Page 1 of Bidding on the Orc Outcast

CHAPTER ONE

“Second Chance”

Posy took a step back to admire her new sign, an elegant swoop of emerald letters against the freshly painted cream storefront. The morning sun caught the gold flecks in the paint, making the name shimmer like a promise. A promise of a second chance not just for the items in her thrift store but for her as well.

The sun was shining but the air still carried the winter chill and she tugged her bright yellow coat closer - a vintage find that had sparked her love for pre-loved treasures years ago. A love that her ex-husband had not appreciated at all.

Pushing thoughts of him aside, she studied the frontage again and nodded. The display window still needed work. She’d only managed to arrange a few pieces, including a mid-century modern lamp and an art deco vanity mirror, but it already looked more like the store she’d envisioned. When she’d purchased the thrift shop from the previous owner - an elderly fairy who’d decided to move to Florida - it had been a charming but chaotic jumble of items. She was gradually restoring order to the chaos while hopefully retaining the charm.

The breeze picked up, bringing the scent of snow down from the surrounding mountains and rustling the newly hung wind chimes, their gentle tinkling mixing with opening sounds from the other Main Street stores. The street consisted of a mixture of old two and three story brick-fronted shops and old residences that had been converted into quirky little establishments, everything leading down the hill to the Town Square and the wide river that sparkled under the cold winter sunlight.

“Your new sign is very pretty.” Mrs. Chen from the herb shop next door came over to join her, carrying a small potted lavender bush. “This is for you, dear. Every new business needs a lucky plant.”

She gave her neighbor a grateful smile as she took the pot and breathed in the heavenly fragrance.

“Mrs. Chen, you shouldn’t have-”

“Nonsense. Martha was here forever, but change is good.” Mrs. Chen beamed up at her. She was even shorter than Posy’s already modest height, her skin tinted a subtle blue that shimmered in the sunlight. “‘Second Chance.’ I like it. Very meaningful.”

Exactly what she had thought. The name had come to her during one of those sleepless nights after signing the divorce papers, when she’d sat surrounded by moving boxes and doubt. But standing here now, watching the morning light play across her very own storefront, those doubts seemed very far away.

“Thank you,” she said, tightening her arms around the pot nervously. “I was worried people might think I was trying to erase Martha’s legacy.”

Mrs. Chen waved her hand dismissively. “Oh please. Martha would love this. She always said this place needed someone with fresh eyes and a young heart. Whimsical Wonders was her store. Second Chance is yours.”

Posy thanked her again, and Mrs. Chen bustled back to her store. All around her the street was coming alive as shop owners flipped their “Closed” signs to “Open” and greeted the morning. She smiled at the number of Others - creatures of myth and legend who lived alongside humans - emerging from their businesses. A towering troll arranged produce outside the greengrocer’s, his massive hands stacking apples into perfect pyramids. Down the block, a pixie zipped between flower baskets, leaving trails of sparkles that faded in the sunlight.

She’d previously lived in the city where Others were relatively rare, and it was a pleasant reminder of how different Fairhaven Falls was from her old home. Those differences were one of the reasons she had chosen the town - along with the incentives the town was offering to encourage more humans to move in.

Across the street, the door to “Java Joy” swung open, releasing the rich scent of coffee into the morning air. Elara, the very pretty, very curvy shop owner, bounced out, her blonde curls as sunny as her personality. Her mate Grondar, a massive orc, followed her, his broad shoulders barely fitting through the door frame. Despite his intimidating size, he wore a crisp white apron with little coffee cups embroidered across it.

“Hi Posy!” Elara waved enthusiastically, nearly knocking over their sidewalk chalkboard. “Your new sign looks amazing!”

She returned the wave, delighted by Elara’s enthusiasm. The other woman had been one of the first to welcome her to Fairhaven Falls, showing up at her door with a cappuccino and fresh croissants the day she’d started renovations.

Grondar steadied the chalkboard with a massive green hand, his tusks glinting as he shook his head at his wife’s antics. “Careful, sugar. We just got that new board.”

“Oh hush, you worry too much.” Elara smiled up at her mate, and he bent down - way down - to kiss her. The size difference between them could have been comical, but the tenderness between them was obvious.

A tiny pang of longing hit her as she watched them, envying their closeness, but she quickly pushed it away. She was here for a fresh start, not to find a man.

When Grondar raised his head, Elara was flushed and smiling. He started to lead her back into the store, but she stopped and looked over at Posy.

“Come by later. Grondar has perfected his maple oat scone recipe.”

“They’re acceptable,” he admitted.

Elara rolled her eyes and winked at her.

“I’m thinking of calling them Grumpy Orc Scones,” Elara said, ignoring her mate’s snort of protest.

Posy laughed and nodded. “I’ll come by after lunch.”

“Perfect!” Elara waved again and disappeared into the coffee shop, Grondar close behind her.

The pang returned as she watched them go. She and Larry had never shared that kind of friendly affection - which should have been one of the first signs that something was wrong.

Refusing to dwell on the past she entered her own store, breathing in the familiar mix of vintage fabric and wood polish. Sunlight streamed through the freshly cleaned windows, the crystal wind chimes sending rainbow reflections across the old wide planked wooden floors, now glowing softly after hours of polishing.

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