Page 20 of Bidding on the Orc Outcast

“Ah.” Nakor nodded, examining his manicured nails. “That explains it. Though I hear you actually found someone. A mate, perhaps?”

“She’s not my mate.” The denial tasted bitter on his tongue as the memory of their kiss replayed in his mind. His body responded with a surge of possessive hunger but he did his best to ignore it.

“No? Finding a mate is a good thing, you know. Even for those of us who think we’re better off alone.”

“Not for me.”

Nakor’s nostrils flared,smoke trickling from his nose as his golden eyes gleamed.

“And yet, I can distinctly scent the presence of a human female.”

“She just stopped by to… talk.”

“Just talk?” Nakor’s eyes gleamed.

“Yes.” The memory of their kiss flashed through his mind and he turned away, organizing bottles that didn’t need organizing. “She’ll realize her mistake soon enough.”

“Interesting.” Nakor’s voice held a note of amusement that made Varek want to throw something at him. “You seem quite certain about that.”

He gripped the edge of his workbench hard enough that the wood creaked under his fingers. “Because it’s true.”

But even as he said it, his treacherous mind conjured images of Posy in his greenhouse, her eyes bright with interest, her smile warming something inside him he’d thought long frozen.

“Indeed?” Nakor raised an eyebrow before pointing to a row of bottles. “I’ll take your entire stock of lavender oil. My mate likes the scent.”

“Fine.” Anything to change the subject. He started packing up the bottles, but Nakor wasn’t finished.

“You know, isolation is highly overrated. And sometimes the real treasure isn’t what you think it is.”

“You don’t understand. You know what Fairhaven Falls thinks of me.”

Nakor curled his lip. “I know that other people’s opinions are of no consequence. You can’t let small-minded fools dictate your life.”

“They’ll poison her against me.” He could already picture the whispers, the sideways glances when he walked into town with her. The thought of seeing that warmth in her eyes turn cold made his stomach churn. “Or worse, turn against her.”

Nakor sighed.

“It’s been ten years since that incident with the Morgan girl-”

“Don’t,” he growled, but Nakor ignored him.

“You were only trying to help her. Everyone who matters knows that now.” Nakor straightened his perfectly tailored jacket. “The question is, when will you stop punishing yourself and seek your own happiness?”

The dragon set a stack of bills on the workbench, then picked up the box of bottles and left without another word, leaving him alone with thoughts he’d rather not examine. But those thoughts continued to circle like wolves in the dark - what if Nakor was right? What if he could have something more? What if he could be worthy of Posy’s bright smiles? If only…

He shook his head. There was no use dwelling on what couldn’t be. Better to focus on the work that needed doing. He’d agreed to have dinner with her, and he’d keep his promise, but that was it. It would be foolish to expect anything more. After all, he knew better than to think a happy ending was possible for someone like him. He was a creature of the winter woods, and winter was always waiting around the corner, no matter how warm the sunshine.

CHAPTER NINE

Posy hummed to herself as she worked on the meal she’d rushed up from the shop to prepare. She wasn’t a great cook, but she was determined to do this right. She put the chicken in the oven to roast - the recipe she’d found online promised that it would turn out crispy and delicious - and started on the mashed potatoes. They looked a little lumpy but she decided that just made it obvious they were homemade.

Once everything was cooking, she pulled a set of vintage dishes from the cabinet - white with delicate silver and blue snowflakes that danced around the edges. Perfect for a winter evening. The matching plates and bowls had caught her eye at an estate sale last week, and she’d been unable to resist keeping them for herself.

A quick trip to her tiny balcony yielded the potted rosemary plant she’d been nurturing. She snipped a few sprigs and arranged them with the tiny white flower Varek had given her in a cut glass bud vase.

“Perfect.”

She smoothed the rose-colored tablecloth, another thrift store treasure, and set out her grandmother’s silver candlesticks. The table looked cozy - and romantic. Would that frighten him off? She decided it was too late to worry about it now - a glance at the clock told her it was already six thirty. She’d gotten distracted while making dessert. She’d opted for chocolate chip cookies instead of the complicated layer cake she’d originally planned on. The first batch had burned but the second batch was ready to go into the oven when the chicken came out.

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