Alien in the Family

this.”
    “Only if we’re going to fall into bed together and you’re going to realize you don’t love Martini and run away to Australia with me.”
    “Love you, but no.”
    “That’s what I figured. So, go make yourself presentable even to those who don’t want to jump your bones.”
    “You are so smooth.” I got up to go into the bedroom.
    “That’s why I’m one of Australia’s most eligible bachelors.”
    “Really?” This was news.
    He shrugged. “Yeah. Just means all the bimbos and gold diggers come calling.”
    “We’ll find you a nice girl.”
    “No. I found a nice girl. She just chose a nice alien instead.” I opened my mouth, but he put his hand up. “You don’t apologize for falling in love with a good man who’ll take care of you and die for you if he has to, Kitty. Real men know how to take it.”
    I leaned down and hugged him tightly. He held me, but not too long. I straightened up and went to the bedroom. “You are a real man, Chuckie. You always have been, since we were thirteen years old.”

CHAPTER 59

    I GOT INTO THE BEDROOM and was rather proud of myself for not feeling overwhelmingly weepy. I was glad I’d had this talk with Reader already, because there was a part of me still afraid of getting married. I wasn’t afraid to marry Chuckie—the comfort level was so high with him that it wouldn’t seem awkward.
    On the other hand, the uncertainty and potential risks that would come with Martini were both appealing and a little scary. On the other hand, the sex more than made up for a little apprehension.
    I went to the closet. The sexy outfit I now owned two of was there and clean, and there were shoes to match. The A-C Elves really were top-notch. Decided to go for it and hoped Martini would get out of isolation soon and be happy about my outfit choice.
    “Chuckie, do I have time to take a shower?”
    “Yes, please,” he called. “The others might lie to you, but, trust me, you need one, unless your new fragrance is Eau de Rank.”
    “Thanks ever, Mister Smooth Operator.”
    “If I were smooth, I’d have told you I’d shower with you. Close the door—I’m human, and there’s only so much temptation I can take.”
    I shut the bedroom door and the bathroom door. Took one of the faster showers of recent times. Of course, the rare showers without Martini were, by their very nature, faster than what I’d become accustomed to. Dried off, combed the hair into a severe ponytail, found lingerie in the drawers that matched the naked with fabric outfit. It made me look only slightly less naked, but I decided to call it a win. Shoes fit, all was well. Poofs and iPod transferred from Martini’s bedraggled jacket to my purse, ready for action.
    “Good lord, do you hate me or something?” Chuckie asked the moment I was out of the bedroom.
    “What? What’s wrong with how I look?”
    “Not one damn thing. God, you like to torture a man, don’t you?”
    I rolled my eyes. “Oh, cut it out.”
    Chuckie sighed and stood up. “You need some sort of covering if you’re going to wear that.”
    “We’re going to Vegas, right? I’ll fit in there.”
    He took my shoulders and turned me around. “God, it’s as bad from the back. Really, go put on some clothes.”
    “I don’t have a wrap, okay?”
    “Find one. Before I rape you.” He gave me a gentle push toward the bedroom.
    “Fine, fine.” Went back to the closet. The Elves had been by. There was a light jacket that could work with the outfit, at least as a cover-up. I put it on. “Thanks, uh, whoever you are.”
    Went back out. “Better,” Chuckie said. He shook his head. “And you wonder why Martini’s the most jealous man on the planet? Good lord.” He took my elbow and led me out of the room.
    We got in the elevator, and I was happy to realize I just wanted Martini out of isolation and in here with me. “We are going to Vegas, right?”
    “Yes. All your bridesmaids are there already.”
    “Doing what?”
    He grinned. “As near as I can tell, learning how to be fashion models.”
    “James is having fun, isn’t he?”
    “Yeah, I think he is. It’s hard, transitioning from a regular life into covert ops. Some, like your mother, do it naturally. Some, like me, learn it easily enough. Some, like you and Reader, do well with it but have a strong need to still feel like ‘regular’ people.”
    “You go through this a lot with your operatives?” We got out at the launch level.
    “Yeah. Not everyone