Page 111 of The Orc Chief's Baker
And burst into uncontrollable laughter for the third time.
With his hair slicked back and parted right down the middle, he looked completely and utterlyridiculous. Like one of the village children whose mother had gotten fed up with her boy looking like he was a miscreant and taken drastic measures to make him look presentable for school.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t laugh.”
Brovdir let out an irritated rumble, but the anger didn’t meet his eyes.
She reached up and tousled his hair back into its natural place. “Well, I guess we won’t be doingthatagain. The shaggy puppy look is much better.”
“Shaggy . . . puppy?”
Her stomach dropped.
Brovdir’s brows rose. “You... think I look like a dog.”
“No—er... I mean, a little, but not in a bad way.” She found she simply couldn’t lie to him. “It’s cute. I’ve always thought puppies were adorable.”
“I’m . . . adorable?”
Ah shit, she’d really messed this up, hadn’t she?
But before she could pull herself out of the hole she’d buried herself in, Brovdir had placed a hand on the small of her back. Her breath left her in a rush, and she quickly moved her hand down off his head, only to have him tip his face, so she cupped his cheek briefly. His eyes closed as if he relished her touch.
So, she didn’t pull away.
“Trinia?”
“Y-yes.”
“You are adorable too.”
Her cheeks heated up almost to the point of pain, but in a flash, her embarrassment was forgotten. The look in Brovdir’s eyes made her whole body light up like an inferno.
She dipped in to kiss him.
“Chief Brovdir?”
Trinia moved away from Brovdir so quickly she almost fell over. His arm came around her back to steady her as he got to his feet. She quickly regained her footing before she looked over and saw Estoc, a hunter orc with a surly disposition, coming up the path.
On a gasp, she stepped back out of Brovdir’s embrace, even as her heart tugged at his rejected expression.
“Sorry for interrupting,” Estoc said with a grin that made his sharp white teeth seem to glow against his dark skin. It was obvious he wasn’t the least bit sorry. “I’ve just come to check on my sons. They’re here digging under your orders, right?”
“Not mine,” Brovdir growled low.
“Oh? The elders said it was your idea.” Estoc shrugged. “No matter. Got them off me, at least. But it’s nearly time for the midday meal. Are you aware of what your warrior is cooking up in the hall?”
Trinia’s brows rose and she looked at Brovdir. He had one of his warriorscooking? Which one? She hoped it wasn’t the one she’d seen eating a fish raw at the last trade.
“Yes. My orders.”
Estoc nodded slowly. “Youmightwant to go check on that. As it stands, I’ll be keeping my boys to the fruit and dried meat for this meal. And I think most of the clan would agree with my choice.”
Brovdir’s groan was laced with frustration, and Trinia’s stomach tightened with sympathy. “I’ll take care of it.”
Estoc shrugged and, as he passed, he patted Brovdir on the shoulder. “Worry not. There’s plenty of food. We can use the stew as fertilizer.”
Trinia couldn’t tell if that was supposed to be an honest suggestion, or an insult.
