Lala bounded into the room. “Okay, everyone. Dinner’s served.”
Xander’s brows pulled together. “Dinner?”
Mal shrugged. “Hi, Lala.”
“I had the urge to cook a meal to welcome you back.”
Mal had experienced the dubious pleasure of Lala’s cooking before. “That’s really not necessary?—”
“No, no. You guys had a hairy time there on Rhage.” Lala did a little twirl. “I wanted to do something to help. A home-cooked meal is supposed to soothe the stomach.” Her lips twisted. “Or the heart or soul, or something. I don’t remember now.”
Xander shook his head. “We have work?—”
Lala stopped, her eyes narrowing. “You require food, don’t you, Mr. Sexy Cyborg? Not just engine oil?”
Xander’s tone turned wary. “Yes, but?—”
Her hands went to her narrow hips. “You need to refuel after the mission?”
“Yes—”
“All those hard muscles of yours don’t just form themselves, right?” She gave a definitive nod. “You can work and eat at the same time.”
Mal covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her smile. One deadly cyborg versus one skinny, teenaged explosive expert. Right now, the cyborg was losing.
“The guy’s toast,” a laughing voice whispered in Mal’s ear.
Mal spun with a gasp. “Zayn!” She threw her arms around her cousin. “When did you get back?”
“Just now. Heard you guys were having fun without us.” He shot her a grin. Behind him, an athletic blonde stalked up.
“Hi, Ria.” Mal pressed a quick kiss to the former assassin’s cheek. “I won’t ask how the honeymoon was, you’re glowing.”
The other woman grinned. “Yes, your cousin—” her gaze landed on her new husband and her eyes softened “—is a very creative man.”
Zayn winked. “I aim to please.”
Ria leaned into his side. “As long as you only aim to please me.”
“Absolutely, babe. I don’t want to find myself with my throat slit while I’m sleeping.” His face sobered and he looked across the room to where Lala was still yabbering at a silent Xander. “Didn’t expect to find a CenSec here. He’s not going to hurt her is he?”
Mal bristled. “Of course he isn’t. I actually think he’s kind of fond of her.”
A funny expression crossed Zayn’s face. “I didn’t think CenSecs were fond of anything but killing.”
“Right, that’s settled.” Lala dusted her hands off, then pointed to the large, battered table on the far side of the room. “Sit your delectable, enhanced butt down over there.”
Hmm, maybe Lala was pressing her luck just a little bit. Mal started forward, but when Xander moved to the table and sat, she grinned. The man was perfect.
The Phoenix clan all settled around the table. Mal introduced Xander to Zayn and Ria. The table was laden with plates and platters piled high with various foodstuffs. Some of it Mal could identify and thought looked pretty edible. Some of it—she winced at the sight of a plate of gray, jellied-looking goop—did not.
“I’ve made a selection of food from around the galaxy.” Lala flung an arm out like a game-show host. “Aborian rice from the Devil’s Nebula.” She winked at Ria. “Roasted suka from Zerzuza.” The three Phoenix men smiled at their homeworld’s signature dish. “And pickled tetronide from Centax.” She pointed to a bowl of dark blue fluid.
Xander blinked. “Tetronide is a poison. We use it as a chemical weapon.”
Lala’s smile slipped. “Oh, I thought it was a delicacy?”
“No.” His voice sounded just a tiny bit strangled.
