Arazhi

When the IDA hires Georgie to plan the first ever human-alien matchmaking soiree, Georgie thinks a charity auction for the local animal shelter will be the perfect ice-breaker. But to get the local singles to participate, she has to set an example, so she offers herself as one of the dates.

What she doesn’t expect is for her alien buyer to be so freakin’ hot. A few drinks in, and Georgie finds herself alone on a spaceship with a blue-skinned, muscle-bound male.

The Kirenai shapeshifters are known for the pleasure they give their bedmates, and Prince Arazhi is no exception. When his family insists it’s time for him to produce an heir, the last thing he wants is a jealous, power-hungry female weighing him down, so he heads to Earth. Human females are supposed to be pliant and fertile, willing to bear children without permanent bonds.

There, he spots a female with a regal bearing that makes his blood thrum hot. Better yet, it appears that she’s for sale.

But when Georgie not only refuses to be owned but also claims to be barren, Arazhi must choose. Will he follow his heart, or fulfill his duty?

Georgie flinched as the black lab on her grooming table shook water from his fur. The big oaf was one of the lucky ones headed to the feed store for adoption day, and she’d volunteered to help groom and transport them from the shelter. She wiped her glasses off on her sleeve and finished rinsing the pup, who thanked her with one of his signature slobbery kisses. If she wasn’t living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment with her dad at the moment, she would’ve considered adopting him herself, but there was barely room for the two of them as it was.

In the nearby kennels, a dog started barking, which soon escalated into a chorus. The Jack Russell Terrier Lora was grooming on the next table over started crying, writhing against the leash. The poor baby had anxiety issues, and Lora tried to distract it with a squeaky toy.

“I think you’re stressing her even more, Lora,” said Georgie, making a face at the added noise.

At the third dog washing station, Maise had already finished with an older German Shepherd who now lay placidly at her feet. She owned Yappy Hour, the pet boarding and grooming business they were using to clean up the dogs, and was a pro with the wash station. She leaned against the table, long dark ringlets obscuring her face as she looked at her phone. “What about this one, Georgie? Intergalactic Dating Agency seeks capable human to coordinate first ever alien matchmaking event. All applications considered.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” said Lora, ceasing her squeaky toy distraction and looking at Georgie. “Aliens?”

Extraterrestrials hadn’t been seen on Earth since a singular appearance over forty years ago—if that was even to be believed. The ships had landed at Beijing Daxing International Airport in China, spoken to government officials there, and departed again before the other nations could even respond. Despite photographs and eyewitness accounts, many people believed the visit had been a hoax—a myth created by governments to justify spending on defense and outlandish space research.

Yet in the years since, people still claimed to have been abducted, including Georgie’s mom. Her mom had died several years ago from a head injury after falling from a ladder, but Georgie’d always wanted to believe her mother’s story.

“Maybe they’re checking in on us,” Georgie said.

“To ask for dates to the movies? How desperate can they be?” Lora snorted. “Keep scrolling, Maise.”

“No, wait. I want to know more,” said Georgie, wiping her hands off on a towel.

If this was an actual, paying gig, she couldn’t dismiss it without at least reading the fine print. She’d been trying to get her event planning business off the ground for months now, but every time she thought she had a lead, someone snagged the contract out from under her. The only people who said yes couldn’t pay her, and one guy who wanted a bar mitzvah for his son had even had the balls to say she should be grateful for the “exposure” planning his son’s event would get her. Asshole.

Problem was, she was desperate enough to consider it. Since her divorce, she’d been living with her dad to save money, sinking all her savings into getting her business off the ground while working part time as a cashier at the grocery store. She had to do something soon, or she was going to go crazy.

“Maybe it’s just a cosplay party or something. Let me see your phone.” She held out her hand.

Maise handed over her cell, and Georgie looked over the advertisement. An alien matchmaking event did sound hokey, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask for more information and submit a proposal. Heck, an alien-themed party could be really fun. She typed in her email address and handed the phone back.

“How cool would it be to plan the first ever party with actual aliens?”