Page 9 of First Comes Orc, Second Comes Baby
“I wanted to make sure I recognized you. But, yes. The reality lives up to the fantasy. I mean, to the picture.”
Brahnt lifted his gaze again, tilting his head slightly. “I concur.” After holding Charlotte’s gaze a long moment, he gestured again. “You already have a drink. But have you eaten?”
Charlotte dropped into her chair. “Uh, no. Not since. . .” she trailed off. She couldn't say yesterday. She didn't want to give out the signal she was going on dates for free meals.
Brahnt’s expression flattened. It was subtle; a tightening of lips, a slight narrowing of eyes. “I see. Do you like sandwiches? The ciabatta here is baked fresh on site and they do a side of homemade chips and hummus.”
“Oh, no, you don’t have to—”
“I insist. I wouldn’t be much of an Orc if I let you go hungry, would I?”
Charlotte closed her eyes, then opened them. “Yes sir, I’d like that.” She didn’t realize what she’d said. . .as usual. . .until Brahnt gave another wide, hungry, amused smile.
“Excellent. Do you have a preference, or may I order for you?”
Charlotte let the Orc order, though she cleared her throat. “No bread.” She tried not to sound defensive or apologetic.
Brahnt just nodded. “Do you have sensitivities?”
“Only to anything with carbs, except on one of four cheat days a year.”
“Ah, that’s right. You’re a professional dancer, correct?”
“Ballet.”
“I see. They can convert the sandwich to a salad. Is that acceptable?”
Charlotte nodded. And decided to reward the Orc. “Maybe I’ll have a cookie too.”
Brahnt smiled, still perusing the menu. “I think, Charlotte, you can have all the cookies you like, if you eat your salad like a good girl.”
Charlotte’s breath caught for a second, and she forced herself to sit there and not climb into Brahnt’s lap and beg to be the Orc’s good girl.
Boundaries,she reminded herself desperately.Boundaries.
4
The little Humanwas setting off every one of Brahnt's instincts. He sipped a glass of white wine, watching Charlotte dig into the salad, pleased she seemed to be enjoying the food.
He sighed to herself. His reaction to Charlotte was both good, and bad. Good because with his Orc instincts engaged, it would make seducing the Human much more enjoyable. Bad, because, well. . .it also made it more complicated.
Life was complicated, hectic, and he wanted a mature, straightforward arrangement to everyone's satisfaction.
Emotions were never mature or straightforward.
The second problem was he suspected Matchmaker had given him the most unsuitable Human on their roster.
Charlotte was. . .effervescent. Animated. Gentle and excited, and opposite the low key, calm, and simple Human Brahnt wanted.
And Charlotte’s social media profiles were the exact opposite of discrete.
The Human was an influencer, for crying out loud. She’d posted an image from this restaurant moments before Brahnt had entered, and even mentioned her nervousness over her new first date. If she’d mentioned Brahnt’s name, Brahnt would have turned around and walked out. But a scroll of the accounts had revealed Charlotte did seem to draw a line—nothing she posted would embarrass him if brought up at a cocktail party. No messy drinking pics, no nudity beyond the artistic shots of her dancing in barely there leotards. No obnoxious, ranting social commentary.
All thoughts he would keep firmly to herself. What the females didn’t know about his thoughts couldn’t shank him in the side.
He eyed Charlotte. A professional ballet dancer? One might as well stamp her forehead with a high maintenance mark. Though Brahnt supposed he could always hire people for that—the maintenance, not the marking.
And the dog, the dog.The dog, Charlotte, is not sleeping in the bed.
