Charlotte and the Alien Ambassador Read Online Free PDF Page A

where love was involved, but it didn’t always happen.
    “I only know the males in a work setting,” he admitted. “They are honorable males who would treat you well.”
    She looked disappointed but nodded her head. “When will I meet your wife?”
    Borgoz gave her a startled look. “I don’t have a mate.”
    For some reason, that little bit of knowledge seemed to please her. Borgoz wasn’t sure what to make of that tidbit. Surely she wasn’t attracted to him? He was years older than her, and she’d already compared him to her father, a man he knew she didn’t like.
    Despite Helio’s warning about Charlotte being eased into Terran cuisine, he took her to his favorite restaurant. Her brow furrowed in the cutest way as she looked at the menu. He knew she couldn’t read a word of what was on the digital display, but it didn’t stop her from trying to figure it out.
    “Would you like me to order for you?” he asked.
    She gave him a grateful smile and nodded.
    Borgoz placed their order and then focused his attention back on the delightful woman across from him. There was still a lot he wanted to know about her, and at the same time, he was almost afraid to get to know her better. Because the better he knew her, the more he would like her, and the more he would want to keep her.
    “Why haven’t you mated anyone yet?” she asked. “I would think that you’d have had your choice of bride.”
    “There hasn’t been time to look for one.”
    “But you want one?”
    He hesitated then nodded. He didn’t see the harm in being honest with her, but if he was going to admit that he wanted a mate, she should also know why it wouldn’t be wise for him to take one.
    “My schedule is very busy,” he said. “It doesn’t leave a lot of time for finding a bride, much less entertaining a mate. If I ever take a mate, she’ll have to understand that my job comes first and that it’s a very demanding one. I’m sure you can understand since your father holds a position of power on your planet. It takes a lot of hours to get things accomplished, and I’m afraid any woman I claimed would end up feeling neglected.”
    “But you’re taking the time to take me shopping and out to eat,” she pointed out. “You could have asked your servant to do it.”
    “Servant?” He smiled. “You mean Helio? He’s a fellow council member who sometimes helps out around my house. There’s a group of women who come in twice a week to clean and I used to have a chef, but I eat most of my meals out now. If I’m in the house, I’m usually working, so eating out is my one guaranteed way of taking a break.”
    “It sounds like you need a mate worse than you think.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, a mate would want to go on trips around the city. She’d want to go shopping and out to eat. She’d want to visit the pool or maybe go to a park. Although, with that incredible garden, I guess a park wouldn’t be necessary. But she would need you to take her to those places, which would get you out of your office. So you need a mate in the worst way.”
    Borgoz couldn’t help but laugh at her logic. He’d been around his share of females, but he’d never enjoyed one quite so much. Nor had he ever smiled or laughed as much as he did around Charlotte. He knew if anyone could drag him out of his office, it would be her. Not that he was going to tell her that. Honestly, the thought frightened him a bit. He’d always been a -- what was that Earth term? -- workaholic. Never before would he have blown off the important documents he needed to review today just to have a meal with a beautiful woman. But for Charlotte, he found he was willing to do anything. One look into her eyes and he’d been smitten.
    All right, so he’d also been annoyed -- annoyed at her for being so damn beautiful and annoyed with her father for having lied to him. At the same time, he was grateful that the Senator had sent the wrong daughter because Borgoz had a