Jazen woke early, on the cusp of whitelight, snuggled against Nanu’s muscular chest. During the blacklight, they’d tossed off the covers, and now, nothing spoiled her view. Satisfaction filled her and a lightness of spirit she’d never experienced before. She ran her fingers over his hip because she could, still finding it hard to believe Nanu had claimed her, that he loved her.

“Why are you awake?” he grumbled. “Didn’t I tire you out enough during the blacklight?”

“It’s time for me to go to the market. I told Retsae I preferred to do the shopping. My pies require fresh ingredients.”

“The market? Now?” He yawned, making her smile.

“You stay here. I’ll do my market shop and go straight to the estaminet to bake my pies.”

Nanu pulled away from her and stood, stretching with his hands above his head. Distracted for an instant, her gaze wandered his muscular body, hardly believing he wanted her. “Hurry, lazybones. I promised I’d help you.”

“I’m certain you have other things you need to do.”

“Shush. I want you to follow your dreams.”

She didn’t dissuade him during their hustle to the market or when she bartered for ingredients. She didn’t dissuade him when he hailed a flymo to deliver them and their shopping to the estaminet. She didn’t dissuade him when Retsae opened the door and showed them the kitchen he’d recently added.

Since it was obvious he bore a stubborn gene, she set him to work chopping vegetables and peeling the tart red fruit she intended to put in her pies. She chopped the protein and set it in a huge pot to cook, then mixed her edible shells.

Out in the main customer area, someone thumped on the front door. Retsae must’ve answered it because the banging ceased.

Kaya appeared. “I’ve come to help,” she announced. “What do you want me to do?”

Jazen opened and closed her mouth, shocked at Kaya’s arrival and humbled at the offer of help when Kaya didn’t have to do anything.

Nanu winked at Jazen. “You can help me.”

Kaya washed her hands and set to work with Nanu, good-natured teasing flying between the pair.

The morn passed quickly, but soon the scent of baking pies filled the air. By the time she’d scrubbed the kitchen to a pristine condition, her pies sat on racks ready for sale.

After consulting with her, Retsae wrote a sign and opened for business.

Apprehension slid through Jazen as she peeked from the kitchen into the estaminet. Retsae had told her that in the early whitelight his customers purchased hot drinks while later in the cycle and toward the blacklight, his customers drank alcohol. “What if no one wants to try my pies?”

“Sweetheart, if they taste as good as they smell, the customers will buy every single one.”

“We’ve used all your ingredients.” Kaya studied the finished pies. “I intend to purchase your first one and sit outside with a warm bevy. A meat pie.”

Retsae ambled into the kitchen. “I have orders for you. Four pies. Two of each.”

Jazen’s hands trembled as she assembled the order for Kaya and the new one of four pies. She handed the trays to Retsae and peeked from the doorway.

Nanu stood beside her, his touch comforting and tender too. She sucked in a deep breath and waited, every muscle quivering with nerves because this meant so much to her.

“What if they don’t like my pies?” she repeated.

“Let’s go and see,” Nanu suggested.

Nanu guided her to the outside seating area and laughed when he spotted Ry, Camryn, Jannike and Mogens sitting with Kaya—the crew who’d arrived on Viros with Nanu and made the planet their home.

“Your friends came.” Their support humbled her and filled her with gratitude and delight.

“Because they’re family,” Nanu whispered. “That’s what family does. They help and support each other.”

“These are delicious.” Camryn took another big bite.

“You have more orders,” Retsae said from behind her.

Jazen beamed at him. “Join your friends. I’ll come to sit with you once I’ve completed the orders.”

“Are you sure?”

“Go.” She gave him a tiny push of encouragement before she hurried back to her pies. The orders came quick and fast after the first ones. She served all but her last pie and approached Retsae. “This one is for you.”

Retsae accepted the pie with alacrity and a nod of thanks. “The customers have told me they enjoyed your cooking. I offer you a working partnership. You pay me a rental for using my kitchen and save me a pie every cycle.”

Relief had her smiling. “I accept.”

“We will sign a contract tom-cycle.”

“That is satisfactory.”

“Excellent. Go and spend time with your friends. You should thank them. The scent of your pies drifted to passersby and attracted more customers.”

“I’ll see you tom-cycle.”

Dazed, Jazen wandered through the estaminet to the outdoor seating area. Everywhere, customers were eating her pies.

“There she is,” Kaya said. “Tell them. Tell them I helped you make these pies.”

“She did. Thank you for coming to help and for eating my pies,” Jazen said.

Mogens issued a contented hum. “They are delicious.”

A chorus of agreement sounded, and Jazen met Nanu’s perceptive gaze. He grinned at her, blowing a kiss, then pointed at the empty seat beside him. In that moment, her chest struggled to hold the emotions pummeling her. Gratitude. Excitement. Love.

Despite not having much of a family, she’d found her own with Nanu and his friends.

She slipped into the seat and kissed Nanu’s cheek. “The day I met you was the luckiest day for me. I am so happy to be part of your life.”

Nanu smiled and his hair tendrils reached out, caressing her cheek. “My pleasure, sweetheart. It was my pleasure.”

Delight whispered through Jazen. Excitement. Anticipation. Although the future held uncertainties, with this man at her side, she’d face it head on and enjoy every cycle.

 

Are you curious about Ransom and the dragon shifters on the planet of Narenda? Learn more in the upcoming House of the Cat romance—Enticed & Seduced. If you’d like me to notify you when the book is live, please sign up for an .

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Please turn the page for an excerpt from Snared by Saber, the first book in my paranormal shifter Middlemarch Capture series and also Interplanetary Love, a tongue-in-cheek standalone romance.

Thank you so much for your support.

Shelley