Ivy Grimaldi closed her mailbox and locked the hinged metal door. “Damn junk mail,” she muttered, climbing the stairs to her apartment with the overflowing stack against her chest.

She dropped the mail on the hall credenza and flipped through the pile of bills and flyers, tossing them aside one by one. A pretty scalloped envelope peeked from the stack of junk and her hand froze.

“Cassie.” She pulled the letter from the pile, her cousin’s name barely a whisper on her lips.

Turning the envelope over, Ivy hesitated at the note scrawled across the top. She recognized the looping script along with the logo for the Paranormal Dating Agency. Both belonged to Cassie’s old boss, Ms. Gerri Wilder, matchmaker and everyone knew it.

Ivy frowned even with Cassie’s voice in her head warning her to be nice. Ms. Wilder was not her favorite person. Not since she convinced Cassie to go off on some man-hunting wild goose chase, only to have her cousin end up pregnant with a bear shifter’s baby. A man she barely knew.

Talen was hot as hell, remember?

She frowned, regardless how true the memory.

…AND he ended up being the man of Cassie’s dreams. You can’t deny that.

Ivy muttered to herself. “I can if I try hard enough.” She scanned Gerri’s note again and the matchmaker’s words: We need to talk.

Wiggling a finger beneath the letter’s triangular flap, Ivy frowned. “Yeah, we need to talk. No shit, Gerri Sherlock Wilder.”

A heavy thud jerked Ivy’s eyes toward her front door. “I’m not a detective, dear, though I do like a man who smokes a pipe, especially if his pipe is well-endowed, if you know what I mean.” The stylish older woman winked from the open door, bending to pick up her heavy purse from where she dropped it to gain Ivy’s attention. “And yes, we do need to talk. It’s why I dropped by.”

Stunned, Ivy stared at the elegant woman with her classic designer style and vintage sex appeal. It was no wonder Cassie fell for what Gerri sold, hook, line and sinker.

“Are you going to invite me in or is it your plan to stand there with your mouth open and stare at me?”

Still gaping, Ivy snapped her mouth closed. “I’m sorry, Ms. Wilder. I’m just surprised to see you. Please, come inside.” She moved to usher the older woman in and then closed the door.

“You know, dear, the only time a woman’s mouth should hang open in that kind of shock is when faced with an enormous dick.”

Ivy blinked. Speechless.

Gerri peeled off her Chanel jacket and draped it neatly over Ivy’s couch. “I’m not one for showing up unannounced, but this matter really is time-sensitive, so why don’t you pour me a glass of wine and then you can read Cassandra’s letter.”

Ivy motioned for Gerri to take a seat on a barstool in front of the granite counter separating the kitchen from the spacious living room. “Red or white? I have both.”

“Is it a good white?”

Ivy gave the matchmaker a look. “It’s a Pinot Gris from my family’s vineyards in Napa.

“Hmmm, yes.” Ms. Wilder paused. “I had forgotten how privileged you and Cassie are in this world. Ironic, really, considering Cassandra is such a sweet girl. So unpretentious.”

“As opposed to me?”

Ms. Wilder shook her head. “You both have the same good-natured temperament, though you are wound tighter than Cassandra. You’re stronger, more independent. If I had to venture a guess, I would say you were the domineering cousin growing up.”

Ivy pressed her lips together, squashing the tickle of a grin at the corner of her lips.

Gerri nodded. “Ah…I’m right, aren’t I? You were the bossy one.”

Closing the fridge door with her elbow, Ivy moved to the counter with the wine bottle in her hand. “Maybe, but I love Cass like a sister. Like I love myself. We were an unstoppable team. We could do anything. Deal with anything. As long as we did it together. Out of everyone in the family, she and I were the only ones who didn’t give a damn about family status or money.” She paused, considering the older woman. “But you already know that, don’t you? Though I haven’t a clue how.”

“How what, dear?”

Ivy shrugged, uncorking the bottle before reaching for two long-stemmed glasses. “How you know things. People’s wants versus needs, and how you bring them about.”

Gerri took the glass from Ivy’s hand and held it as the younger woman poured the wine. “It’s my job to know those things, and I’m not shy about it. Not with a 100 percent success rate,” a small grin tugged, “eHarmony’s got nothing on me, sweetheart.”

Ivy poured her own glass, keeping Gerri in her peripheral vision. “That a fact?”

Ms. Wilder lifted her wine to her lips. “It is okay, Ivy. I get your reasons for the slight hostility toward me. Cassandra was a big part of your life and when she met Talen, their relationship threw you. Especially since it all happened so fast. It was the first time she didn’t need you, but what you don’t understand is that she does need you and always will. Moreover, what you have to accept is your life is bigger than your bond with your cousin, and destined for more. Much more. Both together and apart from her.” Taking a sip of the pale liquid, Gerri gestured to the letter on the counter. “Open the letter.”

Ivy took a big gulp of her own wine and tore open the buff-colored envelope. She scanned Cassie’s words, her jaw going slack. “Holy fuck! She’s having the baby already? So soon?” The words hung in the air as unbelieving as her stunned look. “Jesus. Those two are barely back from their honeymoon.”

“She and Talen are over the moon about how quickly this is happening. That man is one giant bear hug waiting to happen, and when I say giant, I mean GIANT.” Gerri hesitated in her reply, considering Ivy. “Shifters and humans. One never knows which way things will turn or how fast when it comes to children. If they’ll take after the human side or the shifter or both, for that matter.” She smiled. “It’s always a surprise.”

Ivy scanned Cassie’s words again, one line biting into her stomach—“Please come, Vee. I know Gerri isn’t one of your favorite people, but I miss you. Let her help you.”

Visiting Cassie would be coolest thing, except her cousin had moved. No, not out of the state or even out of the country. Cass had left town for another planet. As in a galaxy far, far away. As crazy as that sounded, it was the honest-to-God truth. Ivy would never have believed it if Gerri hadn’t provided irrefutable proof. So as much as she wanted to visit Cassie, it wasn’t as easy as taking the family jet and dropping in for a cup of coffee or a quick pizza.

Ivy would probably need clearance for everything including her underwear to visit Cassandra, and while she loved her cousin, she didn’t know if she could allow anyone to go through her bags, let alone her delicates.

What if they sniffed or did weird shit with her thongs when she wasn’t looking? Nope. She couldn’t do it. Her thongs were off limits to anyone except whatever man was presently allowed to peel them from her body, and right now, she had no man. Crazy but true. Her current dry spell had lasted six months and it was taking its toll. Thank God for battery-operated boyfriends or her bitch-o-meter would be off the charts.

She’d broken up with her latest boyfriend for the simple fact he was happier with his ex-wife. At first, it was kind of weird dating a guy whose ex was so nice, but after a while it was clear his ex-wife still had feelings for him and vice versa. Ivy decided to remove herself from the equation and allow them to give it another shot. Would it work out? Who knew? But at least she wouldn’t feel bad about being the reason they didn’t give themselves another chance.

Okay, brain wandering much, Ivy? She mentally scolded herself. Why the idea of thong sniffing would bring her ex-boyfriend to mind was beyond her and she dismissed the thought. It’s not like he knew what to do with her thongs anyway. Ever.

The dude was definitely in the needs work department when it came to sex, and at thirty-five years old, Ivy was done with training men. The next guy she hooked up with would need skills. Big skills. And a big dick.

She shook her head again. Enough wishful lusting. Visiting Cassie was the issue at hand. She and Cass had always been there for each other and now her cousin needed her more than ever. How could she say no?

Reading between the lines, Ivy knew Cassie was freaked about delivering her baby alone. Not that she blamed her. Cass was human and Talen was an alien shifter. An alien bear shifter, to be exact. But not an Earth kind of shifter.

Talen’s kind was the original prototype. Undiluted alien. ALIEN. Ugh. The word still conjured images of little green men, except shifters from Nova Aurora were the farthest thing from that. For some reason, the birth scene from the movie The Fly ran through her mind and Ivy shuddered at the horror in her head.

Gerri put down her glass with a loud clink. “That’s quite enough of that!”

Ivy jumped. “What?”

Pointing a finger at her across the counter, Gerri frowned. “Your Hollywood special effects kind of nonsense. Cassandra is no more worried about delivering her baby than any other expectant mother. Human or otherwise. As for Talen, he’s as dual-natured as any Earth shifter…just bigger…and hotter…and more well-hung. Like all alien shifters.”

The older woman said a mouthful and heat crested in Ivy’s cheeks. Was it because Gerri called her out or because her panties dampened at the thought of a well-endowed shifter hottie? Yep, it had been a long six months.

She held out Cassie’s letter to Ms. Wilder, but the matchmaker shook her head. “I know what it says, dear. I was there when Cassandra wrote it.”

“How is Cass?” Ivy asked, putting the letter down and picking up her wine. She stared at the pale liquid before meeting Gerri’s eyes. “I mean for real. You said over the moon, but are you sure she’s okay?” She was almost afraid to know. The idea of childbirth was the one thing that scared her, that and losing Cassie.

Ivy’s eyes fell on the small silver frame on the end table behind Gerri’s shoulder. It held a picture of her and Cassie from last New Year’s Eve. It seemed so much longer than just twelve short months ago.

Last year, they were both alone and now her cousin was happy, married…or mated…whatever they called it on Nova Aurora…and now a baby. All their family money couldn’t buy happiness and now Cassie had everything she ever dreamed. Of course, to find that kind of happy she had to leave the solar system. Still, a vague slash of jealousy bit into Ivy’s gut.

“I suppose it’s perfectly normal for you to question this, especially considering the unusual circumstances of Cassandra’s relationship, but I can answer without hesitation that Cassie is both happy and satisfied with everything in her life. Can’t you hear the happiness in her words? She simply wants to share it with you, Ivy. Cass misses you as much as you miss her, but she is happy. That I can assure you. Of course, she gets homesick for Earth, but that’s easy enough to fix.” Gerri paused. “Well, once the baby comes, anyway.”

“Easy? How?”

Gerri lifted her glass again. “Why not come and find out. Who knows? You might find something there that satisfies you as well.” She paused, smirking. “Something that doesn’t require batteries.”

Ivy balked. “Do you always say what you’re thinking?”

The older woman laughed. “I’m too old and too busy to waste time on formalities. Sometimes it takes a brash attitude to find the right ‘something’ for a person.”

“I think you mean right ‘someone.’ Cassie said you liked killing two birds with one stone.”

Gerri laughed. “I appreciate you think me sneaky enough to use your cousin’s pregnancy as some kind of ploy, but that’s simply not the case, although I do have clients on both Nova Aurora and its sister planet Galaxa who come to mind as possibilities. Both places are crawling with shifter men who could melt the crotch out of any girl’s panties. Why not yours?”

“So, you’re not trying to get me to cross the solar system for some elaborate hook up?”

Shrugging, Ms. Wilder sipped her wine. “I plead the fifth, but while we’re on the subject, I’ve got a question for you. When’s the last time you were truly satisfied?”

“Satisfied? In regard to what?”

Gerri eyed her. “You’re a smart girl, Ivy. You know exactly what I’m talking about. When’s the last time you had a toe curling, body shaking orgasm? The kind that comes attached to a thick cock and a skilled tongue?”

Ivy choked on a mouthful of wine.

“Just as I thought.” Gerri handed her a napkin, chuckling. “You’ve been lucky, Ivy. You’ve never had a shortage of men in your life, but they were all little boys playing at being men or men who had no clue what to do with a vibrant, voluptuous woman such as yourself. Your life has been a series of relationships where you give and they get off. Am I right?” She waited for Ivy to answer, but the young woman didn’t reply.

Shrugging, Gerri lifted her wine to her lips again. “Doesn’t matter if you answer or not. I already know. So why not come with me and visit Cassie. See what she’s seen. You never know what the stars have in store for you.”

Stars? The sneaky matchmaker should have said planets, because that’s what she meant. Ivy chewed on the corner of her cheek, the idea of interstellar travel tweaking her inner adventure junkie.

“When?’’ Ivy asked. “How soon could we leave?”

Gerri pursed her lips. “How does tomorrow evening sound?”

Ivy stared at her. “That soon?”

She nodded. “I have a situation with another client I must see to beforehand, but I can meet you at this address at nine p.m. We can set out, then.” Gerri slid a business card with the address information across the granite counter. “Twenty-four hours should give you enough time to get your affairs in order.”

Ivy glanced from the card on the table to the expectant look on Gerri’s face. “My affairs in order? What? Am I dying?”

A soft laugh left Gerri’s mouth. “No, of course not, but the time/space continuum is a little different where we’re headed. What seems like a couple of weeks there, will actually be months in Earth time. You really need to make arrangements accordingly.”

“Months?”

Gerri nodded. “Yes, if not longer.”

“Jesus.” Ivy exhaled, a little thrown.

“Look on the bright side. When you eventually return to Earth, you’ll look the same as the day you left. No aging.”

Ivy snorted. “Now that’s a perk worth putting in the brochure. Are you sure I can’t tell anyone about this?”

Gerri shook her head. “Sorry, that’s the deal I strike with every client.” She looked at the younger woman. “So? Are you game?”

Both corners of Ivy’s mouth curved up. “Why not?” She shrugged, topping off her wine. “I’m bored with Wall Street and running Mergers and Acquisitions and planned on giving my notice anyway. It’s not like I need the money, right? The cutthroat world of huge global companies swallowing smaller businesses doesn’t give me the same thrill it used to, so yes! I’m game for something big and new. What have I got to lose?”

“Good.” Gerri pushed herself up from the barstool and gathered her bag and jacket. “I’ll see you tomorrow night. Nine p.m. sharp. Oh, and pack light. The weather is changeable, so keep that in mind. One bag.”

“One bag? You’ve just told me to put my affairs in order, that we’ll most likely be gone how long, yet I get one bag? Fat chance.”

Ivy handed the woman her purse and the moment their fingers touched she saw something spark in Gerri’s eyes, and a slow smile spread across the matchmaker’s face. “Don’t be late, Ivy Grimaldi. Adventure awaits you, but I won’t.”