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She slid a glance at him. “A few.”

“I hear you enjoy writing. We’re not much for literature on our home planet.”

“I’ve never understood the purpose of books,” Solan said.

“Ignore him. Even though he’s my commander, he can be a bit of an idiot.”

“I’d reprimand you for that if we weren’t off duty,” Solan said.

Padam chuckled. “Sure you would. Nell, what do you write about?”

“This and that,” Nell said. There was no way she’d disclose to him that she was trying, and failing, to write alien erotica.

“Perhaps you have something I could read?”

“Nell used to have her books published on Earth,” Heather said. “She writes romance.”

“You can give me a few pointers to make sure my mate remains happy when I get her,” Padam said. “What’s the secret to a happy relationship with a human?”

“I make stuff up,” Nell said. “Real life is different.”

“You don’t base your stories on your own experiences?” Padam asked.

“Definitely not,” Nell said. She’d never been with an alien and wanted it to remain that way.

“Nell is working on something super-secret,” Heather said. “I’ve been asking her for months if I can take a look, but she never lets me.”

“It’s not ready,” Nell said. “No one gets to see my work until I’m happy with it.”

“How will you know if it’s any good if you don’t let anybody see it?” Padam asked.

Nell felt the beginnings of a headache creep behind her eyes. “You just know. It’s hard to explain. When I create something good, I get this weird tingle in my stomach.”

Padam shifted closer. “I like the sound of that. Tell me more.”

Nell moved her chair away. “Do you know what it’s like when you get so engrossed in doing something, whether it’s watching a program or reading a great piece of writing, you can forget yourself for hours? You look up and realize half a day has passed, and you didn’t notice because you’re enjoying yourself so much. That’s what happens when I create a great story, a story that will absorb peoples interest and give them an escape.”

“That’s why you write,” Padam said, “to help others escape?”

“I, well, sort of.” Nell had never thought about it that way before, but she guessed that was a part of it. She’d stuck to romance because she’d found her relationships with guys lacking, so she had created her ideal partner among the pages of her books.

That must be the same for the people who read her books. They could be looking for a refuge from their otherwise grim lives or lackluster relationships.

“Do your books have aliens in them?” Padam said. “I hear that’s a popular type of book.”

Nell rubbed the bridge of her nose. “It’s something I’m thinking about.”

“You should. I was reading—”

“You do not read,” Solan said.

Padam laughed. “I do. I don’t do it when you’re around because you think it’s stupid.”

“Reading isn’t stupid,” Nell said.

Solan raised his eyebrows. “I never said it was stupid, but when you’re a warrior, there are skills you need to perfect other than enjoying a romance novel.”

Padam touched Nell’s arm. “Ignore him. Because he has the perfect real romantic life, he thinks he doesn’t need to read about any others.”