My Date is a Wild Yeti, page 1
Amadine has wanted to pay her sister back for the ultimate kindness, and this was the only way she could do it. She just needs a medic, a guardian, and a wilderness expert. Good thing that she can hire one from the BDC.
Amadine Heckler hasn’t had the most predictable life, but it has been short. When she turned five, she was the size of her genetic donor, and she looked into sad, steel eyes through the sides of the tank she had grown in.
Ondine was still heavily damaged, but she had refused to take over the body that had been grown for her when she realized that a mind already occupied it. Amadine was educated, dressed, housed, and given employment counselling. She became a children’s author, and when she was six, her activation came online.
She shared her sister’s quiet home and had friends who didn’t know who her sibling was. She thought long and hard about what to give Ondine for the life and freedom she had surrendered. She had no idea that Ondine was thinking the same thing.
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
My Date is a Wild Yeti
Copyright © 2023 by Viola Grace
ISBN: 978-1-990635-32-8
©Cover art by Angela Waters
All rights reserved. With the exception of review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher.
Published by Viola Grace
Look for me online at violagrace.com and other eBook sellers.
My Date is a Wild Yeti
Blind Date Corporation Book 13
By
Viola Grace
Chapter One
Amadine finished the last line and closed the new laptop. She would let it sit for a few days and then send it to her publisher with the character descriptions and see what kind of preliminary sketches they could come up with.
She stretched and looked into the study. The baby was only four weeks from being full-term. The emergency power was stable, the solar power was steady, and the snowy cabin in the mountains was perfect for working. Amadine was warm, cozy, and sipping coffee when there was a knock on the door. She jerked her head toward it and blinked, walking over to open the door. Aksalla Nine was standing there in jeans, a soft sweater, and a mask.
“Oh, no. I forgot again.” She groaned. “Come in.”
He laughed. “You have to be the most unusual patron that I have, Patron.”
“I don’t know why she keeps sending you here.”
He chuckled and headed for the kitchen, moving easily and tidying up after her.
She sent out a sensory check, and the com was the only thing on him with a memory of past events. His mask was a thinner version of the original one.
“Um, thanks for taking care of the snow.”
He chuckled as he did the dishes. “No problem. You didn’t even notice you were snowed in, did you?”
Amadine shrugged. “No. Not really. I did finish a project, so that was fun.”
He laughed. “Have you eaten?”
She paused, “Like... ever?”
“So, that’s a no. What are you in the mood for that isn’t tacos?”
“You are no fun.”
“Fun costs extra.” He smiled.
Amadine snorted and went to grab items from the freezer and the indoor garden. “What can you do with these?”
He chuckled. “Meatloaf.”
“Done. I just have to check on the other project and will be back to help.”
She smiled and walked to the study where she adjusted the nutrients on the incubator and pressed her forehead to the canister where her daughter/niece was developing. It was complicated, but her sister deserved a family, and this was the only way for it to happen. She smiled. Her sister would have preferred more time, but Amadine was making money and could help now, so she was the perfect babysitter for the little baby.
“Who is that?” Aksalla Nine was standing in the doorway.
“My niece. She’s almost ready to come out and greet the world.”
“Where is your sister?”
Amadine put soft lighting on with a red hue and set a soft heartbeat pulse for the baby to listen to. “She’s on a mission. She will be back soon.”
She walked out of the study and set the security lock behind her.
Amadine walked with him and said, “Why are you available anyway? Behavioural suspension?”
He paused and chuckled. “Right. I have overstepped. Um, no. I had to appear in court, and it requires me to remain close to home until the proceedings are done.”
“Ah. Well, that is just... What is the court proceeding for?”
He chuckled. “Too personal. If I tell you, you will know who I am, and then it defeats the purpose of the mask.”
“Oh. Right. Well, back to work, meatloaf machine.”
He laughed, and they made a meatloaf with vegetables, cheese, barbeque sauce, and shredded cheese. Ondine loved cheese. Now, they had to wait.
Amadine curled up on the couch, and he started a fire. “Thanks for that.”
He chuckled. “I will get the potatoes going.”
“Okay. I will stay here if you don’t mind. It was an early day, or I am still on yesterday’s night.”
“Nap. It will be ready in an hour and a half.”
She nodded, curled up in a ball in the corner of the couch, and fell asleep. Aksalla Nine would be there for ten more hours. It was their standard date.
* * * *
Geero looked at the small bundle of female at the edge of the couch. When Tirra had told him he was going on assignment to the mountains, he was excited. When he found out that it was as temporary companion to this tiny person, he was stunned. A day with him cost twelve thousand dollars, and he was with her once every ten days when available. She didn’t seem to be hurting financially at all, and the chores that he did were similar to those he did for his grandmother.
She was normally so protective of the study that he felt authorized to peek when she left the door open. The baby incubator in the security wall was a shock. Those cost close to a million dollars and were only issued under cases of extreme infertility. His patron looked fine to his scans.
Cooking and shovelling the walk were easy. He enjoyed them. The medical assistance now made sense.
He finished getting things prepped for dinner and took a seat on the chair near his patron. It seemed odd that she would hire him to watch her sleep, but it made him intensely curious as to the other occupant of the house. There was no particular scent to track, but there was a bedroom that no one used and didn’t smell like his patron.
There was no electrical hum in the house. It was always weird to come here, but he liked it.
She shifted slowly on the couch, and he smiled. She looked cute and appeared small, but while her curves stated she was completely grown up, she didn’t act like it. He was used to women having a certain response to his physique. He had taken what genetics and his activation had given him and honed it to a fine edge. He looked good and knew it.
Geero meditated while he focused on the sounds of the food cooking and bubbling. When the potatoes were done, he got up and started getting them ready. He drained them, mashed them, and added warmed cream and butter.
The meatloaf was crackling and popping in the oven at a low sizzle, and the scent of food filled the air.
He walked to the window and checked the snow. It was coming down and would be thick in a few hours. He didn’t want to leave her alone during the blizzard, but his contract ended in eight hours, and the snow was going to fall all night.
He sent a communication to management about the weather. He was given a reply to stay as long as needed to assure the patron’s safety.
He smiled. Staying had a certain appeal. If he were summoned for cross-examination in court, he would go but would be back as soon as he could.
When the meatloaf was done, she showed no signs of waking, so he put the food in the warmer and went out to get a leg up on clearing the door.
Once the space around the house was clear, he returned to see that the patron had crawled to the other side of the couch for additional rest.
He stroked a finger down her nose and chuckled as she batted at his hand. She was like an angry kitten. Her eyes went wide, and he snorted. “You can eat now and then sleep.”
She nodded. “How long have I been out?”
“Three hours.”
“Oh.” She sat up and said, “It’s snowing.”
“Yes, it is. A lot. Hungry?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Come on. I made gravy.” He took her hand and led her to the table.
She chortled as he loaded her plate and was about to dive in when she paused. “Oh, no.”
Geero was on alert. “What is it?”
“Titan’s here.” She looked at him. “This is awkward.”
He frowned in confusion, and the huge silver being eased into the door but stood straight inside as the door closed. “Amadine, I’m home.”
Chapter Two
Ondine opened her hatch and eased out of the torso of the Titan. “Hey, scooter. Where are you?”
“I am here, and we have a guest.”
Ondine froze and met the astonished gaze of Geero. Well, she knew he was staring under the mask. She summoned her cane, walked slowly into the house, saw the dinner, and remembered it was date night. “I will be in the study. Please, pardon my intrusion. I forgot what day it was.”
She limped through the dining room and headed for the study. She was really regretting the layout of the house.
Geero said, “Join us for dinner?”
Amadine nodded frantically.
“Uh, no. You are on a registered date, so I don’t want to interfere.”
Amadine said, “You told me to socialize, so here he is. I have tried others, but he is the nicest. Please, sit.”
Ondine blinked. “Amy, what are you up to? Geero, please, excuse me.”
He chuckled and removed his mask. “I guess I am rather distinctive.”
“Uh, yeah.” She looked away as her blush crept up her cheeks. She did not want to be at close range to him. Her body got strange when he was around.
She shivered and kept limping to her study.
Amadine rushed to her and started to whisper frantically. Ondine muttered, “Amy. Stop it.”
“Please.” She looked at Ondine with her blue eyes wide.
“Fine.” Ondine hobbled back to the table, and Geero got a separate plate.
He chuckled. “It’s good that I made meatloaf. Plenty to go around.”
Ondine looked at Amadine in astonishment. “You have them cook, clean, and shovel the walks? Nothing else?”
Amadine grinned brightly. “Scrabble!”
Ondine looked at Geero and tried to keep her blush to a minimum with effort. “That’s a very patient thing. My... sister can be a little much.”
Amadine snorted and ate some mashed potatoes. “Sister. Sure.”
Ondine growled. “Amy...”
Amadine looked at Geero and grinned. “I am her clone. I am only six.”
Ondine slapped a hand to her forehead. “Amy!”
“What? You let him take the mask off, so you trust him. Plus, you think he’s pretty.”
Geero threw her a lifeline. “Well, I do work very hard at being pretty.”
Ondine jerked her gaze to his. He smiled and jerked his chin. “Eat. It is still hot.”
She nodded and took a forkful of gravy and potatoes, nicked the edge off the meatloaf and put the whole thing in her mouth. Then she covered her mouth and exhaled.
Geero started snickering, and Ondine looked at Amadine who was doing the exact same thing.
Amadine swallowed. When she did, they both looked at Geero. “Something funny?”
“No, I just see a distinct resemblance. You are really sisters?”
Amadine sighed. “I am her clone. I am not her sister. I am just what she would have looked like if Uradda hadn’t tinkered with her genetics and tortured her.”
Geero paused. “You are Uraddan?”
Ondine nodded. “It’s in my file.”
She ate quickly. “Since Amadine is so chatty, I will just take care of these dishes and then get my face out of sight. She can answer most of the standard questions.”
Amadine spoke softly. “Onny, sit. He’s okay. He won’t take this outside.”
Ondine looked at them both. “Well, Titan has already sprung a leak. Hera brought one of her partners with her to meet with me. I am nearly healed, so soon, I can step into the suit because I want to, not because I have to.”
“Aren’t you there already?”
Ondine shrugged. “Maybe.”
Geero frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Amadine finished her plate. “Titan was a life support unit. Onny was crushed in a tunnel collapse while escaping Uradda. She made Titan to keep her alive. It got bigger over time.”
Ondine looked over, and there was still more food. “Anyone mind if I get seconds?”
Geero took her plate. “I will get it. Ms. Ondine, why did you become a defender?”
“Money. My injuries were extensive, and I couldn’t afford a place to live and couldn’t get out of the armour. I couldn’t go to any of the other means of earning funds the others slipped into. Fighting for survival was lucrative when others were at stake. I got good at it. Space is fun as well.” She smiled.
“They denied you medical attention?”
“Sure. They were not obligated to provide it. Z-Tech wasn’t Z-Corp yet with a branch in Aksalla. The prefect was helping to house the other refugees, but I didn’t fit in a house.” She smiled. “I met Kritz after I took a lot of damage on my third assignment. He was a little shocked to see all of me, and we came up with a plan of repair. It has been working. There is an entire team that studies me.” She snorted. “The Aksallan government wants to sponsor a movie about my life.”
Geero chuckled. “Really?”
Amadine snorted. “Really. The payday they are offering for Titan’s story is incredible, but she isn’t going for it.”
“We have enough money now, Amy.”
“Even with your little one on the way?” Amadine looked at her innocently.
Ondine looked alarmed. “It isn’t mine. You know that.”
“Well, I am not raising it; I’m only six.” Amadine sipped at her soda.
She looked at her sister. “You snuck that order in, and it wasn’t until Kritz congratulated me on a successful embryo after four failures that I got an idea of what you were up to.”
“Hey, those hormones and needles hurt. You wanted a baby, and now, you are getting one. I will be the babysitter and daycare when you go on missions.”
Geero returned with a warm plate. “Why do you want a child?”
Ondine took the food and shrugged. “Because I can’t have one, and the moment I was told that, my heart hurt. I was fixated. Zera tried to help, but that just resulted in Amadine.”
Amadine smiled softly. “Thanks for that.”
Geero ate his own seconds and said, “That sounds like it wasn’t supposed to be.”
Amadine shrugged. “They used tech based on a regenerating active. They built Ondine a new body, but I was inside it. She met my gaze and ordered them to gain education files for me. I was tested for aptitude, and she paid for it all. When I was legally registered, I was so happy, but then I activated, and things went to shit.”
Ondine laughed. “That is a precise analysis. It was a riot, and I had to get you away from there. So, we came here, bought a place, and Amadine started her career writing kids’ books, and she occasionally did consulting for those willing to pay an exorbitant price for truth.”
Geero rubbed the back of his head. “So, this is where I let you know that I encourage truth in those around me.”
Ondine paused. “I rarely lie.”
Amadine smiled. “I don’t have the time to lie. I am either writing or napping.”
Geero smiled. “So, why hire escorts?”
Ondine answered, “To get Amadine used to being around males. We don’t have a lot of experience with them, so I thought that hiring them would keep them on their best behaviour, and Amadine could find out what kind of men she would eventually be interested in.”
Amadine chuckled. “In a decade. But she is right; it made me more confident when I went on assignments. We are born omegas, so having guys we can trust is important.”
Ondine finished her plate. “Amadine, did you need a nap?”
“Usually, but no dessert?”
“I am home for a few days, so I can make dessert for lunch tomorrow.”
“Cobbler?”
“Cobbler.” She smiled.
Amadine grinned, came around for a hug, and then skipped off to bed.
Ondine looked at Geero. “Sorry about that. She would describe her underwear drawer if you asked her.”
He was staring at her with a fixed gaze. “She said she’s your clone.”
“Right.
“So, you two have the same biology.”
“Uh... right.”
“And she is an omega.”
Ondine finally understood. “Oh, yes, she is. I was.”
“Was?”
“The damage to me was extensive. Most of the parts that trigger a heat were damaged. My uterus was completely pulverized. Ovaries are down to part of one. Those are the two driving factors that make an omega work.”
