Zen (10 page)

“Hello, Shawna.” Nigel stepped past Zen to take Shawna’s hands in his and lifted them up to his lips to place a kiss.

Shawna blushed. “Good to see you, Nigel.” Again she was struck by how attractive Nigel was. But he didn’t make her body tingle all over. Not like…Zen.

Zen stepped forward and waited for Nigel to release her hand. He acted like he wasn’t going to let her go. Zen growled a little. Nigel gave him a glare and reluctantly released her hand.

“Hi.”
Damn it!
That was real smooth. He reached for her hand and she hesitated a minute before placing her hand in his.

“Hi, Zen.” She shivered at the touch of their hands. She pulled away before he could lift her hand for a kiss. She couldn’t take his lips on her and not want to feel them everywhere else. She hated feeling anything for him, but it was almost impossible. The man did something to her. And his eyes, his incredible eyes seemed to see right into her soul.
Oh God, was she ever in trouble.

“So where is our first stop?” Jimmie asked. He was sitting on the side of the shuttle beside Shawna. She had dragged him to that spot when she saw Nigel and Zen were about to come to blows over who was going to sit beside her. Jimmie just shrugged it off.

“To a banquet being held by the Omega Region Ladies Auxiliary. Zen is being honored there,” Nigel spoke as he typed something on his cell phone.

He was being praised by a ladies’ club? Of course he was. Shawna snorted making all three men look at her curiously. She ignored them and looked out the window at the scenery.

She could feel Zen’s eyes on her. It caused goose bumps to form all over her body. She tried to glance at him under her lashes without him noticing but when she did, he would give her another one of those dazzling smiles. Damn him for being so ridiculously beautiful.

It was an uncomfortable fifteen minutes. Every time Nigel asked her a question, Zen was right there joining in on the conversation. Whenever Zen tried to engage in conversation with her, Nigel was interrupting. It ended up with Shawna and Jimmie sitting quietly watching as Zen and Nigel argued one thing over another. It didn’t matter what the topic was, one of them would have an opposing view from the other. It would have been funny if it was not so weird. By the time the shuttle finally stopped at their destination, both Jimmie and Shawna were practically climbing over each other to get out. It was going to be a long long day.

Zen didn’t know what had gotten into him. He was sitting there looking at the lovely Shawna when Nigel asked her a simple question about her job. He didn’t like the way Shawna smiled at the other male and didn’t want her attention on him. So Zen stepped into the conversation trying to get her attention on him. It was the most annoying shuttle ride he had ever had. He only hoped she didn’t think he was a complete idiot
. Way to make an impression, Zen Master!

As they approached the building, a lady with dyed black hair in her mid-fifties came out to greet them. “Mr. Zen! It is such an honor to have you here. I am Mrs. Filberts, the director of the Omega Region’s Ladies Auxiliary. Welcome.”

Zen took the older woman’s outstretched hand and placed a gentle light kiss to it. “It is a pleasure to be here, Mrs. Filberts.”

The older woman blushed. “Call me Judy, please.”

Ugh.
Zen could even charm the pants off older women too. She was so not looking forward to having to watch women fall all over themselves to get to him, and Zen was going to be in his zone. This was exactly what Zen the Sin lived for.

“Would you like something else to drink?” Nigel asked Shawna as he was about to stand from the table they were sitting at. Shawna nodded her head, Nigel left to head toward the buffet table. She didn’t look away from what was going on before her. She couldn’t. She also couldn’t get the previous introduction out of her mind. Mrs. Filberts stood and made the most surprising statement. She was glad Jimmie was filming it because she forgot to take notes.

“Thank you everyone for coming today. It is with great privilege to be able to present this humanitarian award to a man who has truly earned it over the last eight years. He started out volunteering at the women’s shelter, helping women of all species who were abused find homes, food, jobs, and education. As this man furthered in his own career with the GCFA, he has become one of the biggest contributors and benefactors. Still it didn't keep him from continuing to volunteer his time. With each stop on the GCFA circuit in each Region throughout the Galaxy, Zen has made it a priority to visit one of our women’s shelters and offer his personal assistance. With his help, the Omega Region Ladies Auxiliary has helped house, educate, and secure jobs for over twenty thousand homeless and abused women. It is my honor to present this year’s humanitarian award to Zen.”

Applause had erupted throughout the room that was packed with women of all ages. Many of them were women who had been at some of the shelters the auxiliary ran. Zen blushed as he stood and walked up onto the stage.

Zen took a moment before he plastered a charming smile on his face. It occurred to Shawna for the first time that this charming persona he displayed was a disguise, much like hers with her glasses and professional attire.

“Thank you, Judy, for the wonderful introduction and thank you ladies of the Omega Auxiliary for having me here.” He gave a smile as camera flashes went off throughout the room. Then as he continued his speech, his expression turned serious.

“It was mentioned that I became involved in the ladies auxiliary about eight years ago. This is true. The reasons that led me to become involved go back much further than that. I grew up going from one lab or facility to another. Abuse was an everyday fact of life for me and all the other halfsies who were prisoners and victims. Many of them were females and children. I was helpless back then to protect myself or others from neglect, painful experiments, slow starvation, beatings, or things that were much much worse.” He paused letting that settle in for people. Then he continued.

“After the Intergalactic Department of Justice freed me from the last facility I was at, I swore I would do everything I could to make sure no one else suffered the same type of abuse that I experienced or witnessed. Everything I have done, do, or will do has not been for recognition, but for the reason I am honor bound to do the right thing. So many others ignore their duty but I refuse to be selfish and ignorant. The only insistence I made when I began to donate financially, was the shelters and opportunities be given to all who needed it whether full human or halfsie. I have seen great things accomplished through this charity and I am proud to be a member and a participant. I hope that we will be able to assist many more females with making a better life for themselves and their families. Thank you again for this award and for the opportunity to serve others.”

Another round of applause erupted as Zen finished his speech and headed back to their table. Nigel had returned and was sitting next to her. He complimented Zen, “Nice speech. Did one of our reps write it?”

“No, I did,” Zen replied, taking a sip of his wine. He glanced up to find Shawna was looking at him with a different light in her eyes. He looked away and began to eat his lunch.

There was a quick photo shoot set up and Jimmie spent another hour taking shots of Zen with the other members of the auxiliary group and then with the women who he actually helped through his work with the shelters. Shawna was the one who pulled the plug on the shoot because she saw how exhausted Zen looked. He was out in the direct sunlight and she knew his eyes with those special contacts were probably irritating him by now.

“I think we have enough. There is another charity we have to go to.” They all piled into the shuttle except for Nigel.

“I have another shuttle coming for me. I have to go to a meeting. I’ll see you all back at the GCFA ship.” He turned to take Shawna’s hand. “Would you like dinner this evening?”

Shawna glanced over at the shuttle and saw Zen looking at her through the window before turning away. “Thank you, but no. I am probably going to be working on the coverage from today. I would like a few interviews with the other fighters who know Zen.”

“I will set something up for you.” Nigel frowned and then sighed.

“Thank you, Nigel.” She pulled her hand away before he could kiss it again.

Somehow the possibility with Nigel just went to a no possibility. She couldn’t think of anyone else when Zen filled her every thought. He was like a beautiful fungus that grew on her overnight. When she climbed into the shuttle she tried to distance herself by sitting across from him. It was not a good move because now she could look at him directly throughout their trip. Big mistake.

Their next stop was at Zen’s other charity, at a healing facility. He quickly added some eye drops to his contacts before he got out of the shuttle. He helped Shawna step out and placed her hand under the crook of his elbow.

As soon as Zen walked through the doors to lobby, people swarmed around him. Everyone trying to get his attention. People wanting autographs or to get a photograph with him. He smiled and nodded doing autographs as he continued to walk through the crowd.

The director of the healing facility came out with security and greeted them. The security formed a barrier allowing Zen, Shawna, and Jimmie to pass but kept the crowd back. Shawna breathed a sigh of relief. How did Zen put up with all that?

“Mr. Zen, I watch all your fights. You are one of my favorites,” the director told him.

Zen smiled at him but kept walking. “Did my boxes arrive?”

The director answered, “Yes, sir, they did about thirty minutes ago. I have a few nurses bringing them out.”

“Very good.”

They were led to the children’s wing. Most of the kids had been wheeled out into the open space in front of the nurse’s station. When they saw Zen their faces lit up with excitement. “Zen!” the children called out.

Zen smiled a genuine smile as he approached the group of kids. “Hi, guys.”

“Hi, Mr. Zen!”

“Is the staff here treating you guys okay?” he asked them, winking at some of the nurses making them giggle.

“Yeah!” the kids all responded.

“I know it sucks being sick and having to come here. It gets boring doesn’t it?” Zen asked. All their little heads bobbed up and down.

“I think I have something that might brighten up your day. That’s if the nurses and your parents are okay with it?” Zen looked around at the nurses, doctors, and parents. So did the kids. They even begged.

“Please, please.”

“Okay, but you have to promise to be good boys and girls.” Zen looked them all in the eye.

“We promise!” the kids shouted out.

“On the count of three everyone shout WIN. One…two… three!"

"WIN!!” Everyone shouted including the hospital staff and Shawna too.

Nurses carried in boxes and boxes. Zen bent down to open one and pulled out dolls or figurines of each of the GCFA fighters. The kids went crazy.

“Can I have Zara the Amazon?” one girl called.

Zen smiled and handed her the doll. A little boy asked for Rage. Zen handed him the figurine with a smile. But that was not all. Zen had t-shirts for everyone, including the staff. The nurses went nuts wanting him to sign their shirts. He was patient and kind. He spoke to each person there and made them feel special. The little girls loved him just as much as the big girls did.