Page 28 of Secret Twins for the Orc

I somehow manage to keep myself from choking, settling the glass carefully on the table as I swallow.

“I don’t see why that would make you sad, though,” she continues in her chipper way. “That orc is a fine hunk of meat, even if he is a bit grumpy.”

I settle into a half-hearted glare and don’t respond, not sure that I want to talk about this and not sure that it’s her nosy business, anyway. She’s lucky she’s so sweet and I know she doesn’t have bad intentions, or else I might be inclined to bite back.

She bounces in her seat in impatience at my silence, her eyes widening in further interest. “Oh, come on, you haveto tell me! He’s never interested in females, I need to know! Please?”

I purse my lips and raise my brows.

“Please, please, please? I’ll buy your drink!”

My brows go up further.

“I’ll buy your dinner?”

Okay, I crack at that point and sigh, although she’s managed to squeeze a smile out of me, and I flip my laptop shut and shove it away. “Okay, fine. It’s a deal.”

“Yes!” She does a little fist of victory and leans closer. “So?”

“So, I didn’t kiss Rhokar.”

“Oh, what? No way! I happen to know that you were seen smooching in the car lot outside Andhrimnir’s last night by—uh, an unknown, um, source that definitely does not come by here every day.”

I throw my hands up. “Does nobody have any decency anymore?”

“Well, maybe you should keep your tongue activities to more private areas if you don’t want the town grapevine buzzing.” Nib smirks, looking completely unabashed.

“Your source was mistaken,” I mutter grumpily, rubbing at my temple. “There was no kiss. Only confusion.”

“What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know,” I sigh, reaching for my Emotional Support Wine. “I don’t know…”

The playful look in Nibs lilac eyes fades as she watches me, and her enthusiasm for gossip seems to mute. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” she says slowly, concern now pulling at her brows. “Do you not want to talk about it?”

I snort at that, smiling even as I shake my head. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

She leans over and pats my forearm, and somehow it actually does feel comforting instead of condescending. “Don’t worry, cutie. You’ll get him in the end. You’re clearly confident and smoking hot, I don’t think you’d be afraid to make the first move if the situation ever came up.” Then she leans back. “Unless you don’t want him. Then, he’ll come crawling to you, but you’ll already have moved on to bigger, better and brawnier. The guys are always greener on the other side, am I right?”

I roll my eyes and chuckle, shooing her back and reaching for my laptop again. “Go on then, twinkle toes, don’t you have a bar you need to be running?”

She zips into the air with a giggle, and despite the confusing muddle my brain is in, I find myself feeling a little better.

Make the first move, huh?

I play the idea through my thoughts as dinner arrives. I find myself wondering what really would happen if I just ripped my shirt off in front of him, as Grace suggested.

It’d be a way to get the conversation started, at least.

Chapter 11

Rhokar

It’s been over twenty-four hours since I almost kissed Ella, and I still can’t stop thinking about it.

It hasn’t stopped me from working or responding to the world around me, but every spare moment in which my attention isn’t directly occupied, the memory of her soft body pressed between me and the car resurfaces. The way her breath hitched with anticipation for me, her eyes wide and pupils dilated, lips parted and waiting for mine.

It’s worse than a distraction. It’s an obsession.

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