Page 5 of Arrested By the Orc

The door closes with a heavy thud. He leaves and enters the driver’s seat in front.

I take a deep breath.

It’s not real.

This is supposed to a fun April fool’s joke to gain funds for my favorite charity, the food bank, and time off for me, gifted by my sister.

And Bowen is with me.

Through the dark windows in the back seat I make out the shadowy visual of people still staring, waiting for me to leave. My sister, Cora and Sheri are all there too. I give them a half smile, trying to remain brave as I’m fake arrested. I lift my cuffed hands and give a wave.

It seems to make their day because they visibly sigh with relief and wave back harder. “Take all the time off you need,” I faintly hear Cora yell. She winks, pointing at the Sheriff, who is now starting the car. “Let us know if you need more time off because you’re busy with other things, it’s no problem.”

I bite my lip and gaze at the back of Bowen’s head through the partition that separates the front seat from the back.

He turns around. His hat is off now and I can see his deadly horns. “I’m taking you to town hall now. Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I squeak again.

He lifts an eye ridge. “Sadie, answer me truthfully. I need to know if you’re okay before we leave.”

I glance out the window again at all the smiling faces and then back at Bowen. I take a deep breath, causing me to inhale his luscious scent. And then my anxiety decreases. “I can’t help it, I guess I’m worried about leaving work undone and all of this is a weird situation for me.”

“Your sister and your employees sound highly competent.”

“Yes,” I agree. “They are.”

“Your workplace will not suffer. And you’re not alone. You’re with me and I will make sure you are treated well. Nothing bad will happen to you while you are at my side.”

I give him a watery smile because now I’m with the orc I’ve wanted to date for the last six months, and our first time alone is me, handcuffed in the back of his patrol car. And he’s most likely eagerly waiting for the moment he can hand me off to his deputies so he can see Amanda Amato again. Life is so weird sometimes.

“You are ready to depart?”

“You really aren’t taking me to the county jail?” I question, double-checking that I’m not going to end up peeing in front of strangers, as my brother suggested.

“No, you’re going to be detained in a comfortable, fake jail cell in townhall sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and a few other businesses. They will treat you well and try to make it fun.”

I place my wrists with the heavy cuffs in a comfortable position on my lap. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Then he pulls out, driving slowly.

I take inventory of the inside. The back seat is like a black hole. I’m seated on a long bench seat without seat belts and the fabric is shiny fake leather. There are bars in front of me halfway up, from the back of the seat to the roof of the car and it’s fortified with probably bullet-proof plexiglass of some sort. There’s no way I could get through. I quietly continue to look at the streets as we go by. It’s not a very comfortable car, but every time we go over a bump I can feel it.

He makes a wide turn and I slide across the backseat. “Eeek.”

“Sadie,” he growls, “stay still.”

“I’m trying.”

He gives a deep sigh and continues driving.

The drive seems to take forever but then finally, we’re turning onto the part of town that houses the newer townhall and other small local and state government buildings. It’s not a big town, so the length of the drive is all in my head, obviously it didn’t take that long. Bowen waits in line for a moment as another Sheriff’s car pulls away, then he moves up and parks the sedan at the curb of the front of the steps leading to townhall. A large group of people are gathered there for the Spring food drive. I can see a local news truck parked nearby, which means Amanda is here too.

Bowen opens the door and helps me out.

There are loud cheers and claps and I smile big, because I’m happy to see individuals I recognize from the food bank and I really am happy to help out today.

Bowen guides me up the steps and between the jovial crowd.

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