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“A lack of female interest has nothing to do with your arm. It’s more to do with the way you talk to people,” Kendra said. “If you weren’t so rude, you’d stand more chance of getting a date.”

His steady gaze met hers. “I would like a second date with you.”

Her laugh was startled. “All you’ve done is insult me and suggest I’m inferior. Why do you want to have anything to do with me?”

Faron scrubbed a hand over the top of his head. “I am not certain.”

“Well, I am. A second date is a bad idea.” Kendra couldn’t deny there was a flare of attraction for Faron. How could anyone not be attracted to those solid muscles and square jaw? But it was lust, nothing more. They were wrong for each other.

“We should see each other again,” Faron said, “to be sure we are not correct for each other.”

The server arrived with their dessert and removed the empty wine bottle Faron had drunk by himself.

“Why prolong the agony? You’ll find someone,” Kendra said. “It’s not me.”

“I need to be sure.”

No, she was not going there. Kendra knew what she wanted didn’t exist. Love in the real world was bitter and unkind and came with conditions.

Faron slapped a hand on the table and made the cutlery shake. “I insist.”

“We’d be wasting our time.” Her breath quickened at the intensity in his eyes. “We’re not a genetic match for each other.”

“We should attempt to mate.”

Kendra choked out a laugh. This guy was something else. No wonder he was single. “We are not attempting to mate.”

Faron scowled at her. He scooped up his plate and emptied the dessert into his mouth. He chewed several times and swallowed.

Kendra shook her head as she delicately picked up her spoon.

Faron pushed his chair back and stood. “You are a frustrating individual.”

“Right back at you.”

He glowered at her before stomping out of the room.

She cut a piece of her meringue and ate it without noticing the sweetness. This had been a disaster she never wanted to repeat.

Chapter 4

Faron downed two energy shots as he waited for the rest of the repair crew to arrive for work. Fury simmered just below the surface of his normally restrained emotions as he double-checked the tools on his utility belt. He jabbed a sonic hammer into the belt as his thoughts focused on the speed dating last night and his meal with Kendra.

She had rejected him. It was the ultimate humiliation. She was far from perfect, yet she’d seen fit to deny him so much as a single night of pleasure. She had agreed to the dinner, yet when he’d been open about his interest, she’d shut him down.

He stood apart from the rest of the repair crew as they arrived, nodding a greeting when people spoke to him. It wasn’t that he didn’t like them, but he wasn’t in the mood for the idle banter they always enjoyed.

Sala wandered over and slapped Faron on the back. “Did you have fun last night?”

“No.” Faron scowled at the only person he considered a true friend on Prodigy. Sala was a friendly Lillip with a frustrating ability to tap into Faron’s feelings when he didn’t want him to. He’d also been the only guy on the crew who hadn’t given up on Faron when he’d answered questions with a single word.

Sala grinned. “It didn’t look that way to me.”

“The human was infuriating.”

“She looked kind of cute. Smaller than you normally like. Sweet face, though.”

“She was irritating.”