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“I meant your feather hair if that’s what you call it. It’s lovely.”

Avel kept a smile on his face, even though his eyes narrowed. He’d had years of being mocked for his curious genetic mix. He wasn’t fully human or Dackin. His father was a Dackin explorer who’d slipped through the wormhole when it had been stable thirty years ago. He’d wound up on Earth, knocked up Avel’s mom, and left.

When Avel was born, he’d seemed like a normal human baby. But as he’d matured, strange things happened. One day, retractable claws erupted from the tips of his fingers. He’d been shocked as hell and had hidden it for ages from his mom, thinking he was a mutant and she’d send him away.

It wasn’t until he’d begun to grow feathers out of the top of his head that mingled with his course, dark hair that he couldn’t hide his differences anymore. His mom had dragged him to every doctor she could find, but they said it was a genetic anomaly and nothing to worry about.

Then, when Avel turned thirteen, his father had returned to claim him. His mom had been too shocked to protest and had given him up, worried she wouldn’t know how to care for an alien teenager.

Avel had tried to resist, but his father was a huge, monstrous Dackin with a beak, vicious claws, and an attitude. They’d returned through the wormhole, and he’d never seen his mom again. He never would. She was dead.

He also hadn’t seen much of his father after the novelty wore off and people mocked him for having a hybrid son. Avel had spent a lot of time on his own. That upbringing gave him plenty of rough edges, but he’d learned to survive and how to make money. He’d also learned that, if people badmouthed him or mocked him, he made sure they never did it again.

Avel shook himself from his thoughts and tried another chocolate. This cute little thing could sweeten up his night and take away those dark memories. “So, Holly, what’s next for your business? Are you opening a store? Is that why you’re celebrating?”

She played with the pink umbrella in her drink. “Not yet, but I got the loan confirmed today. It’s the start of everything. It will be artisan chocolates. High-quality cocoa and ingredients. I’ll infuse the chocolate with unusual and exotic flavors. What you’re making your way through is just a sample of that.”

Avel realized he’d eaten several more chocolates while she was talking. He licked his fingers clean and took a sip of his whiskey. “You got the loan through today, you say?”

She nodded. “I found out at the end of my shift. I’d been waiting to hear all day. I was worried I wouldn’t get the money, but I had a feeling that this was my time. It’s time for me to make a go of this. I’ve wanted to run my own business for years. I just never had the courage to try.”

Avel looked away and studied the bottom of his glass. Holly Lipinski, of course, that name meant something. He had loaned her the money. He’d waited until the last minute to confirm the agreement because she had a lousy credit history. She’d only just finished paying off a credit card and had been late making repayments to several agencies. Her credit score was borderline horrific.

But as he’d checked her history, he’d seen she’d tried hard to make the repayments on time. There was no record of her being violent or getting arrested for non-payment of debt. She was a high risk, but people rarely came to Avel unless they had a dubious credit history and were desperate.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. He’d keep this information to himself. He wouldn’t mind seeing Holly again, even if it was just to collect the debt she owed him. And since she looked this good and might treat him to the occasional gift of chocolate, this would be a pleasant business arrangement.

“You can be one of my first customers,” Holly said. “You seem to enjoy my chocolate.”

“I enjoy more than just your chocolate.” He shot her a wicked grin. He had a weakness for sweet women with ample curves and dimples. He could have fun with Holly, possibly the sweetest fun he’d had in a long time.

There was something about her that suggested she was innocent. She had no clue what those curves did to him. Every time she moved, her breasts shifted beneath her jumpsuit that was a little on the tight side. It stirred desire in him, and he had to resist the urge to yank down the zipper on her jumpsuit, taste that creamy skin, and see just how enticing those curves were.

“Do you make anything other than chocolates?”

“Oh, absolutely. I can turn my hand to anything. You’ve already sampled my pie from the kitchen.”

His grin was wry. “I do love your pie.”

Holly blushed and looked away. “I make cupcakes as well. In fact, I’m holding a cupcake making evening tomorrow night. If you’re brave enough, why don’t you come along and make some yourself?”

Avel snorted a laugh. “Cupcakes! I’m not some wussy baker.”

“Wussy baker?” Holly slid off her stool, and her hands settled on her hips. “You think baking is easy?”

Avel shrugged. He was a head cracker. Chasing non-payment of debts from assholes was difficult. Hunting lowlifes and breaking their fingers for a late payment was tricky. Throwing a few things in a bowl and stuffing them in the oven. How could that be hard?

Holly pursed her lips. “It seems you don’t know much about baking. It’s an art. It’s difficult. You have to work hard to be an incredible baker. It’s not easy to combine different flavors and textures to make something delicious.”

A smile spread across Avel’s face as he saw passion flare in Holly. This human was sexy as hell, especially when she got riled. “Do you think you can teach me to cook?”

Her mouth twisted to the side, and her gaze ran over him. “I’m not sure you’ve got what it takes. Maybe those hands aren’t suitable for making a cupcake.”

He grinned. “Sugar, like you, I can turn my hand to most things when I’m in a pinch.”

“Why don’t you come? Tomorrow night at eight. I teach a class in the kitchen at the back of the dining hall. There’s one space left if you think you can handle it.”

Holly was adorable when angry. Avel grabbed a chocolate and held it out to her.