Chapter 12
The next morning
Esan sent the list of thirty females he had selected the night before to the Reptan council. He should have felt relief or excitement about it, but he didn’t. Nina went home right after they had completed sorting the profiles. It suddenly felt too awkward to have her help him look over potential mates. Maybe it had been a mistake to hire her. Well, upon second thought, his sister technically hired her. He couldn’t deny that Nina was good at her job. He wished that maybe she wasn’t that good, that she would have a him stop the planning altogether. It wasn’t that he had a problem with her involvement as an event planner. That part no longer bothered him. No, it was the fact that he wanted Nina Sinclair for more than her event planning skills.
The more time he spent in her company, the more he wanted to know about her. Every time they touched or kissed it made him feel like he was just discovering sexual awareness for the first time. It was fresh and real, raw and instant. Never in his past had he felt something so ... intense. If she hadn’t stopped them, he would have made love to her last night and throughout the morning. That was how much he desired her.
It was confusing. When he started this whole thing, his only thought was to mate with a full Reptan female. Yet, in just a matter of days, he found that his thoughts were changing. Nina was everything he wanted, except for the human factor. She was smart, confident, self-made, successful — and, of course, she was beautiful and sexy. It wasn’t just her sexual appeal, either. He loved how her mind worked. Their conversations were something he looked forward to. Even when they disagreed on something, the debate they had was just as stimulating. He rarely talked to the females he dated in the past. Each encounter was centered around the physical aspect and once that was satisfied, he didn’t have any use for the females. The didn’t intereste him like Nina did.
After he had sent Nina home he had sat there watching video after video comparing each female to Nina. The females he narrowed it down to were close to what he originally thought he wanted. Part of him wanted to call the whole thing off so that he could see if there really was something there between him and Nina. However, he made the decision to continue on with the gathering. He wanted both him and Nina to know that if he chose to pursue her, it was because he really did want her out of the other choices he had. It was important to make sure that what he was feeling for her was real and not some fleating feelings based on his desire for her.
Also, he wanted her to choose him as well. As long as he was her client, she would not allow anything more to develop between them. So that meant he needed to continue with the gathering and then make a final decision afterward.
He was now on his way to practice. He was performing on the Monday after his gathering event. If he did choose some of the female Reptans to stay longer to gauge their compatibility, they could watch his performance, learn more about the GCFA, and decide if they could handle his lifestyle. He was not willing to retire from fighting for the GCFA at this point. Maybe years from now that would change, but this was his home and he wasn’t going to give it up.
*****
“Your father told the priest that if he didn’t allow us to renew our vows in the chapel that all funds would stop coming in.”
“He threatened a priest?”
“Promised is all. You know how hot-headed your father can get.”
“Why is that chapel so important?”
“It’s the first chapel your father and I attended together when we first started dating.”
Nina leaned back on her bed as she listened to her mother go on and on. She should have let the call go to voicemail but she knew her mother would only continue to call her until she got a chance to speak with her. She should know. Nina once tried to dodge her mother’s calls when she was in college. Her parents showed up the next day and went to her sociology class, where they had interrupted the class just to make sure that she was there and okay. Still, that was not as bad as what they had done to her other sisters. She counted herself lucky.
“How’s the Reptan gathering planning coming along?” her mother asked.
“Fine. Esan picked the arboretum as his venue. Last night, I helped him narrow down the prospects. He’s sending a list to the Reptan council today on thirty females from his home world he would like to meet.”
“You don’t sound happy about that,” her mother said in a tone that was more inquiring than usual.
“Of course, I’m happy to help my client. The GCFA will be happy with me for doing a good job. I’m happy.”
“Darling, I know when one of my kids isn’t telling me the truth. What’s going on?”
Nina sighed. “Mom, how did you know that Daddy was the one for you?”
“I wasn’t impressed with him at our first meeting. I had gone to a dance with friends and he bumped into me and made me spill my punch on my dress. When I was about to tell him off, I took one look at his repentant expression and laughed instead of yelling. He apologized profusely and offered to have me spill punch on him in retaliation. I took him up on the offer. Our friends thought we were nuts, but we ended up sitting to the side cleaning off our outfits and talking most of the night. He asked me to dance when the last song was playing and I knew I never wanted to dance with anyone else.”
“That sounds so ... romantic. But how did you know it was going to last?”
“Honey, you never know what the future will hold. People change, marriages change. A couple has to make the choice every day that they will dedicate themselves to each other no matter what they face.”
“I just don’t see how after one night — one dance — with Dad, you would know he was the one.”
“What’s all this about? Have you found someone that you feel might be the one?” Her mother’s voice sounded hopeful. Why had she asked her mom about relationships? It was her mother’s mission in life to see all six of her daughters married and producing grandchildren. She had to cut this off or she would find her mother and father on her doorstep.
“No, of course not. I mean ... I’ve been so busy with work when would I even have time to meet anyone?”
“Honey…oh your father is here.”
“Wait, don’t put Dad on…”
“Is that my Nina Banina?”
She cringed at the nickname her father gave her. It wasn’t as bad as some of her sisters’ nicknames, but it was still embarrassing. “Hi, Dad. How are you?”
“Great, now that Father Raines and I have come to an agreement. How’s my Nina Banina?”
“Just fine. Job’s working out better than I thought. No problems.”
“Have you had a chance to meet any of the GCFA fighters? Rage? Maxim? Oh, what about Hammer? Is he as big in person as he is on TV?”
“Yes, I’ve met almost all of the fighters. Hammer is actually very nice but even bigger than you would expect.”
“I would love to come and meet Hammer. He’s been my favorite for a long time. Maybe your mother and I could visit…”
“No! I mean ... I’m really busy right now planning another wedding and a Reptan gathering. It would be better to wait a little while before you two came to visit.”
“She’s right dear. I don’t want to cause problems for her at work.” Her mother got back on the phone.
Nina breathed a sigh of relief that her mother agreed with her for once. The relief was short lived.
“Oh! Why don’t we renew our vows on board the GCFA? I didn’t really want to do it in the chapel here. I bet they have a chapel there. Nina, check that out for us.”
“Wait...I don’t think that’s a good—”
“Your sister just started working for a travel agency. She can get us all discount bookings. This is wonderful!”
Nina groaned. This was going to be a disaster. “Mom…”
“I’ve got to go, honey, so I can call your sister immediately. I’ll be in touch with you on the final plans. Love you!”
“Mom!” It was too late. Her mother had already hung up the phone. Oh God, this was bad. If her parents came here, they would bring one or more of her sisters. She wasn’t sure the GCFA ship could withstand the presence of her whole family. How was she going to stop this disaster before it happened?
It wasn’t that she didn’t love her family — she did. She had the best family, but they could also be intrusive. Her mother was also very sharp. If she came and spent time with her and Esan, she might pick up on the chemistry between them. There would be no way her mother wouldn’t try to match them up, despite the fact that Esan was basically dating thirty other women.
She grabbed the pillow next to her and covered her face as she groaned in frustration. Maybe her older sisters could run interference for her. They had experienced the same kind of mom-tampering and would relate to her situation. Nina would call them and beg for help. Her phone rang and she was almost tempted not to answer, but it could be another client. She picked up her phone, which was lying next to her.
“Hello?”
“Nina, it’sss Sssersssan. I wanted to check on thingsss.”
“Oh, hey, everything is going fine. Esan should have sent the Reptan council a list of thirty females who are invited to the gathering. He picked a venue and I will have my team arrange everything just as he requested. The only change was that he moved up the time frame.”
“Moved it up to when?”
“This coming Sunday.”
“You have to be kidding me! I wanted to be back before thisss all took place.”
“I’m sorry, he’s insisting that it be done sooner.”
Sersan sighed. “What are the choicesss like?”
“I’ve only read their profiles. They seem ... interesting.”
“I’m not sure that isss a good sssign. Esssan doesss not alwaysss ussse the bessst judgment when it comesss to females. He asssumesss they mean well and doesssn’t realize that they are usssersss until it’sss too late.”
“I haven’t met these females, but the council sent a wide range of choices and the ones we chose when we narrowed down the group seem to be the best of the crop.”
“Pleassse call me and tell me how the gathering goesss.”
“I will. Enjoy the rest of your honeymoon.”
“Thank you again for doing thisss, Nina.”
“No problem.” Nina hung up and lay down on her back, staring at the ceiling. The thought of having to watch Esan flirting with thirty women did not appeal to her at all. However, she had taken the job, and she was determined to see it through. Maybe after he picked his mate, she would let go of the fantasy of him. Maybe.