Celeste and the Alien Bartender

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  Her mother smiled with humor gleaming in her eyes. “I’ve seen the way you look at him. I don’t think you’re going to have any trouble, and he seems like the sort to take care of your needs before his own.”

  “I’m overthinking things, aren’t I?”

  “Just a bit. It’s perfectly natural to be nervous, but just let your heart guide you. Your Zanar seems well-mannered, and I believe he has a kind soul. I truly don’t think he would ever hurt you, not intentionally. Just get to know him and see where things go.”

  “All right. Let’s go see if he’s downstairs. And please… if I start babbling, jump in and save me. I don’t want to make a fool of myself in front of him.”

  “How’s that song go? Something about fools rushing in? Maybe being a fool isn’t always such a bad thing.”

  Celeste rolled her eyes. “You’re a hopeless romantic. You’ve already planned the wedding, haven’t you?”

  Her mother shrugged and smiled at her.

  Celeste shook her head and led the way downstairs. Her heart leaped when she saw Zanar sitting in one of the lobby chairs. His hands were clasped between his knees and his toe was tapping impatiently. She saw him glance at the clock on the wall and she smiled a little. It seemed that maybe she wasn’t the only one who was anxious. It endeared him to her even more. Maybe her mother was right. She should just enjoy her time with Zanar and see what happened.

  His gaze lifted and clashed with hers; a smile spread across his sinful lips. He stood and walked briskly toward her, almost as if he couldn’t bear to be apart from her another moment. She felt giddy at the prospect of dating someone and then wondered if Terrans went on dates. They’d had one this morning, but how did they typically go about finding a mate? They’d talked so much about her this morning; she’d learned precious little about him, something she’d have to change.

  “I hope we didn’t keep you waiting long,” her mother said when Celeste couldn’t find her tongue.

  “Not at all,” Zanar said.

  “I didn’t know how fancy the hotel restaurant was,” Celeste said, smoothing a hand over her dress from earlier that morning. “Is this okay, or should I change?”

  “You’re perfect,” he said softly, and she could tell he meant it.

  Her cheeks warmed, and she took his outstretched hand, letting him lead her to the restaurant. Her mother trailed behind them, giving them some time alone. Celeste tightened her grip on Zanar’s hand as they entered the restaurant, which to her looked pretty swanky. The tables were draped with white tablecloths, and a single rose was in a vase in the middle of every table. The strains of a quartet could be heard even from the entryway.

  “Zanar, I really think I should change.”

  “Relax, Celeste. I think you look beautiful, and I’m sure every man in the room will agree with me. Stop worrying about what other people think.” He stared down at her. “Do you feel pretty in your dress?”

  She hesitated only a moment before she nodded.

  “Then that’s all that matters.” He smiled. “Never let someone else’s opinion dictate how you feel about yourself or others. Always be true to yourself and everything else will fall into place.”

  “You truly believe that?” she asked.

  “I do. But if makes you feel better, I would never lie to you. When I tell you that you’re beautiful, I mean it.”

  She warmed at his praise and couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her lips. She glanced at her mother and saw that Zanar was quickly winning both of their hearts. He really was almost too perfect. There had to be a flaw somewhere, but she hadn’t found it just yet.

  They were seated and given menus. A waiter appeared almost instantly to take their drink order and then vanished as silently as he’d arrived. Celeste was a little overwhelmed with the menu choices, and worried when she didn’t see prices listed. It might have been a long time since she’d been on Earth, but even she knew that meant the place was expensive. She didn’t know how much a bartender made, but this seemed like an unneeded extravagance.

  “Zanar, maybe we should go somewhere else.”

  His eyebrows rose. “You don’t see anything you like?”

  “It’s not that.” She worried her lower lip with her teeth.

  “I think what my daughter is trying to say is that this place is too expensive,” her mother said. “After being off world for so long, she’d be just as content with fast food as she would shrimp and lobster.”

  “I see.” He smiled a little. “If you’re worried I can’t afford this place, don’t be. I may not be as rich as some of my friends, but I’m not hurting for money. The Stardust does good business and I own my house, so I don’t have to pay rent or a mortgage every month. I also own the bar, so aside from the usual monthly expenses it doesn’t cost much to keep the place going.”

  Her mother nudged her. “In other words, he’s a good provider should you decide to give him a chance.”

  Zanar cleared his throat, and his cheeks flushed a darker purple. She found it charming that her mother could unnerve him. Even when she’d lived on Earth, it hadn’t been often that she’d seen a man blush. She’d figured someone in his line of work had seen and heard everything and wouldn’t be flustered by much. Somehow, it made him a little more human to her, even though she knew there wasn’t a drop of human blood in him.

  “What brought you to Earth?” Celeste asked.

  “My brother is a rather revered warrior on my world, and so is my father. I do well enough in combat, but my talents lie elsewhere. I can take a failing business and make it thrive in a short amount of time, but there’s not much use for that skill on my world. When I saw that some of my people were settling on Earth, I decided to give it a try. I figured it couldn’t be any worse than being at home.”

  “So, you left your family behind?” her mother asked.

  “I still speak with my parents on the Vid-comm rather frequently. What do you humans say? I was the black sheep of the family. While I miss my family, I know that my time is better spent here. At least on Earth, I have a chance at finding a mate.”

  “I’ve read articles about the Terrans,” her mother said. “There’s a shortage of females on your world, right?”

  He nodded. “My generation has been all male. We don’t understand exactly what happened, but it’s been necessary to find females outside of our race to ensure our survival. Humans are the most compatible.” He smiled. “And the most beautiful.”

  “How exactly did the Terran stations come about?” Celeste asked. “So much has happened since I’ve been gone. When I was captured, I didn’t even know aliens existed, and now you’re walking among us, running businesses, getting married. It’s almost too much to take in.”

  “My planet made an agreement with Earth’s government. In exchange for our protection should Earth be attacked, we were allowed to open a bride exchange in different locations around your world. Women would take a series of tests, were paid a fee, and then were shipped to my world where they would find a match.”

  “And the stations were where those tests are administered?”

  “Yes, and they were also where the shuttles would land and take off. Things evolved quickly, and our stations grew, with more and more of our males coming here. Now it’s common to find my kind on your world, and it keeps the monsters at bay. A few friendly alien races have reached out to us and Earth to share in the bride exchange and negotiations are still ongoing. Some races have already been accepted, and you may see them from time to time at the different stations, but they don’t roam the cities as much.”

  It seemed so surreal to Celeste. When the Vaadens had taken her and she’d woken as a captive on another world, it had been a complete nightmare. It was hard to imagine living side by side with other alien races, and living in harmony. She supposed it only made sense that not all aliens were alike, just like all humans weren’t. Thinking that Terrans and whatever other races were out there were the same as Vaadens wasn’t fair.
Zanar was proving that some aliens could be trusted.

  “So, you only have one brother?” her mother asked.

  “Yes, and we’re very different. Ryx is a few years older than I am, and he’s very serious about his position on my world. He claimed one of the first humans to be part of the bride program, and they seem happy enough. Unfortunately, they haven’t had children as of yet, which I think frustrates him.” Zanar shrugged. “I think my parents are now relying on me to make them grandparents. It’s the one thing my mother wants most.”

  “Are you actively seeking a mate?” her mother asked.

  “Not exactly. I’ve been on dates since coming here, but I just never clicked with anyone. We’d share a meal and then go our separate ways.”

  Her mother smirked. “Handsome guy like you, I’m sure there was a bit more to it than that.”

  He flushed again. “Yes, well… it’s been quite a while since I’ve been with a woman. I decided I was finished with casual sex and would wait for my mate, however long it took to find her.”

  “And are you getting any closer to finding her?” her mother asked.

  His gaze zeroed in on Celeste. “I think I may be.”

  Celeste warmed and couldn’t help but smile a little. The rational part of her brain argued that it was silly to jump straight into a relationship the moment she got back on Earth, but the daydreamer she used to be wanted to explore the feelings brewing between Zanar and her, and just see where things went. What could it hurt?

  “I know you just returned to Earth and under less than ideal circumstances, but do you see yourself finding someone and starting a new life?” he asked Celeste. “After everything you’ve been through, do you think you’d want to share your life with someone? It would be understandable if you didn’t.”

  Celeste licked her lips and thought for a moment. “Before I went to Vaaden, I used to dream of my Prince Charming, some guy who would sweep me off my feet and we’d fall instantly in love and live happily ever after. Even living on Vaaden, I still dreamed every day that someone would rescue me, or that my owner would finally look at me with tenderness and possibly love. I still dreamed of having a happily ever after, even when things were bleak.”

  Her mother patted her hand. “My darling girl was always a daydreamer, walking around with her head in the clouds. It’s one of the things I love most about her. She’s always looked for the bright spot, always had hope when most people would give up.”

  “She’s a unique woman,” Zanar said softly. “Any male would be lucky to call her his.”

  Her mother leaned forward. “And would you want to call her yours?”

  His gaze settled on Celeste’s again and he nodded. “Yes, I would. Even though we barely know one another, I’ve felt more standing in her presence than I’ve ever felt in my life. There’s warmth and happiness in my heart when she smiles, and it makes me want to do whatever it takes to keep her happy all the time.”

  Celeste’s mother grinned. “I think my work here is done. If you wouldn’t mind having the prime rib and baked potato sent up to my room, I’ll leave the two of you alone. I think you have a lot to discuss.”

  She stood and gave them a little wave before she left the restaurant. Celeste couldn’t take her eyes off Zanar, wondering if he was too good to be true. He said everything right, treated her well. It had always been her way to jump in with both feet and let things fall where they may, and despite what she’d lived through the past five years, she felt more than ready to jump if Zanar was by her side.

  “There’s something you should know before you decide if you want to go on another date with me.” He blew out a breath and looked like he dreaded confessing whatever was on his mind. “I wasn’t going to tell you until I knew more, but I contacted my parents this morning while you were getting ready. I asked them to reach out to Sophie’s grandparents and to do whatever it took to bring her home to you.”

  Her jaw dropped. Whatever she’d expected, that wasn’t it.

  “You… you asked them to get my daughter?”

  “I’ve seen the sadness in your eyes when you talk about her. I can’t imagine the agony of being separated from your child, and I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to bring her to you. Even if I have to go to Vaaden myself and rip her out of their arms, I’ll do it.”

  “Why would you do that? Why would you care?” she asked.

  “Because… even though we just met last night, I care about you, Celeste. I want you to be happy. Whatever it takes, Sophie is coming home.”

  “But the council…”

  “They’ll attempt to get her back. They said as much, and they always keep their word. What they didn’t tell you was that she’s not their top priority, so it could take months if not years. The Tourmalines have taken notice of the influx of human females on my world, and they’ve tried to abduct some of them. It’s an ongoing battle and one that has the council’s attention more than your sweet daughter.”

  “You really want to get her back?”

  He nodded.

  “Do you need anything from me? I don’t have money, but maybe I could help in some way.”

  “All I ask is that you give me a chance to prove to you that I would make a good mate for you and a good father for Sophie. My kind knows when they’ve found the right female, and the moment I looked into your eyes, I knew you were special.”

  He really was just too perfect. Or maybe he was just perfect enough, perfect for her. Celeste believed in dreams and happily ever afters. Maybe it was time to go after what she really wanted. Someone to love who would love her in return, someone to hold hands with as they walked through the park, someone to snuggle and watch cheesy movies with. And most importantly, someone to be a father to her daughter, and someone who would give Sophie siblings to play with.

  She hesitantly reached across the table and placed her hand over his. Zanar turned his hand and laced their fingers together. As they stared at one another, there was a rightness that settled over her, as if she’d chosen the correct path in life. Even if her time on Vaaden hadn’t been pleasant, it had brought her to this moment, and to this too good to be true male. If it meant finding Zanar and having a chance at happiness, she would go through it all over again.

  “Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked, having arrived so silently that Celeste jumped a little.

  They placed their order, as well as one for her mother. When the waiter left, Zanar tightened his hold on her hand. She could tell there was something on his mind, but she waited patiently while he found the right words.

  “I know we’re in the middle of a restaurant and while it’s a romantic setting, it’s not ideal. But… would you let me kiss you?” he asked.

  Butterflies rioted in her stomach as she nodded her consent.

  Zanar leaned forward and Celeste met him halfway. His lips brushed over hers, whisper soft, just enough to make her tingle. The kiss was soft and sweet, giving her heart wings. All too soon, he pulled away. The heat blazing in his eyes told her that things might have gone much further if they hadn’t had an audience. And she knew at that moment if they had been alone, she’d have let him take things as far as he wanted, because she wanted it too, wanted him. His touch was gentle, his kiss sweet, and it made her long for things she’d never had.

  “Now isn’t the time, but one day, when you’re ready, I’m going to make love to you all day and long into the night. I’m not telling you that to rush you because I want it to be right for both of us, but I don’t want there to be any doubts that I want you, Celeste. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”

  “I want you too,” she said softly.

  Their food arrived, and Celeste thought she might drool, it smelled so good. It was probably the best thing she’d ever had, and she was going to enjoy every bite, even if she had to waddle out of the restaurant when she was finished. Their conversation turned to lighter topics, and she found that Zanar was quite funny. He had her
laughing between bites, and she smiled so much her face hurt.

  When they finished eating and he’d paid the check and arranged for her mother’s meal to go to her room, he wrapped an arm around her waist and escorted her out of the restaurant. Part of her wanted to invite him up to her room and see what would happen. Before she could open her mouth to suggest such a thing, he pulled her close and kissed her softly. His lips coaxed and caressed, and when his tongue stroked her bottom lip, she opened and let him in. Celeste felt like she was drowning, but in the best of ways. She was dizzy and clutched Zanar’s biceps to hold herself upright. He was everything she’d ever wanted, the kind of male she’d dreamed about. Her dreams may not have included lavender skin, but he could have been fuchsia with blue spots and she’d have wanted him just the same.

  When he pulled away, she leaned into him, her eyes closed and her heart racing.

  “You’re incredible,” he said softly. “And at least for the moment, you’re mine. Beware, Celeste. I plan to take hold with both hands and never let go.”

  She was more than willing to let him hold on as tight as he wanted. That one kiss had been more passionate than any encounter she’d ever had with Pynder, and far more tender. Even a woman with a heart of granite wouldn’t be able to withstand Zanar’s kisses. She had a feeling if they were ever in a bedroom together, clothing optional, that he would ruin her for all other men.

  “Would you like to spend the day with me?” he asked. “I have to work later, but we could go see a movie. Or if you don’t want to do that, we could do something else.”

  “Could we tour the city? We don’t have to get out and walk; we could just ride around in one of those limos the council provides.”

  “If you want to drive around the city, then that’s what we’ll do. There are a few limos waiting out front.” He tipped his head toward the door. “Shall we?”

  She smiled and nodded, holding his hand as they stepped out into the sunshine. Zanar handed her into the limo and then settled into the seat across from her. The driver shut the door, then went around to start the car. There was a dark tinted window separating them from the driver, and Celeste wondered if their part of the car was soundproof.