Page 1

Chapter 1

Ivy Blain elbowed thewoman in the side as she grabbed the last bag of her favorite chili ranch chips.

The woman, who’d been reaching for the chips, glared at her. “They’re mine.”

“So sorry. I didn’t notice you there.” Ivy dumped the chips into her basket and turned away.

“Give them back.”

“You’ll thank me later,” Ivy said. “You could do with losing a few pounds.” She walked away, grinning to herself. These were her favorite chips; she was not missing out. Sure, they were expensive, having been imported from Enia, but they were worth it. Hands down, they beat the chips that came out of the food replicators.

She checked the contents of her basket. All the essentials were there: chips, dip, champagne, and a bar of her favorite dark chocolate.

There was no queue when Ivy reached the front of the store. She hurried to the counter to pay for her items.

Aho, a gray-skinned Koob, smiled warmly at Ivy as he scanned her items. “It looks like you have an enjoyable evening planned.”

“Same old, same old.”

“Are you dining alone?”

Aho often asked that question. To begin with, his nosiness had irritated Ivy. Now, she realized it was a Koob thing. They enjoyed small talk and making their customers feel appreciated.

“You know me. I don’t like to share.” Ivy kept her private life just that. No one needed to know her business.

Aho smiled again. He packed away her items, and Ivy passed him her charge card. He ran the card through the machine. “Is this your usual card?”

She glanced at the card. “It is.”

“Your credit has been declined.”

“Try it again.” Ivy ran through some sums in her head. There should be enough on the card, although she had ordered those two new purses. The money wouldn’t be taken for a few days. Then there were the shoes. Crap, had she overextended her credit again?

“I’m so sorry, Miss Blain. The card won’t go through the machine.” Aho’s large dark eyes looked sorrowful as if it was his fault the technology had failed and not that Ivy’s expensive habits were to blame.

Ivy lifted her chin and glared at him. “Your machine is broken.”

“If you have money, I can take that. We take all forms of currency here.” Aho handed her back the card.

Ivy glanced behind her and saw a queue had formed. People were taking an interest in the delay. She leaned across the counter. “How about, just this once, you give me a little credit? You know I’m good for the money. I’m one of your best customers.”

“You certainly are.” Aho looked at her bag of expensive purchases. “I can guarantee you investing in a bottle of champagne.”

“Which means I’m invested in your store. There must be a problem with the card. I’ll get it sorted and come back and pay you. I need a couple of days. What do you say, Aho? Do a girl a favor?”

Aho looked from Ivy to the bag. “I don’t usually extend credit.”

“You can make an exception for me.” Ivy forced herself to smile. All she wanted was to put up her feet, get wasted, and forget about the fact this week had been long and frustrating. “I’m not running off with the stuff. You’ll see me again.”

“That’s very true.” Aho nodded. “Give me a moment. I need to check the records.”

Ivy frowned. “What records?”

Aho raised a finger. “I’ll be right back. Why not take a look at my new line of gum? I hear humans are fond of chewing things.”

Ivy sighed as she watched him vanish into the store office. This wasn’t the first time she’d done this, but she’d never asked Aho for credit before. Those records he was checking would show she was already in debt to the store. There’d be no chance of her getting her hands on the champagne and chocolate tonight.

She ignored the stares from other customers that drilled into her back as she waited for Aho and played with the gum display. Let them wait with their cheap, ready meals and loser’s fizzy wine. This wasn’t her fault. The card should have gone through the system. She would get paid soon.