Page 13 of Beauty's Bossy Bear

“Not yet, but you will be,” I tease her and watch as a bright red blush moves over her neck and up to her cheeks.

“Do not make me blush in front of your friends.” She smacks my arm. “I hope Orcs like homemade spaghetti and garlic bread. It was all I could come up with from the contents of your pantry and freezer.”

“Orcs will eat pretty much anything,” I reassure her and walk over to answer the door. I glance once more at the screen and make sure it’s really Kol and his two brothers before I pull the heavy, reinforced steel door open. “Thank you for coming.”

“Our pleasure,” Kol returns and walks into the living room with his two equally huge brothers.

My mate walks up behind me and digs her hand into my waist. I can sense her unease and wrap my hand around hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze before introducing my mate to the three Orcs.

“Briella, this is my second-in-command, Kol.”

I watch as my friend smiles but doesn’t attempt to touch my mate. “Nice to meet you, Briella. These are my brothers, Oren, my oldest brother, and Aric, my twin.”

“I’m a twin, too.” My mate smiles at each of the Orcs. “It’s nice to meet all of you. I hope you’re hungry. I cooked a huge pot of spaghetti and meatballs.”

“Female, you read my mind.” Oren rubs his hands together. “I’m starving. I would be honored if you allow me to help you serve the meal.”

“You don’t have to do that,” my mate attempts to refuse, but Oren won’t let her.

“It is our custom to assist with meals,” he insists and follows Briella to the kitchen.

Chapter 10

Briella

It’s not every day that you serve three seven-foot-tall green giants lunch. While I cut up the garlic bread, Oren carefully serves up the noodles and spaghetti sauce.

The Orcs look exactly like I envisioned. Their green faces are distinctly fearsome, dominated by large, sharp, and threatening tusks that curve outward from beneath their lower lips.

I was a little shocked to find that the giants wear normal clothes. Kol and Aric are dressed in white button-up dress shirts and blue jeans while Oren has a black t-shirt stretched across his massive chest and gray dress pants.

Despite their fearsome appearance, the giant Orcs move with surprising grace, each step calculated and purposeful. Their hands are large and calloused but obviously capable of delicate tasks as well as brutal force.

“Thank you so much for helping out in the kitchen,” I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

“You are welcome, female.” He glances at me and nods his head before turning back to his task.

I’m not really sure I like being called “female,” but I’m not about to correct the jolly green giant helping me serve lunch.

Watching three Orcs eat spaghetti and meatballs is an experience. I expected sloppy table manners and grunting, but these three green beasts are perfectly polite guests.

“Thank you for the delicious meal, female.” Aric glances at me from under his strong, slightly protruding eyebrows, and I notice a slight pink tinge to his cheeks that tells me the youngest Orc is shy.

After we finish our meal, Aric insists on cleaning the kitchen while Oren, Kol, and Kodi discuss business.

“Tell me about your settlement.” I turn to Aric as I dry the dishes he’s washing.

“What do you want to know?” He isn’t the talkative type.

“Everything, I’ve never met Orcs before.” I put away the last dish and turn to lean against the counter.

“Our settlement was established many years ago by my father and his best friend. Fable Forest’s power drew them to the area, and they wanted to create a safe community for Orcs close to the enchanted forest.”

I’ve heard the term enchanted forest but never really gave it much mind. “What do you mean the forest is enchanted?” I ask, hoping to learn more.

“Legend has it there was a spell cast on Fable Forest that causes the residents to find their lives playing out like fairy tales.” He shrugs. “If you believe in all that.”

I do believe in all that. In fact, I felt the magical pull of Fable Forest the moment we drove into town.

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