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“Just work. You know what it’s like. Sometimes, that’s all you can focus on.”

Holly bit her lip and nodded. “Of course. You look like you’ve been busy.” Her gaze shifted over him.

Avel wished he’d made the effort to shower and change before coming here. He stank, and there was probably dried blood on his jumpsuit. “It’s done now. I was enticed here by the smell of those pies.”

Holly grinned. “Would you like one?”

“Absolutely. Is that a new recipe?”

Holly selected the largest pie and filled his plate with vegetables. “It is. I’ve added tarragon to this one. And it’s a new secret recipe for the gravy. I can’t tell you what’s in it, but I think you’ll love it.” She passed him the plate.

“It smells incredible.” The scent of Holly’s food made Avel feel like he’d come home. “If you’ve made it, then I’ll love it.”

“I hope you do.”

“Have you got time to join me?” Now Avel had seen Holly again, he didn’t want to let her out of his sight. He’d missed her these past five days. This quirky, curvy human had gotten under his skin without him realizing it.

“I haven’t had a lunch break yet.” Holly glanced over her shoulder. “Give me a minute. Grab some seats, and I’ll join you.”

Avel smiled to himself as he took two drinks and found a secluded table in the corner of the dining hall. He settled in his seat, resisting the urge to gorge on the food as he waited for Holly.

A few seconds later, she hurried out of the kitchen, a plate in her hand and her apron gone. She walked to his table and sat opposite him. “I can take half an hour.”

Now she was here, Avel wasn’t sure what to say. He’d never been tongue-tied around a woman. He always played it cool and let them do all the running. It felt different with Holly. He wanted to impress her but not show off. Why? There was no future for them, was there?

“Eat up,” Holly said. “You don’t want it to get cold.” She dug into her own pie and nodded at Avel’s plate.

He did as instructed and spent a moment savoring the perfectly crisp pastry, rich gravy, and tender meat. “This is your best yet.”

“There’s much more to come,” Holly said. “I like to experiment. I have so many ideas to try.”

“How’s the chocolate making going?”

“Good. I’m barely getting any sleep, though. Once I finish here, I get to work on the chocolates. Sally, my boss, has been great. She lets me use a space out the back to work in. It’s only temporary, but it does for now.”

“And the chocolate is good?”

She arched an eyebrow. “You even need to ask?”

Avel chuckled. “I can imagine it’s out of this world incredible. Just like everything you make. I missed your food.”

Holly tilted her head. “What work took you away from Prodigy?”

“How did you know I left the station?”

A flush crossed her cheeks. “Oh, I didn’t. But I didn’t see you around. I assumed you left.”

Warmth curled through his stomach. Holly had been looking out for him and had noticed his absence. Maybe she’d missed him, too.

Avel still hadn’t revealed what he did for a living, but it was only fair Holly knew now they were getting friendly. And, after all, she was one of his clients.

“I had some money to collect.”

“Oh! I didn’t know you were in the loans business.” Holly nodded. “That makes sense since a lot of Dackins do that sort of thing.”

“And I’m one of them,” Avel said. “Clients can become forgetful about when they’re supposed to pay their money back. I had to head out and remind somebody that they were overdue two payments.”

“Goodness. I hope you got your money.”