Page 22 of Fake Dating an Orc Cowboy

His lips curled up on one side. “For you? Always.” After stuffing his cowboy hat back on his head and his sunglasses on his face, he held out his hand.

I reminded myself that this was part of the show. He didn’t truly want to hold my hand.

We linked fingers and left our room, taking the stairs down and walking out into the sweltering sunshine. We followed a path weaving through the lush vegetation, exiting out into the pool area. My heartbeat thudded harder than before, and the tropical-scented air felt too warm. It was one thing to imagine seeing Jacob again after all these months, but doing it while playing pretend with a male like Ostor towering beside me? A whole different ball game.

Reaching the front pool where Macy said they’d be waiting, I spotted them sitting on stools under a large stone awning at the swim-up bar.

My sister’s voice broke through the throbbing music like a loudspeaker, her curly blonde hair bouncing as she spotted us from across the pool. “Rosey. Rosey. Over here!” She flopped her arm in the air as if we hadn’t seen each other in years, her excitement a tidal wave about to bowl me over. “Come join us. Oh, Ostor. Nice to meet you! Bring him too.”

The bulge in my stomach flipped over, and I gulped, tightening my grip on Ostor’s hand as we took the steps down into the pool.

This was it. Showtime. All the fabricated confidence and fake smiles I’d been storing up had to work. Nothing would keep me from drowning in the moment unless I let it.

The water shimmered around us.

Ostor plucked his way down the stairs, leaning forward to study the teal tiles and the clear water, before he straightened and sent me a sweet smile. “You’re right. No creatures to eat my lower legs. Amazing.”

I couldn’t imagine where he’d been swimming, but that must be why orcs wore full clothing when entering the water.

“No worries,” I said, though I meant the words for myself as much as for him.

His fingers tightened on mine. “No worries.”

When we reached the base of the pool, I stopped, and Ostor waited beside me.

“Ready?” I whispered.

His eyes meeting mine with genuine understanding. And for the first time, with this tall, green-skinned orc cowboy in a striped bathing suit by my side, I felt the bulge that had been building in my belly finally giving way. Maybe, just maybe, this was going to be okay. Or as good as pretending could be.

With a deep breath, I waded toward them along with Ostor, his cowboy hat slightly askew and his massive hand never letting go of mine.

I wasn't walking into the dragon’s lair alone.

I had Ostor by my side.

Chapter 9

Ostor

When we got close to where a cluster of humans about our age sat on chairs suspended in the water and in front of a bar, the woman who must be Macy because she and Rosey had the same face, leaped off her seat. She floundered through the water and jumped into Rosey’s arms. The two females laughed and hugged, and I was happy to see that they loved each other.

It would make this easier for Rosey, and that was all that mattered to me.

The two women finally pulled apart as the laughter died down between them. A tall male with light hair, his body toned, though not enough to wrangle even a sorhox youngling to the ground, waded over, his eyes landing on Rosey before flicking to me. I saw neutrality there—and a touch of concern. But it was Macy he reached for, wrapping an arm around her waist. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

The way his face softened around her made this obvious. He loved Rosey’s sister. Without question. That, at least, gave me some peace.

But a quick glance at Rosey told another story. Her smile wavered around the edges. Hurt clung to her like a shadow. She held herself too stiffly now that the other male had joined us.

Of course it hurt. This was the male she’d had feelings for. No wounds healed that fast, even for the strongest.

Following the male’s lead, I slid my arm around Rosey, tugging her against my side. She sucked in a breath, then melted into me. That’s what it felt like. Like she relaxed, her body going soft and pliant. She fit perfectly against me. I bent my head and pressed a kiss to the top ofherhead.

Melty. That was the look in her eyes when she glanced up at me. Soft and warm, like something inside her was easing up.

At least I hoped that’s what it was.

This wasn’t entirely pretend. Not for me, at least. Everything inside me churned with the strange emotions that came with the mate bond. Things I couldn’t control. Things I didn’t want to control. I wasn’t faking. Not with Rosey. Maybe we were playing at being a couple, but for me, nothing had ever felt more real.

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