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Hayley ran her finger down the screen to hide the content from Ivy’s scrutiny. “I was saying it was tricky to Vegas. I’ll get them a match, eventually.”

Vegas nodded, her smile supportive. “Of course you will. You haven’t been here two months. We all need time to learn.”

Ivy’s narrowed gaze shifted to Hayley. “I thought you had more than five years’ experience in matchmaking?”

Hayley swallowed her nervousness and met Ivy’s gaze. “I do but back on Earth. Matching humans and aliens is different.”

“If you say so.” Ivy shrugged and walked over to Vegas. “May I?” She gestured to Vegas’s stomach.

“Of course.” Vegas grinned, and Hayley watched Ivy’s expression soften as she touched the baby bump almost reverently.

“Any day now,” Ivy said. Ever since she’d had her own child with her partner Karn, she went doe-eyed around anybody else’s children or soon to be children.

Nell touched Hayley’s arm and leaned over. “I can give you a hand if you like. When I first got here, the database algorithms stumped me.”

“Thanks, but I need to figure it out for myself.” Hayley doubted Nell had any problems with the system. Everyone knew what a genius Nell was when it came to computers.

Hayley couldn’t have her cover blown. And she couldn’t allow herself to get distracted by some sexy, uptight alien who’d misunderstood her meaning when she’d tried to get him to open up. She needed a full year of money and then she was out of here.

Hayley spent barely any of her salary, sending the majority of it to her sister to cover the cost of her treatment. It left her with barely anything to live on, but cheap accommodation was provided on Prodigy as part of the job. All she needed to do was keep within her credit limit for food and she’d be fine. Hayley could do without new clothes or fresh cosmetics for one year if it meant her sister got her monthly round of life-saving treatment.

It was worth it, the deception and the lying on her resume, bribing people to give her a good reference, so it looked like she had experience in matchmaking to secure this job.

The other matchmakers were excellent at what they did. Even Kendra and Sinead, who joined at the same time as she had, seemed like naturals. If Hayley didn’t get up to speed fast, she’d be rumbled. If she lost this salary, she’d lose the opportunity to keep her sister safe. She would not fail.

“Why don’t we take a five-minute break?” Nell whispered. “My eyes are aching from looking at all these matches, and I made cookies last night. Pecan and triple chocolate.”

Hayley’s mouth watered. She was saving her credits for a big dinner and had skipped breakfast. Her stomach was already rumbling unhappily. “They sound great.”

“I made a huge batch, so help yourself.” Nell eased back from her seat and pulled out a box from under her desk.

It was rare to find someone who baked on the station. Most people relied on the food replicators or the dining hall.

Nell lifted the lid, and Hayley had to stop from groaning as the delicious smell of sweet cookies filled the office.

“What have you got there?” Ivy walked over, looked inside the box, and took a cookie before she was offered one. She took a bite and chewed. “Not bad.”

Nell smiled and shook her head. She took a cookie and passed the box to Hayley. “Help yourself. I’ll make the drinks.” She hopped up from her seat and headed to the food replicator.

Hayley tried to be discreet as she stuffed a cookie in her mouth. It was divine. The food replicators on Prodigy were decent enough, but there was nothing like food made by a human hand that added something special, especially when those hands were Nell’s.

Ivy slapped her hand away as Hayley reached for her third cookie. “Save some for the rest of us.”

Hayley blushed. “Sorry, they just taste so good.”

Nell returned with coffee for everyone and passed the mugs around. “Take no notice of Ivy. You should have seen her when she was pregnant. She would have eaten this whole box of cookies and asked for more. And she never shared.”

“I had a growing baby inside me. That baby was greedy,” Ivy said. “Hayley doesn’t have that excuse.”

Hayley shrugged. “It’s true. The only excuse I have is that I’m greedy. I’m definitely not eating for two.”

Ivy took another cookie and strolled over to chat to Vegas, leaving Nell and Hayley alone.

Hayley had been warned when she first joined that Ivy could be spiky. She was always careful around her. Nell, she felt she could trust. She was quiet but confident and a genius when making successful matches.

Nell dunked her cookie into her coffee and studied Hayley patiently, not pushing her to speak or asking any probing questions.

“I went on a date last night,” Hayley said quietly.