Page 14 of Horn in My Side
I guess it’s Lucky Threeinstantnoodles for lunch and dinner for the foreseeable future.
Still, it would be worth it if she could stay in Dewberry Falls and own Fantastic Tails.
“If I get word on this job, though, I’ll have to leave sooner,” he said.“I’d still give you the six months, but the shop would have to be sold by the end of that time period.Would you be okay with that?”
“We can have a contract and everything, if you want, since you need assurances and guarantees,” she suggested.“And, I promise, you don’t have to do any of the work.I manage fine on my own most days anyway.”
“Orcs aren’t big on contracts and paperwork,” he said.“I’ll keep my end of the bargain.”
“Right.”She believed him, of course, as Vrig always kept his promises, and she only had the most basic employment contract to keep things legal and for tax purposes.Stretching her hand out toward him, she said, “Shake on it, then?”
He hesitated for a moment, staring at her hand as if it were a hot poker, but took it anyway.His massive palm engulfed her entire hand all the way up to her wrists, his grip and the touch of his rough, work-hewn skin surprisingly gentle.
“Six months,” he repeated.“Not a day longer.”
“Six months,” she assured him, staring up into those luminous purple eyes, mesmerized by them, unable to look away.When he cleared his throat, she shook herself out of her daze and withdrew her hand.“You won’t regret this.”
He snorted.“I hope not.”
Chapter Four
MAL
Mal dropped his duffel bag on the ground, stopping a foot short of the porch steps of the Craftsman-style home before him.It appeared to be an original from the 1930s, painted in lemon yellow and white, with a large bay window on the upper floor.Despite its age, the exterior was in excellent condition, not a surprise since Vrig had been a builder.Orcs, especially those from builder hordes, took pride in their homes.It was a testament to their skill and tradition, and known to last forever, which is why their kind were in such demand in the construction business.Custom-designed orc-built homes cost a fortune and increased in value over time.This one would be no exception.
Nonetheless this wasone more thinghe had to do to settle his uncle’s estate.
Regret loomed over him like a cloud.While the pet shop was the biggest albatross around his neck, selling a whole house ranked a close second.Maybe he’d be lucky and find someone who would take the lot off his hands, but he doubted someone would buy it as-is.Buyers, after all, would want to see a home they could turn into their own, without the remnants of the oldowner.Depending on what he found inside, it would take time to get it ready for selling.He would have to sift through all the knick-knacks and personal items, and then arrange to sell off the furniture, plus dismantle all the enchantments or create new ones.And since he was going to stay here for six months, it only made more sense for him to move into the house—which he owned now anyway—instead of paying for a room at the Dreametime Motel.
I should have left and let the lawyers take care of everything.
Better yet, he should have stuck to his original plan—sell the shop and walk away.
Get in, get it done, get out.
Yeah, right.
He huffed.
This is what he got for letting a pair of pretty brown doe eyes influence him.
Even though he told himself he’d hear out Jasmine’s plan, the more he thought about it, the more he leaned toward rejecting her proposal.Indeed, after speaking with the probate lawyer this morning—a crafty nine-tailed kitsune named Howard Nakamoto—it didn’t seem worth the trouble to stay.
“If Ms.Gonzalez has a solid business plan, then selling to her makes sense for the business’s longevity.Plus, you can stay around town to sign more papers to settle Vrig’s estate,” Nakamoto had said.“But from a financial point of view, you’d be better off selling the inventory and the shop.The land alone would fetch a tidy sum.”
Nakamoto was right.Getting rid of the lot was the practical thing to do, not to mention the Orc Historical Society could call him at any time.He should get into a taxi right now, head to the airport, and leave Dewberry Falls.He had no obligations to anyone, after all.
Yet, as he left the lawyer’s office, he found himself walking toFantastic Tails.He told himself that he would just be a few minutes.However, seeing Jasmine inside the store, helping the cyclops boy pick a pet while treating him with kindness and respect instead of the usual condescension adults had for children, had struck something in him.Somehow, it just didn’t feel right to shut everything down.
And because he’d promised her the six months or until the Historical Society wanted him—and orcs never broke a promise—he was stuck here with the pretty little human day in, day out.He’d be working alongside her, seeing her bright smile every morning, hearing her lilting voice.Smelling her sweet perfume as she passed by, hips swaying, that long rope of hair flicking invitingly down her back.
Gaku help him.
But maybe he’d hear back from the Historical Society before then.At least he hadn’t completely lost his head over a pretty face.No matter the outcome, whether Jasmine got her loan or whether he sold to a corporation, he had a guarantee that he would come out on top.
Squaring his shoulders, he picked up his duffel and marched up the porch.As soon as he touched the doorknob, he heard the audible click of the deadbolt unlocking, signifying that it recognized him as the new owner.Just as he’d suspected, Vrig had used a standard blood-based locking spell that would only open for him, or in the event of his passing, his blood heir.
“Hmm ...”
