Page 12 of One Stolen Night with Her Orc

“I didn’t talk to her, didn’t even see her.” Smelled her honey sweetness though, all the way outside. Joy, relief, pure happiness. I always want her to smell like that—because of me, around me. “Thanks for covering,” I say begrudgingly, as I throw his truck keys back at him.

“It was fun. I forgot how much fun it is working here. You need to make a game night and advertise. Everyone is looking longingly at Gordon and Skerr’s game. Oh! And we could do a trivia night!” He removes the same apron, shuffles around the bar, and sits on a barstool. “Barkeep, another!” Guffawing at himself for his lame joke, I roll my eyes and pour him another stein as a thank you.

“You’re not going home to August?” I try to keep the jealousy out of my voice.

“Nah. You ruined my plans for the night by adding another female to the mix. Though maybe I could invite them to join my harem.” He strokes his chin in contemplation, a stupid smile on his face. I throw a coaster at him.

When Grev arrives, he looks slightly panicked, eyes wide in his ugly green face. “Emergency?” His eyes dart around, looking for the proverbial fire.

I shake my head. Bjorn giggles. “All good. Bjorn jumped to conclusions. Again,” I say as I pour Grev a stein.

“Dude. I was in the middle of research at the library.” He slaps Bjorn on the back, hard enough it echoes, then thanks me for the beer.

“I thought Koru broke the rules.” Bjorn shrugs with his beer in hand. “Besides, it sounds like I saved you from another boring night. You’re welcome.”

“There is no rule that says I can’t do a grand gesture for the woman whom I’m fated to long for.” Gods, why do I sound like such a sap? This is one reason love is not for me. I can’t stand to be weak.

“I said not to involve her.”

“More of a guideline, I’d say,” shrugging him off. “Besides, you didn’t say I couldn’t contact Poppy’s sister.” I turn to help a customer while Grev whisper yells at his brother for being a dunce.

They settle in. The customers rotate through, and soon it’s time to close up. Small town island life is perfect. Everyone’s home and in bed before midnight...most nights.

My brothers are the last to leave, insisting they walk me out. I’m sure they think they have words of wisdom to impart, which is a total joke. Besides, I don’t want to listen to anything they have to say.

Setting the final clean dishes in the drying rack, I hear the bell on the door out by the bar ring. I thought I locked it. Listening, it’s just Bjorn and Grev talking still, shifting chairs onto the tables for mopping in the morning.

Hand on the swinging door that separates the kitchen from the bar to check on my brothers, I catch it. A whiff of lilac and honey. I freeze, unsure of my own senses. Is wishful thinking getting the better of me? Did I fall and crack my head and now I’m dreaming? My heart flutters as if it is made of butterflies; my stomach is in too many knots to have butterflies of its own.

There. I hear a feminine voice.Poppy. Every muscle in my body comes alive at the sound of her voice. But my feet are rooted to the spot. How is it that I, Koru, can’t walk through the door to see the woman I’m pining for?

Because I’m scared. Scared that she’s angry with me for interfering. Scared that she’ll say goodbye and leave with her sister forever.

Get it together.I can hear Bjorn laughing. That makes my blood boil. That gets my feet moving.

With every fiber of my being, I push through my fear and the swinging door. And there she is, in all her glory. Her warm skin, black hair, curves that travel for days. Poppy. The one my heart and soul want.

“Hi,” she says, looking unsure of herself as she wiggles her fingers in a wave. Bjorn asks her something I don’t hear for the ringing in my ears when he puts his hand on her arm. I’m about to rip him apart for touching her, but he steps away from her.

I step closer to her, slowly, to not scare her off. Her round eyes are luminescent, reminding me of a deer up on the mountain—always on alert, ready to run. She should never have to feel that way again. I’ll never be the reason she feels that way.

“Be good,” Bjorn warns me, finger pointing at me like I’m a wayward dog. Then he and Grev leave. And it’s just us.

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