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Chapter 6

The power of speecheluded Ivy for several seconds as she stared at Karn. “How did you get into the office?”

“The door was open.”

Her gaze grew suspicious. “I know Vegas checks to make sure everything is locked before she leaves for the night. There are aliens who’d love to get their hands on our data.”

Karn’s smile was almost dazzling. “When I want something, I don’t stop until I get it.”

“You wanted to get inside this office?” Ivy twisted her fingers together. She realized she looked uncomfortable and thrust her hands behind her back. “What made you think I’d come here at this time of night?”

“It was a hunch. I had a feeling you’d have a hard time sleeping after our encounter.” Karn pushed himself away from the door and sauntered toward her.

Damn, he looked good in that fitted superhero suit of his. Ivy shook her head and forced her racing heart to slow. “That makes no sense.”

“I know you like me.”

“I barely know you.”

“I’m growing on you,” Karn said. “I bet you’ve been thinking about me. I know I’ve been thinking about you.”

Ivy swallowed. This was Vegas’s doing. That big-mouthed bitch had promised her she wouldn’t say a word to Karn until she’d made a decision about the match between them. She’d said to take as much time as she needed.

Of course, this was all Vegas’s fault. This was the reason Karn lurked in the office. Maybe he’d wanted to check out the reason they’d been matched because he couldn’t believe it was true.

Ivy would kill Vegas the next time she saw her.

“So, what do you think?” Karn asked, his gaze moving slowly up and down Ivy.

“About what?” Ivy needed to play it as cool as possible and find out what Karn knew. She wanted to get inside his head and figure out what he thought about their match. Did he like the fact they’d been matched?

She’d been surprised Karn was even in the database. He couldn’t be short of company in his bed. He didn’t seem like the kind of alien who wanted to settle down. Forka were known as free agents. They traveled where work took them. Being a family man wouldn’t make that possible.

“About us. I thought we could make this official. Go on more dates and really get to know each other.”

“Why do you want to date me?” Ivy tilted her head to the side. “Surely, you’ve got plenty of fun in your life.”

Karn’s smile was sharp. “I have plenty of fun.”

Ivy ignored the tug of jealousy in her stomach. She shouldn’t care what he did in his spare time. “I imagine you do, a girl in every port.”

Karn’s brows lowered. “Every port? You mean every space station?”

Ivy waved a hand in the air. “It’s nothing. An old Earth saying. When sailors went to sea, they used to stop at different ports and get their leg over with a different girl. That’s what I meant.”

“You’re accusing me of being easy?” A smirk traced across Karn’s lips.

Ivy nodded slowly. Did she want someone like this in her life? Somebody she would worry about and wonder who else he was seeing? “Maybe I am.”

Karn stood up straight. “I’m nothing like that. Well, not anymore. We all do foolish things when we’re young. It’s good to experiment. I expect you’ve had a few experiments in your time. I’d like to hear about them.”

She shook her head. “Nothing springs to mind.”

“There’s no need to be coy. It’s good to expand your horizons. I’ll share a dirty secret with you if you share one with me.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Karn’s grin broadened. “I’ll get you talking dirty to me one day.”