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She was far too tiny to be a fighter. But maybe she was a runner or a gymnast?
If this was his intended match, both of them being athletes would be a great icebreaker. He was about to ask her what her sport was, when she looked up at him and the question died in his throat.
Her eyes were an intense cornflower blue, framed by long, dark lashes. She gazed at him as if she were reading his soul, ignoring the beefy muscles that normally got him female attention in favor of studying his expression.
He opened his mouth and closed it again, lost in her gaze.
“Tiago,” he managed to say after a moment. “I’m the, uh, perspective father.”
“Alexis,” she replied in a soft voice like the touch of a feather, sending a shiver of awareness down his spine. “Nice to meet you.”
3
ALEXIS
Alexis tried not to smile, but she was inescapably charmed by the big, beefy Maltaffian with the muscular arms and kind eyes.
His hair was long and dark, brushing his shoulders. And his skin was a lovely russet shade, reminding her of the autumn leaf simulators in the park back on Terra-58.
She hadn’t met many Maltaffians, but this one was too gigantic, his muscles too defined not to be some kind of athlete.
He was too big to be a dancer. She figured he must be either a ball player, or maybe a competitive weightlifter?
“Welcome,” a woman said, stepping out from the kitchen. “I’m Dr. Oppyx. Alexis, Tiago, I’m so glad you both made it. Why don’t you have a seat, and we’ll begin the welcome presentation?”
The woman smiled at them warmly, her brown eyes crinkling at the corners. She was a Maltaffian with lovely, blue-toned skin that contrasted deliciously with her crisp white scrubs. But she seemed petite for the species. Though maybe that was only in comparison to Tiago, who towered over both women.
The doctor was pointing them to a banquette seat on the back wall of the diner, so Alexis and Tiago headed over together.
The covering on the booth seating looked like red vinyl, and the table in front of it had a faux-marble top. It reminded Alexis a lot of the little antique diner on Terra-58 where she had spent so many nights talking after performances with her fellow dancers. It was the only place where they could stay up all night drinking nothing but black coffee and the waitresses didn’t kick them out. Just the idea of it made her feel a little more at home than before.
Tiago gestured for her to sit first.
As she did, she realized how small the seat was. She tried to move as much to the side as she could, but since the inside ended in a wall, she could only go so far.
Tiago frowned at the seat like he was about to solve a puzzle, then lowered himself in slowly. His massive size meant his big thigh was pressed to hers in spite of his obvious efforts not to squish her.
She fought the urge to close her eyes as she soaked in the heat of him and the little shiver of awareness his touch sent through her.
What is wrong with me? I just met this guy…
Dr. Oppyx lifted a disc from her pocket, and waved her hand in the air.
The lights dimmed, and a hologram of a Maltaffian woman emerged into the air above the disc.
“Welcome to the Midsummer Center for Fertility,” the woman chirped with a big smile. “I’m here to tell you a little about the center and the work we’ll be doing here. Let me start by saying that you are the most important part of that work.”
The woman began to walk along a beach. It looked a lot like the beach at the center. Alexis had spent some time exploring it on her first day.
“A first of its kind, the entire center was uniquely designed, planned and implemented by a single AI,” the woman said. “And that AI, nicknamed Oberon, will also host you throughout your stay, attending to all of your needs and ensuring the best possible environment to meet our goals. We’re proud to tell you that the Midsummer Center for Fertility was denoted by the Intergalactic Physicians Association as the most conception-friendly place in the galaxy.”
The women took a turn and suddenly, instead of standing among the palm trees, Alexis realized that she was in a beautiful green meadow with birdsong audible in the background.
“Each day will begin with relaxing, shared activities for surrogate and intended parent,” the woman went on. “Oberon has crafted a plethora of pleasant locations to help you feel at ease and get to know each other better.”
There really was a lot to do. Alexis glanced at Tiago out of the corner of her eye. He would probably be up for some hiking and other outdoor activities. That could be fun.
“Here at the Midsummer Center for Fertility, everyone has responsibilities,” the woman said, her voice suddenly deeper and dead serious.
