My finger slams down on the enter key of my computer, and the screen still remains locked. “Damn it!” I glance up at Nate, who’s rushed over to my desk. “Get me someone from IT, now. The potential matches for Hunter won’t load.” Once we sent the alien back to his quarters, we entered our best guess profile for him so he could start searching for a match tonight. While it won’t be accurate, I hope to entice him enough to consider crossing me off his list as his number one.

The wheels of my chair rumble over the floor after I shove myself away from my desk and roll over to my stationary computer with the large screen. I pull up the dating site and try my personal log in instead of the admin credentials I was using earlier. I click on the ‘available males’ link, and the list comes up weighted with the selections who are most likely to be a match at the top. “Interesting.”

Footsteps sound behind me before I’m accosted by the coffee breath of Kiely, the head of the IT department. “At your service, Boss Lady,” she says in a voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Not amused. Why will the site pull up matches for me but not for the new alien I entered?”

“I don’t know.” Kiely grabs a chair and sits next to me. “Let me take a look.” Keys click as she begins to type. “Hmmm.” She frowns when nothing happens for her search. “I’m going to look at the code so this might take a while.”

“Got it,” I say, and I grab my phone. I leave my office to call my friend Mandy. I’m still shaken from the way Hunter pulled out my hairdo and kissed me, and I want to understand more about what he can do with his telekinesis.

She picks up on the first ring. “Hey. How’s my favorite matchmaker?”

“I’ve been better. How’s wedded bliss?”

“Amazing.” She sighs, and it makes me smile. My friend who swore she’d never fall head-over-heels in love and get married did both. “But what’s going on, Lexi?”

I glance around the hallway to make sure nobody can hear me and lower my voice. “I need to know more about the telekinesis thing the aliens do.”

“Did Hunter touch you? You need--”

“I am!” A woman walking away from me looks over to stare, and I turn my back to her as I continue in a hushed tone. When I first met Hunter on planet Eroscia the sight of him made my insides melt, and I know Mandy could tell I was attracted to him. I also know it made her afraid for me, given how angry and dangerous he appeared. “I am staying far away from him. But I think he did an invisible touch thing.”

“Oh my god. They can definitely do that. What did he do?”

“He pulled my hair out of my bun.” Considering my friend thinks I need to stay far away from Hunter, I decide to leave out the kiss. “What else can he do to me?”

“Oh boy. That’s a loaded question. Caiden and I could have sex in a public place without anyone knowing if we wanted to.”

“What do you mean we? You can participate?”

“Oh yeah.” She blows out a big breath. “Part of being mated with an alien is that you get the telekinetic powers too. But only with him.”

“That’s fascinating. Why didn’t you tell me this?”

“Ah. Well....”

It occurs to me that if it was common knowledge, our government scientists would be all over it and want to study Mandy’s every move. And since my friend is already subjected to monthly testing as part of the deal to get her back from Eroscia, I’m sure the last thing she wants is more. “Sorry. I get why. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thanks,” she says. “Now tell me more about Hunter. Do you know what he did to get put in handcuffs?”

She referring to when Hunter was first brought to me on Eroscia. Caiden seems to think Hunter isn’t dangerous, and while that might be true for the rest of Earth, I’m not so sure about me. Even so, I’d really like to know what his crime was. I say, “I hoped Caiden might know.”

“He doesn’t. I already asked. But he grew up with Hunter and said he’s a good guy.”

I can see I’m going to have to get the truth myself. I think it’s time to pay a personal visit to one smoking-hot alien and work my charm on a man that will likely succumb. “Okay. I’ll figure it out.”

“Fill me in when you can, and let me know if I can help with anything.”

“Thanks, Mandy. I will.” My phone clicks as I turn it off, and I make my way back to my office.

When I get there Kiely turns to me. “I don’t know how it happened but there seems to be something going on with just TS-501’s account that blocks everything.” She rises from her chair. “I’ll go sort it out and let you know when it’s set.”

“Great. Thanks.” My chair squeaks as I lower myself into it, and I tap on my laptop to light up the screen. The image of Hunter’s face pops up, and I gaze into his vivid green eyes. They appear so alive in person, but there’s a darkness beneath them, and I wonder what secrets TS-501 is keeping.

A good steak worked to get him to speak, and it makes me think that a delicious dessert might be a good bribe too. A smile covers my face, because sugar could be my ticket to the truth.

About a block from my office building is an ice cream shop that’s been in existence for decades. I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven when I eat there, so I grab my purse and head down to where Hunter is staying.

The metal of his door is hard on my knuckles when I knock, and I try not to gasp when the sexy alien opens up wearing nothing more than a pair of snug boxer briefs. I clench my fingers so I won’t reach out and drag them along the ridges of his abs. And my gaze darts lower for a second before I say, “Hey.” My voice comes out higher in tone than normal, and I clear my throat before I add, “I was about to go down the street to get ice cream and thought you might like to walk outside. Want to come?”

“Ice cream?”

I flash him my best smile as I keep my gaze on his face. “It’s an earth food you must try.”

“I know what it is.” There’s a twinkle in his eye as he gestures to his crotch. “I need to get dressed first. I’m told this wouldn’t be appropriate for the public.”

I avoid dropping my gaze and smile back with my own amusement at his attempt to get me to check out his package. I guess he doesn’t know I already did. “That’s right. Clothes would be good.”

“Come on in.” Hunter steps aside, and I walk into the sitting area of his studio apartment. There’s a couch, coffee table and television in a comfortable space that is obviously designed to be temporary living quarters. He walks through the doorway to the area of his bedroom and a bathroom, and in minutes he reappears in a pair of khaki cotton shorts and a white polo shirt that barely contains his massive arms and chest.

“Am I suitable?” he asks as he glances down at himself.

Hunter is as far from the country club type as one could get, and I think he should be wearing a black tee instead. I make a note to discuss fashion choices with the processing team. “You are, but I’ll see what I can do about getting you more comfortable clothing.” I point to the sleeve cuff that might be cutting off his circulation. “Is that too tight?”

Hunter flexes his arms, and fabric tears as he rips the sleeves with the force. “No.”

He grins at me, and I roll my eyes at him. “Is that an alien trick to get the girl?”

“Did it work?”

The handle of his door is cool in my fingers as I turn it so we can leave. “Not on me, but I bet it will on your match.”

Hunter is behind me as I lead the way, and he leans over my shoulder to speak softly. “You keep forgetting you’re my mate, Lexi. Don’t worry. I’ll figure out what will work on you.”

His words shouldn’t send a chill of desire down my spine, but they do. I shake it off quickly, because I’m after information. As we walk out the door to the street Hunter, places his hand at the small of my back, and our electricity zings through me, making my knees weak. I really need to find this guy a mate, because while I’m supposed to be using my charm to get what I want, he’s playing the same game. And right now, he might be winning.