Page 2 of Arrested By the Orc

Some townspeople even felt our orc Sheriff was only here because of “quotas” and that we didn’t need meddlesome lawyers and politicians trying to interfere with who we chose to employ.

But still, I wasn’t concerned. First, I’ve never believed any of those conspiracy theories continuously spread by certain media outlets that ‘other’ the orcs. Modern orcs don’t hurt anyone unless they are outright attacked, the same as any human.

And second, I like the idea of getting to know and work with a real orc, instead of only hearing about them on TV.

In fact, orcs were recently given government reparations and a formal apology from Congress and the President, to make up for centuries of past mistreatment by humans in North America. We’d broken treaties, orc land stolen and communes raided and burned. Mass killing of orcs by deadly teams of humans with high-powered guns and bombs was a sport that was only recently outlawed.

But thankfully laws were passed making orcs equal citizens under the constitution. Their disparate communes are now considered one state and each commune is its own county. Soon there will be two orc senators, and a few orcs included in the house of representatives.

Times are changing.

And now…we have the first orc Sheriff in the country.

I think it’s good for business. Bowen Underwood is basically a local celebrity. He gets rushed by visitors who want his signature or selfies with him. And I’ve noticed he remains grim, but always gracious and allows all the attention. I’ve even watched him, when surrounded by a group of small children, remain calm and sweet until everyone got a picture and left. And the good news is that despite all the original grousing, not once has a visitor, or anyone who lives here, visibly acted scared, or angry that he was there, which makes me happy.

He arrived, they all met him and fell in love and that was that.

And I like him a lot too. Probably too much. Okay, way too much.

I haven’t met him personally, only seen him from a distance. But I read Bowen’s impressive resume, which was given to the Chamber of Commerce and there’s been so much written and said about him in the news, I feel as if I know him already.

Plus, he’s so handsome I can’t keep my eyes off him whenever I see him around town.

I had no idea I have a thing for orcs, but it turns out I do. Or at least I do for this one orc in particular.

I’d heard they were supposedly ugly and monstrous? But I think our new Sheriff looks edgy and handsome. His features are set on angry and disgruntled which makes me want to get to know him better and maybe hand him a cupcake—to put a smile on that ferocious face. He’s taller and bigger than any man therefore I feel small and petite next to him even though I’m taller than my other sisters. Next to Sheriff Underwood, I feel petite, which normally never occurs.

He’s clean shaven with short, dark hair. Two sharp horns twist from his forehead, short enough to be mainly hidden from view when he wears his hat. Very prominent tusks used to jut up from his lower lips, but they’ve recently retracted enough to be barely noticeable. His chest is so very wide and he has powerful, muscular arms. And I really enjoy how his ass looks in that uniform.

I push my hair back from my forehead and rub at the flour on my nose and continue to daydream about life in general. I fill up a mixer with ingredients and switch it on and wonder about a future filled with a loving husband and children. This is what I want, children who hopefully would enjoy growing up in this town too, as I did, with their extended family and would they like this bakery as much as I do.

I’m twenty-eight years old and have worked hard to create this life for myself. The only thing missing now is my own family. I’m so far from this though as to be laughable. I don’t even have a boyfriend. Most of the guys I met in college and in my former job, were only interested in short term commitments. None of them were looking for anything serious. And since I’ve returned home, I’ve only gone out on a few dates that didn’t go anywhere.

I’m looking for someone to commit with, not hook ups, drama or STDs.

My sister’s new motto is: being alone is better than being with the wrong person.

I feel the same. This is how I feel like I’m the only woman my age who is still a virgin. I haven’t even admitted this embarrassing fact to any of my sisters, not even to Lila. I want a hot sex life, but I’m waiting for the right person to share this with, and that might sound old fashioned to some, but that’s just how my brain works.

Meanwhile, my sex toys have been great, keeping me occupied until I find that man who can take over their job.

And I can’t stop thinking of that handsome orc, and his amazing ass, even though we’ve never spoken and he literally crosses the street to avoid me. But he avoids lots of women, so I try not to take it personally. He must have no idea how great he looks in that uniform. All the other deputies look like puny cos play part timers compared to the impressive Sheriff Underwood. All the women in town secretly swoon over him as he stomps down the street. He ignores most of them, well except for that darn Amanda Amato. He’s always taking the time to talk to her when she comes into town. Everyone thinks she’s now become his girlfriend, which makes me sad.

“Sadie Powell why are you always here alone?” a deep voice questions.

I squeak and jump, almost dropping a bag of pecans.

The intimidating orc I’ve been daydreaming about stands in the open doorway, filling the entire space and basically blotting out the sun. Bowen Underwood. The same orc I’ve been crushing over since the moment he arrived in town.

I turn off the music so I can hear him better. “Sheriff Underwood? Good morning.”

His shoulders are so very wide. His thighs so thick. His uniform is perfectly pressed and molded to his body in all the right places. And those tusks that still peek from the corners of his lips somehow do it for me. I’ve always loved a man in uniform so I feel swoony just from him standing nearby.

But he’s taken. I need to remember that.

Stay strong Sabine, don’t throw yourself at him. Act normal. Normal.

A muscle twitches in his jaw. “Your door was unlocked and you’re here alone,” he repeats.

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