Page 10 of The Orc's Sweetheart
Shaking her head, Tilly says, “Oh, that’s okay. Just point me in the right direction and I can do it myself.”
“That’s sweet of you to suggest,” Beryl says, helping me rearrange the luggage in a more secure configuration, “but I highly doubt you’d be able to manage this cart over the next crest. And you’d probably have to carry these bags down the narrow path through the garden in front of the cottage.”
Tilly grabs Beryl’s hand, a dopey smile lighting up her face. “There’s a garden?”
Beryl grins back indulgently, and their easy camaraderie has me balling my fists.
How can they be so chummy after only two minutes in each other’s company? Maybe Beryl needs more time to see that Tilly won’t be good for our town.
“A very pretty garden. It’s well kept by—” I shoot Beryl a look to stop her rambling, because Tilly doesn’t need to know that I used to live there.
“I’ll take her,” I interject flatly.
Tilly looks at me like the thought of spending more time with me would be excruciating. “You’ve done so much already. I don’t want to trouble you any further.”
I chuckle at her comment, there’s no way she’s strong enough to pull the cart all the way to her cottage. “Well then, go ahead, sweetheart. The cart is all yours.”
Disapproval radiates off Beryl, but Tilly juts her chin forward and positions herself between the handles. It must be uncomfortable for her because I built that cart with my size in mind, but determination burns in Tilly’s eyes. We watch on as she hitches the wagon up, straining under the weight.
Through clenched teeth, she asks, “Which way to my cottage?”
Beryl stands next to her and gestures the directions. “Walk back down this path, and at the fork turn east. Follow the trail around Kraken Cove, be sure the ocean is always on your right. You’ll spot your cottage as you come over a small hill. Yours is a pale sandstone cottage with a yellow door.”
“A yellow door?” Tilly almost drops the handles, and my hand shoots forward, but she recovers quickly, tightening her grip.
Beryl nods. “Yes, pale butter yellow. Every cottage has a door with a different color. Mine matches my wife’s eyes—dark topaz.”
“That’s lovely. I’m looking forward to meeting your wife.”
“You’ll meet her tomorrow. Her shop is right next to mine. She runs The Horned Pearl. She does nail and horn care. Scales too. Anything beauty related actually.”
“Amazing. Well, I better be going. It was a pleasure to meet you.” Tilly looks directly at me, her eyes not quite matching the warmth in her voice. “Both of you. Thank you for all your help, Bodin. See you around.”
I sigh as Tilly struggles up the incline in her impractical backless loafers, but she wanted to do this, so I’m going to sit back and let her.
When she’s out of human earshot, Beryl elbows me in my side. “What the fuck is wrong with you? You going to let her pull that thing all the way to the cottage? She’s probably going to end up with blisters on her dainty hands, and a sore back, and a myriad of other things. You’re an asshole, you know that, right?”
I throw my hands up in indignation. “She’s the one who caused the accident in the first place. She didn’t even spare a thought for how close I was behind her and that I couldn’t safely stop the cart.”
“Or it could’ve just been an accident. But you’ve made your mind up about her, haven’t you? To you, Tilly represents every bad creature in Cape Easton. But mark my words, little brother, you’re wrong and your prejudice is going to keep you from getting to know a genuinely nice creature.”
“How do you even know she’s nice?” I counter, watching the spot where Tilly disappeared from sight.
“Because she was just nice to me! And Ma told me about her and said she had a good feeling. And I trust Ma’s feelings. As do you, but apparently this time you know better. I’m going to enjoy watching you eat your words as Tilly proves you wrong.You might just fall in love with a Cape Easton girl. Ha! Now that would be funny, wouldn’t it?”
I don’t even try to reply. I just press my temple against the shaved side of Beryl’s head, then silently trail behind Tilly as she huffs and puffs her way toward the cottage. I’ll stay out of sight then grab the cart once she’s given up. I ought to let Tilly handle everything herself, but I gave my word to Ma.
Chapter 5
Tilly
Fuck, what a first impression.
Audrey would either laugh at me or scold me if she saw me right now, huffing and puffing my way up this hill with an orc-sized cart filled with what I’m sure is one ton of luggage on top. But I’d rather be in physical pain than have to suffer another second with Bodin’s judgment hovering over me.
That male. That mean male. That mean, tall, handsome male and his ridiculously muscly arms and broad shoulders and shiny, floppy hair. And his stupidly rugged hands and deep sultry voice that almost had me creaming my panties with the way hesaid his own name. Ugh. It’s like logic left my body the moment he parted his full lips.
I finally crest the hill that didn’t look as steep as it felt, and I celebrate that accomplishment with an internal dance and raising of fists. If I set the cart down now though, I might never pick it up again. I thought my suitcase was my Everest this morning, but it seems there was a lesson to be learned.
