  I gaze into the mirror Ashley holds before me and notice the polished look she created. My lips are a natural shade of red and there’s a blush on my cheeks as if I’m the girl next door. But I’m going to be so much more after I launch a career as the homemaking queen. I glance at Logan and let myself be mesmerized by the warmth of his eyes. His love wraps around my heart, and I smile. I recall the detailed business plan and all of my groom’s grand ideas. “This is our adventure. I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone but you, Logan.”

  Chapter 7

  I managed to get through the wedding taping as I was introduced to the world of retakes and director prompts. My face hurt from smiling, but neither Logan nor I complained about the number of times we had to redo the kiss and my lipstick. As we walk back home I lift my hand, and my simple wedding band flashes with the reflection of sunlight. Logan says, “Tomorrow we’ll tape the segment about your engagement ring. I’m looking forward to finding the perfect one for you.”

  “Are we going to shop for it together?”

  He stops walking and takes me by the arms. “No. I’m going to be the hopeless romantic and find you the perfect expression of my love.” He throws his hands up in the air. “The perfect expression of my love! It’s good isn’t it? I’m going to use that line.”

  I chuckle as I nod, and we begin walking again. “You really do jump in with both feet when you’re excited about something.”

  “You know it, honey.” The aroma of roasting hot dogs carries to us as we go by a food truck, and when we get to the newsstand Logan taps on a magazine. “Soon your face will cover one of these.”

  I frown as I imagine my boring appearance taking the place of elegance. “I don’t know about that.”

  “Well I do.” Logan takes my face in his hands and gazes down at me with so much love I can’t help but smile back at him. “Human men are going to wish they’d landed you, while my kind will wish they’d been the one you chose.” He leans down and kisses me, and when he pulls back he lets out a sigh. “I like being Logan Grady.” Because we gave the aliens first names to be followed by their test subject id number, it was decided the Eroscian males would take on their wives’ surnames. “Now let’s get home, Eliza. It’s time for an off-camera scene.”

  I lick my lips as my insides tremble, and I take Logan’s hand and our fingers entwine. When we get to the door of our building, he scoops me up in his arms. “We’ll have to reenact this for the camera at some point, but for right now, this is about only us.”

  I lean against his large chest and marvel at how he makes me feel small. The doorwoman smiles as we walk by. “Just married, Miss Eliza?” She rushes over to push the elevator button for us.

  Logan says, “She sure is.”

  “I am,” I say in a dreamy voice. “And I never knew I could be so happy.”

  She says, “Well there’s an endorsement for the Intergalactic Dating Agency if I ever heard one. One of these days I might need to get myself an alien too.”

  The elevator doors swoosh as they begin to shut and I say, “You do.” When we’re enclosed I tug Logan’s head toward mine and whisper. “Because everyone should be this happy.”

  We continue to kiss after the door opens again, and Logan sets me down gently on my feet once we’re back in the apartment. “Finally,” he says. “I’ve got you to myself.” He steps back and yanks on his tie.

  The fabric of my suit jacket is soft under my fingers as I undo the buttons, and I remove it to reveal the silky camisole I put on for Logan. It dips down to reveal the luscious breasts I know are one of my best features, and the desire coursing through my veins has hardened my nipples. His heated gaze tells me I achieved the effect I wanted.

  “Eliza.” Logan’s voice is throaty as his pants fall to the floor with a whoosh. I wiggle out of my skirt and step toward him.

  He’s in just his briefs, and his skin is hot under my palms as I place my hands on his thick arms. The muscle is as solid as steel and I say, “My god, sometimes it’s hard to believe you are real.”

  Logan slides his hands under my camisole and up my sides, causing me to take a shaky breath in anticipation of where he’s headed. He teases me by tracing the underside my breast with his finger. “You are spectacular, Eliza.” He cups me lightly and rubs a thumb over my nipple, sending tremors of pleasure through me. “I’m going to memorize every inch of you, my beautiful wife.”

  I sigh as I move my hands to his chest and explore the rock hard surface with my fingers. Logan reaches down to grab the back of my thighs and hoists me up to his waist, and I wrap my legs around him as he walks us to the bedroom. He lowers me to the bed where I get on my knees to face him. My camisole is slippery in my shaky hands as I grab the hem and lift it over my head. I’m usually shy about my body, but the way Logan’s watching me lets me know I have no reason to be.

  “So gorgeous,” says Logan as he removes his underwear. His thick erection is revealed, and I notice it’s in proportion to his body. He comes toward me and crawls on the bed as I move back to lie down. I gaze into the warmth of his brown eyes when he hovers over me. “Now I get to show you how much I love you.” He kisses me, and I slide my hands down his firm back as muscles flex under my fingers.

  Once I’m drunk from his taste, Logan moves down my neck and chest to pay attention to my breasts. He suckles me until I begin to moan, and then he continues his journey. I tremble beneath the feather-like touch of his lips when he flutters them along my stomach. His wavy locks stroke along my skin as he moves between my legs, and I inhale sharply when he laps at my sensitive folds. His hands are firm on my inner thighs as he spreads me for better access, and it’s not long before I’m mewling my approval.

  My insides burn with need as the pleasure builds. Logan lifts up to gaze at me as he replaces his mouth with his hand. As my orgasm approaches, I close my eyes. “No, Eliza. Look at me.” I open my eyes again, and he moves up and over me as he guides himself to my silken channel. “I want to feel you come around me, honey. Hold on for me.”

  Lifting my hips, I let him slide in deep. His cock fills me in a way that feels as if he’s giving me something I never realized I missed. “Oh, Logan. You feel so amazing.”

  “Yes.” He begins to move slowly but quickens the pace when he finds his stride. I meet him stroke for stroke as I grip his firm bottom in my hands and focus on the surge of ecstasy rising in me. Our small cries are in unison as we experience the pleasure of our physical connection. When Logan’s motions reach a frantic pace he says, “Let it go,” and I let the floodgates open to the sensations threatening to shatter my world.

  My orgasm crashes around me as we both cry out, and Logan follows me as I ride the wave of my climax. Just when I think I’m going to fall a sensation deep within my core spikes. Did he just....? The question leaves my mind as another orgasm quakes in me, more powerful than the first. I may even scream, but I’m too wrapped up in my pleasure to know.

  When I finally return to Earth, I wrap my legs around Logan tightly as if I can keep my alien mate with me forever. He must sense my need, because he squeezes his arms around me and whispers, “I love you, Eliza.” His skin is damp against mine as he sighs as if he’s realized a truth. “With all my heart.”

  His breath tickles my neck as he nuzzles against me. The warmth of his love surrounding my soul makes me believe he’s the man I was supposed to find. The perfect match I was too afraid to accept until now. I let all my reservations go and allow myself to love Logan with all my heart. “I love you too.”