Blossom and the Alien Actor

By Jessica Coulter Smith

Blossom has struggled all her life, never able to claw her way out of the worst neighborhood in Los Angeles. Her loser ex-boyfriend isn’t who she thought he was, and now she’s in deep trouble -- but Christmas is the time for miracles, and Blossom needs one now more than ever. She just doesn’t expect her miracle to arrive in such a sexy, purple package. When the notorious alien actor Brexton knocks on her door, she does what any rational woman would do -- she slams it in his face. Wishing for a miracle is one thing, but having the heartthrob of Hollywood on her doorstep isn’t what she had in mind.

Brexton has always wanted a mate and family, though he’s never been blessed with either. When he hears about a single mom who’s in trouble, he knows he can’t leave her to face her fate. Having a door slammed in his face hadn’t factored into his plans, but that one glimpse is enough for Brexton. He’d do anything to get another look at the sexy female with blue hair, and a body that would feature in all his future dreams.

Despite danger lurking around every corner, Brexton is determined to give Blossom and her children a Christmas they’ll always remember. Now that he has the family he’s always wanted, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe, and hopefully share the first of many holidays with his new mate and kids.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Changeling Press
• Release date: Dec 7, 2018

Jessica Coulter Smith

Author of Adult & Erotic Romance, with an emphasis on paranormal and fantasy.

Book preview

kids.

Chapter One

Brexton scowled at his manager. You want me to do what?

The little human rolled her eyes. I want you to hand out toys to poor children, she said.

But why?

Because it’s Christmas and doing something good for those less fortunate will look good. You’re making a lot of money from the humans on this planet, Brexton. Christmas is the time to give a little back.

I don’t understand your human holidays. He ran a hand through his newly cut hair. He already missed the length, not that it was exactly short now. Which one is this? The one with the rabbit that lays eggs?

His human manager coughed into her fist. Um, no, that would be Easter. Christmas is when Santa comes to visit all the good little boys and girls to leave gifts under the tree. Well, for those who celebrate and believe in Santa. Or can afford to put gifts under the tree. There are a lot of religions that celebrate during this time of year, but Christmas with Santa is the one people seem to focus on the most.

What is the point of this Santa person? If he’s giving out gifts, why do I need to?

Are you being serious right now? she asked.

Brexton sighed. It wasn’t that he was opposed to helping people who needed it, but he didn’t understand why toys were so important this particular month as opposed to all year long. If children needed toys, why wait and only give them out this one time? And if those families couldn’t afford toys, did they have food or shelter? Handing out toys didn’t seem like it would do much of anything to really help. He’d much prefer to make sure those families could eat a good meal, or not worry about where they were sleeping. If Santa was giving out toys, wasn’t his money better used elsewhere?

He stared at his manager and waited for a better explanation. Sometimes human customs baffled him.

You are being serious, aren’t you? she asked, her brow furrowing. Brexton, you’ve been on Earth for nearly ten years and have become something of a superstar among actors. How can you not know how Christmas works?

He just shrugged.

Fine. I’m going to email you the address of a church that’s hosting an event for poor children. They’re not calling it that, but that’s what it is. You’ll help Santa hand out toys, mingle with everyone while they open presents and have refreshments, and then you can go donate money to whatever charity you want. But you’re going to this event!

I’ll be there, even if I don’t understand the significance, he assured her.

Sometimes I think you don’t pay me nearly enough, she muttered as she walked off.

Brexton shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. If Christmas was such a big deal on Earth, then maybe he should do something for someone in need. But he didn’t have the first clue how to go about finding someone who needed his help. He doubted the Terran center in his hometown of Los Angeles would be of much assistance. While they did hire some humans, mostly the center was staffed by those of his people who were trying to better human/alien relations. Although, some were probably like him. On his world, he was no one. Just another warrior amongst many, and he’d never really cared for battle. Coming here had given him a chance at a new life, and he’d hoped it would include a mate. So far, he hadn’t found the right woman, though plenty had tried to get him into bed.

Plenty of females flocked to him, but he’d been warned they wanted his money or his fame and not to trust them. He’d tried dating some of the women in his profession, but that hadn’t ended well either. They all wanted something from him, and it wasn’t a family. Not unless they thought giving him a family would benefit them in some way. That wasn’t the type of mate he wanted. While he loved acting, there were times he wondered if he’d made the right decision, or if should have stayed on his home world and taken a chance on finding a mate through the bride program.

One of the interns who worked on set wandered by, and Brexton reached out to stop him. What was his name? Something with a J… Joshua!

Joshua, if I wanted to help a family in need, where would I go? he asked.

You mean like adopting a family for the holidays? the intern asked.

He didn’t quite understand what that meant, but he knew the term adoption. Perhaps that was the human phrasing for helping a family over the holidays?

Yes. Is there an agency or a church that would be able to give me the information I need to provide a nice Christmas for a family who is poor?

Joshua scratched his head. You could try the Department of Human Services. I know they have a lot of programs to assist those less fortunate. Not sure you’ll get someone on the phone this close to the holidays though.

The intern hurried off and Brexton pulled out his phone. Before he could look up the number for Human Services, a small hand covered the device. He looked up into a pair of dark brown eyes.

You really want to help a family in need? the girl asked. She couldn’t have been more than seventeen or eighteen.

Yes. Whatever they need. Help with bills, food, toys. I want to make their lives easier.

What if they need those things and more? she asked.

More? His mouth tipped down at the corners. What do you mean by more?

She licked her lips. There’s a family in my old neighborhood. A woman and her kids. Her boyfriend was a real bastard and he’s gotten her into a lot of trouble.

What kind of trouble? he asked.

She glanced around, then leaned in closer and dropped her voice. He was smuggling drugs and lost a shipment. The boyfriend. Now the drug lord expecting those drugs wants a different kind of payment.

I don’t understand.

The boyfriend is supposed to deliver the woman and her kids. Do you know what happens to women and children in that environment? They’ll be abused. She needs a hero. I heard you were once a warrior on your world. Maybe you’re what she needs.

A hero? He was far from one of those, but if this woman was truly in danger, then Brexton couldn’t sit back and just do nothing.

Give me her name and address.

The girl took Brexton’s phone and pulled up a blank document, then entered the name Blossom Montgomery and an address in a very bad part of town. When she handed it back, Brexton knew that even if he didn’t go himself, he’d make sure someone at the Terran center would help the woman and her kids. It went against everything his people believed to let a female and children end up hurt, especially if they could do something to stop it.

The woman stared at him a moment longer then walked off. He didn’t remember seeing her around before, but people were always coming and going at the studio. He would barely learn their names before they vanished and someone else took their place. His manager had assured him it was the nature of the business.

Brexton left the studio and climbed into the SUV he’d bought after his first movie contract. He’d been assured it was a good quality vehicle, but truthfully, humans had too many brands and names for things. Other than price, he didn’t understand the difference in a BMW and a Ford. They all had four wheels and could take you where you needed to be. Yes, some seemed nicer inside than others, and he’d learned that some had more buttons and options inside, but it seemed the name on the car often made them cost more, which made little sense to him. His manager had helped him select this vehicle with the blue and white emblem on the front. It was roomy enough for his large frame and the seats were comfortable. Nothing else mattered to Brexton.

He drove straight to the Terran station, hoping to find someone to help them. He might have been a warrior, once, but those days were behind him. Others would be better qualified to protect a woman and her children. There would be guards at the station with current warrior status, those who still practiced hand-to-hand combat, and had learned about the weapons on this world. Brexton had decided to focus his attention elsewhere, but he hadn’t taken into account the way humans were always hurting one another. He might need to schedule some training time, re-hone the kills he’d probably lost over the last ten years, in case he ever needed to defend a female or children.

He’d never been one of the elite, and he’d often wonder if it had to do with his DNA. While both his parents were Zelthranites, there was a faint trace of something else in his blood. It wouldn’t have been noticeable except Zelthranite males didn’t grow facial hair other than eyebrows, and Brexton had a full beard. He’d asked the doctors on his world about it, and they’d assured him that he had Zelthranite blood, but it seemed he was a throwback to hundreds of years ago. It had made him different, and on his world, different wasn’t always a good thing. Here he was accepted, which was why he’d left his home world at the age of nineteen. By that time, he’d been a warrior for three years and known he wasn’t right for that life.

As he entered the station, the human female at the front desk got a dreamy expression on her face. He’d seen that look before and braced himself for whatever she might say or do. He knew without the human fans, he wouldn’t have a lucrative career as an actor, but this was the part of his job he hated. Since his people were already celebrities of a sort on Earth, he hadn’t seen the harm in following this particular path. He hadn’t counted on being ten times more famous than he’d already been, and there were times it was a right pain.

Brexton! the human said, smiling and giving him a wave, like they were old friends. How can I help you today? Is the new movie going well?

He forced himself to smile. It’s going well. Everything is on schedule.

I can’t wait to see it, she said, her eyes lighting up. Maybe you could give me a tour of the studio sometime?

The studio does offer tours. I would be happy to put your name on the list.

Her enthusiasm died a little when she realized he wasn’t going to personally take her around. Money and fame mattered entirely too much to the human species. It seemed to be how they determined who was worth their time and who wasn’t. He had yet to meet a genuine person, but he’d been told it had a lot to do with being part of the Hollywood elite. Apparently, he attracted the wrong type of person.

I need to speak to the guards, he said. Who is on duty right now?

She tapped at her computer a moment, then gave him a list of names and where to find them. Out of the names mentioned, he knew that Ranvik had the highest warrior ranking, and would be his best bet for saving that little family. He made his way through the station until he found the warrior surveying the departure area for the latest shuttle sending potential brides to his home world.

Ranvik, he said as he approached.

If it isn’t Mr. Famous, Ranvik said. His expression didn’t change. To what do we owe the honor? It’s not often you grace us with your presence.

I see you’ve picked up human sarcasm rather well.

Ranvik shrugged. Have to do something to pass the time. Policing human females gets boring.

I need your help, or rather a human family does.

Now he had the warrior’s attention. What type of help?

I was informed there is a human female and her children who are in danger. Brexton told the warrior what little he knew of the situation and showed him the address the human had put into his phone.

Ranvik rubbed a hand against his jaw. I don’t have anyone to spare right now. Things are always dull at the station, but we still have to make sure all points are covered in case there’s ever trouble.

But this woman…

You were a warrior once, Brexton. I know you were young when you were training, and it’s been a long time, but those skills will still be there when you need them. You have to trust in yourself, in your abilities. You may be an actor here on Earth, but never forget who you truly are.

He snorted. He knew who he was, and it wasn’t a proud warrior. That had never been a title he could claim. Even when he’d trained daily, he’d been average at best. Not like the warrior standing in front of him. Ranvik had a reputation back home, and the nearly forty-year-old warrior would be much better suited to rescuing the woman and her kids. What if Brexton fucked it all up? Being in the spotlight meant his every move was criticized. If the female’s boyfriend attacked and Brexton had to defend himself, someone was bound to make it sound