Page 28 of Bidding on the Orc Outcast

“You’d better watch out, sweetheart,” Sebastian drawled. “He’s not as tame as he looks. Ask anyone in town. They’ll tell you he’s nothing but a brutal, violent-”

“We’re leaving.” He tightened his arm around her shoulders and steered her away, his jaw clenched so tight it ached.

Sebastian’s laughter followed them up the street. Shame and anger twisted in his gut and the walk back to her apartment passed in a blur of self-recrimination. All the progress he’d made that evening evaporated.

They reached the stairs leading to her apartment, the warm glow from the windows above beckoning him, but he knew better now.

“Will you come up for coffee?” she asked quietly. Her fingers brushed his arm, gentle and warm. “We could talk about-”

“No.” The word came out harsher than he meant. He stepped back, breaking contact. “I can’t.”

Her face fell, but he forced himself to look away. This had been a mistake from the start. He’d known better, but he’d let himself hope. Let himself believe he could have something normal, something good.

“Varek, wait-”

He turned and stalked away, his long strides eating up the distance. She called his name again, but he didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop.

The lights of the town fell away behind him as he reached the woods. Darkness wrapped around him like an old friend, familiar and safe, but for the first time in years, it felt suffocating rather than comforting.

He’d been foolish to think he could move past what happened, that the town would ever see him as anything but a monster. Worse, he’d been selfish to drag her into it. She deserved better than to be tainted by her association with him.

The weight of solitude settled over his shoulders like a heavy cloak as he walked deeper into the woods. This was where he belonged. Alone. Away from everyone.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Posy yanked the vintage dress off the mannequin with more force than necessary. The fabric caught on one of the arms and she had to stop herself from ripping it free. Three days. Three whole days of silence after what had felt like such a perfect evening - right up until that awful encounter.

She smoothed the dress, guilt prickling at her rough treatment of the delicate garment. It wasn’t the dress’s fault that Varek had disappeared on her. Or that she kept replaying their dinner in her mind - the way he’d opened up, how his eyes softened when he smiled, the hunger in his kiss.

The bell above the door chimed. Her heart leaped, but it was just Mrs. Henderson coming to browse the costume jewelry display again.

“Morning,” she called out, forcing a cheerfulness she didn’t feel into her voice as she turned back to the window. She draped a peacock-blue party dress on the mannequin. The sequins caught the morning light, sending tiny rainbows dancing across the floor.

She adjusted the dress, then fiercely stabbed pins into the delicate fabric to hold it in place. She was not going to pine after someone who clearly didn’t want to be found. Even if she missed his gruff voice. Even if she caught herself touching her lips, remembering their kisses.

A shadow fell across the window, and her breath caught, but it was just a delivery truck passing by. She slumped against the windows, pressing her forehead to the cool glass. This was ridiculous. She had come to Fairhaven Falls for a fresh start, not to moon over someone who wasn’t willing to take a chance.

She positioned the mannequin in the window, then stepped back to assess the finished display. The peacock dress sparkled between a champagne-colored evening gown and an emerald cocktail number. At least something in her life looked right.

Mrs. Henderson bought two antique brooches and left just as Elara arrived bearing two steaming cups.

“Your window looks amazing.” Elara handed her one of the cups. “That blue dress is perfect for catching people’s attention.”

“Thanks.” She forced a smile as she inhaled the rich aroma of the coffee. “I needed this.”

“So…” Elara perched on the vintage fainting couch near the window. “How was your date with Varek? Flora mentioned that you two had dinner at the cafe.”

Her shoulders slumped. “It was wonderful. Right up until it wasn’t.”

“What happened?”

“This horrible human male showed up with two of his buddies.” Her fingers tightened around the warm cup. “They insulted Varek and he just… shut down. Walked me home and disappeared. That was three days ago.”

“Oh honey. I’m so sorry. I heard there’d been some trouble with Sebastian.”

“It’s just so frustrating. There’s something between us, I know there is.” She blinked hard. “It felt so right, but it’s like that one nasty encounter ruined everything else.”

Elara sighed. “Based on what Grondar told me, Varek’s had it rough.”

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