Page 32 of Secret Twins for the Orc

Not to mention that his tight shirt, the sleeves of which cut right at the largest point of his huge green biceps, definitely leaves less to the imagination.

Okay, since when was a t-shirt this sexy?

I blink hard and drag my eyes away from where the material stretches across his wide pecks, only to discover that his own gaze is currently lingering on my chest, which is admittedly more on display than I’d usually show at the office. I mentally pat myself on the back for deciding on my good push-up today.

“You look good,” I say with a smile, and he rips his eyes away from me and clears his throat, shoving his hands deeper in his pockets and stepping back as if trying to avoid my compliment.

“Thanks,” he mumbles quietly, gruffly, while firmly avoiding eye contact. “Youlookgoodtoo now let’s go.”

I bite my lip in a valiant effort to stop myself from giggling. Nervous Rhokar is the cutest.

“Pardon?” I ask innocently, widening my eyes and remaining right where I am in the doorway.

His gaze darts back to mine in a glare. “I said thanks.”

“No, the part after that.”

“Let’s go.”

“No, the part—”

“I swear to the entire pantheon of gods, woman, I will leave you here.”

I manage to keep my laugh at bay, but the wide, beaming grin that stretches across my lips is impossible to hold back.

“Okay,” I say happily, stepping out and locking up. “Thanks.”

His brows lower as I thank him for the compliment I’d just pretended I didn’t understand, but before he can say anything else, I casually slip my arm into the crook of his elbow and turn my eyes up to his expectantly. “Ready?”

I feel him stiffen beneath my touch, but when he doesn’t pull away from me, I stay right where I am. I’ve decided on being assertive, go-getter Ella today, who will make the first moves and do nothing to mask her intentions. Every project is different, but the management style is always the same, when it comes down to it. You just have to learn to roll with the punches.

After a few seconds Rhokar relaxes against my touch, and I let my fingers shift up over the hard planes of his bicep as we move towards his pick-up.

Plan of action? Treat this as a date until it turns into one.

Desired outcome? Have it lead to a second date.

Bonus extra? Well, I would be lying if I said I haven’t been thinking about kissing him all week.

***

We arrive at Heartwood Grove, a grove of ancient pine trees in the center of town. The place is apparently the heartbeat of Whispering Pines, pulsing with some sort of low frequency magic to help sustain the fae community here. At least, that’s what the plaque at the entrance to the park says.

“I don’t get it,” I say as we stroll under the trees. “You mean like actual, honest-to-god magic?”

The park around us is buzzing with a mix of people as we walk the wide, tree-lined path, all of us heading towards the strip of market stalls nestled in the dappled shade ahead. There aren’t really any humans that I can see, but it’s such a calm and inviting environment that I don’t at all feel out of place. There are kids and adults of varying shapes and sizes around us, some with wings, some with horns, and even a furry toddler who suddenly drops to all fours and races off from his shouting parents with a speed that surprises me.

“Not abra kedabra, turn a mouse into a moletype of magic,” Rhokar responds, “but, essentially, yes. Magic.” He’s walking in step beside me, his stride significantly slower than usual in order to match my pace.

“But then, what does it do?”

“It’s…it’s the life-force of our town.”

I wait for several seconds as we get closer to the colorful stalls, but when he doesn’t seem inclined to elaborate, I nudge him with my elbow.

“You know, that’s very poetic and all, but I have no idea what it means,” I say. My attention is immediately caught by the first stall we reach, with the words ‘Brass, Pewter, & Silver Cauldrons’ emblazoned across the front. “Are you trying to say you guys can’t survive without this magic?”

“No,” he starts, although he seems immediately distracted when I link my fingers through his and drag him towards the stall. I inwardly grin when he doesn’t shake his hand free and allows me to pull him over. “It, uh…”

---