As we approach the diner, I notice a large white sign in the window, and when we’re close enough for me to see it clearly I discover it reads ‘No coffee, cola or chocolate of any kind for aliens. Don’t ask!’

I frown as I wonder how it must feel for Oliver, but he doesn’t seem phased when he says, “Whew. Bacon is still safe.”

The door groans open as Oliver pulls it, and Gloria, a waitress I’m familiar with, scowls at him as she exits the kitchen. Her expression relaxes when she looks my way. “Hey, Gloria,” I say. “How are you holding up?”

She offers me a tepid smile. “Better than you I imagine.”

Oliver and I walk over to a booth, and I slide over the black vinyl seat to sit. I notice the usual coffee mugs that are set on the table are missing. He grabs a menu and the plastic cover is slick in my fingers as I open mine. Gloria comes over with a full mug of coffee for me and asks Oliver, “Anything to drink?”

“Water, please.” says Oliver. He lets out a sigh as he leans back with the menu open. “How am I supposed to decide?”

“Don’t worry. Just pick something. We can come every day until you’ve tried it all if you want.”

He glances up with a glowing look that reminds me of a child who was just told they could get a puppy. “I may take you up on that.”

Gloria comes back over with Oliver’s water, and after we place our orders I say, “Your profile says you’re a scientist. What was your job on Eroscia?”

“Research mostly. In the area of nutrition.”

“Like creating healthier versions of your food?”

He inhales long and slow. “This place smells amazing. To answer your question, I was working on multiplying the impact of amino acids, but they were coagulating when mixed with base proteins. It took a few trials, but once I added a few neutral carbohydrates the flavor was off. I’m sure you’ve heard our food doesn’t have much taste, and I had to perform a…”

As I tune out his words I sniff too and notice the odors of bacon, coffee and cinnamon. I imagine food that tastes like cardboard mustn’t have delicious aromas. It makes me think I should cook for Oliver, because I think it might be like rediscovering the pleasures of some of my favorite meals. I recall Hannah’s husband Jake taught himself to cook using a simulator on Eroscia, and when I notice Oliver has stopped speaking I ask, “What do you do for fun?”

Oliver swallows a mouthful of water. “I invent things.” He glances around the diner. “You know how some people notice details or love to watch people and imagine what they’re lives are like? I notice things that could be automated.”

“Like what?”

He taps on his plastic cup. “It would save the waitress time if you had a beverage dispenser at each table.”

I picture an intricate system of pipes leading to each booth and shake my head because that can’t be what Oliver’s thinking. “How would that work?”

He squints a bit as if he’s puzzled before he says, “Oh. That’s right. You don’t have—” Oliver makes a strange sound that I determine must be an Eroscian word since I don’t think I could repeat it. He smiles. “There goes that idea.”

“Yes. We earthlings do have our limitations,” I joke.

Oliver grins. “We don’t call you that. You have no idea how silly your perception of aliens is to us.”

I flash to the stereotype of little green men, who aren’t the least bit sexy. “I’m glad. Because I prefer the real version.” Since Eroscians do have a green tint to their skin I say, “We did get the skin right.”

Oliver reaches over and takes my hand. He holds it in his large palm. “Your skin appears too delicate.” He rubs his thumb over mine, and a pleasant tingle dances through me at his touch. His voice is low when he says, “You’re so soft, Morgan.”

I gaze into his eyes and let out a small gasp when I notice his irises seems to be swirling like water around a rock in a river. “Th-thank you.”

“You don’t take compliments well, do you?”

I take them just fine. What I’m struggling with is how attracted I am to Oliver, because it’s unnerving to feel as if I have no control over my emotions. I say, “It’s been a long time since I had a date.”

“You’re more beautiful than I imagined.” His voice wraps around me with the smoothness of honey, and I want to bask in it. “I’m happy you chose me.”

I’m yanked out of my daze when the waitress appears with our meals, and I take a deep breath to compose myself before I dig into my food. I watch as Oliver lifts his silverware and cuts off a piece of bacon. When it’s in his mouth and he chews his eyes roll back in his head for a moment, and he lets out a moan of pleasure. “You definitely have food right on earth. This is amazing.” He digs into his eggs and continues to express his appreciation through small noises as he eats.

I chuckle as his apparent joy. “I love watching a man enjoy his food.”

Oliver licks his lips slowly as a sly grin forms on his face. “I’m not one to hide my feelings.” His gaze drops to my chest before darting back to my face. “I think I’m going to enjoy a lot of what earth has to offer.”

Heat rushes to my face and I glance down at the breakfast I’ve barely touched. I’d chide myself at how easily Oliver is flustering me, but considering he’s here to become my husband, I suppose that’s the point. I cut off a piece of my pancake and lift the fork toward him. “Do you like sweet things?”

He grins at me, and I flush more when I realize the innuendo. “Try me,” he says as he leans forward for me to feed him. Oliver stares intently at me as he wraps his hand around mine and holds the fork in his mouth before removing it slowly. He lets out a low noise as his eyes flutter shut for a moment. “Yeah. Sweet is good.” He removes the utensil from my hand, and I inhale sharply when he puts my finger in his mouth. He sucks on it before he releases it slowly. “Very good.”

I swallow hard as my insides tremble in reaction, and Oliver chuckles at me. I frown and drop my gaze in embarrassment. “You’re teasing me.”

“Morgan,” says Oliver. I glance up at him. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, but I did want to see a flush on your cheeks.” He leans in and whispers. “I find it sexy that I can get you ruffled. I don’t think you give up control easily.”

“Oh.” He’s right that I like to keep my cool at all costs, but this is a discomfort I could get used to, considering how wonderful it feels to be attracted to him. I definitely want Oliver to stick around, and I recall he said he wanted to help save my business. While I really don’t want him involved, I know to make our relationship work I need to compromise. I wonder if I can find a way to make him feel like part of my solution by keeping him busy with something that won’t interfere with my real problem.

I think about Oliver’s interest in automation and picture all the machines I have at work. I imagine he’d have plenty of thoughts on how to run those better. He might even be able to find ways to cut costs at my coffee shop, which could be useful since losing a growing chunk of my market calls for some serious penny pinching. I smile as his fork scrapes on his plate when he attempts to get as much of the remains as he can. I say, “You mentioned wanting to help me with my business. Do you think you could find more efficient ways to run things?”

Oliver swallows his mouthful of food. “Of course we can. I’ll need a little time to study your current systems, but I’m sure I can come up with cost saving ideas for you. Maybe I’ll create a new machine for you too.”

I envision Oliver tinkering in a workroom far away from the shop where he won’t be underfoot and decide I’m brilliant. “Thank you. That would be a huge help. I’m sorry I was so abrupt earlier.”

“It’s fine. You’re under a lot of stress, and I didn’t take it personally.”

“Even so, it wasn’t the welcome you deserve.”

Oliver reaches over and stabs food on my plate. “You’ve made up for it.” He licks maple syrup off his lips. “I had no idea eating could be so pleasurable. Keep feeding me like this, and I’ll forgive anything.”

Relief fills me along with a zing of desire as I imagine kissing the lips Oliver just licked. I paid for Oliver to come to earth with the hope I’d find a partner for life, and I do want to pursue a relationship with him. So even though my career seems to be taking a major step backward, Oliver gives me hope that my personal life might manage to be okay.