Avel by Arcadia Shield

Avel has always had a chip on his broad shoulders. Not comfortable with his alien-human hybrid status, he’s never felt like he fits in. Humans think he’s odd and Dackins think he’s a weakling. He spends his days debt collecting and his nights drinking to forget.
Having spent a few weeks on Prodigy, Avel’s thinking this could make a decent home. Everyone’s more accepting of difference on the space station. Then Holly wanders into his life, with her big smile, killer curves, and amazing chocolate, and everything changes. Avel sees the chance for some fun, but Holly wants so much more.
Holly Lipinski’s life is all about chocolate. She’d bathe in the stuff if she could afford to. But Holly is terrible with money, and she desperately needs some if she’s ever going to get her chocolate store open. As a last resort, she turns to a Dackin moneylender. The interest rates aren’t great, but her credit rating is worse.
Thrilled to get her loan approved, Holly has a celebratory drink in the Enchanted Captain and meets a sexy alien with a hint of danger about him. He sweeps her off her feet with long, intense kisses, and the promise of a wild ride. But Holly is a safety girl, burned by a traitorous ex-boyfriend and determined never to be hurt again. She doesn’t give her heart easily, and is never interested in one-night stands, no matter how tempting the package.
Although she tries to stay away, Holly is drawn to Avel, even though she senses he’s not looking for a relationship. There’s something about this mysterious alien that she has to learn more about. But her past fears hold her back, and she resists his alluring pull.
A fight over cupcakes, a star storm that almost kills them, and an unwelcome reminder of Holly’s past ensure the road to love is never easy. Can a human with a broken heart and an alien hybrid with an attitude really be right for each other?
Will Holly trust Avel enough to let him into her life and make her feel beautiful? And will Avel discover that there’s more to life than making money? Join Avel and Holly on their romantic, fun adventure in space and learn just how powerful love can be.