Page 2 of Grumpy Orc Daddy

I nervously walk outside as Lily wiggles in my arms. With every step I take, my mind begs me to turn back to the house. But I push it aside, knowing I could use the help. If not for me, then most certainly for Lily and what’s best for her wellbeing.

As I approach the front porch, the warm breeze blows around me, filling me with hope. I reach the front door, preparing myself to ask for the advice I desperately need.

I hesitate, my hand raised, poised, and ready to knock. One look at Lily is all it takes to take that last step and let my knuckles rap against the door. I wait, the moments slowly ticking by, adding to my nervousness.

The door finally opens, revealing a very gruff and annoyed-looking orc.

“Can I help you?” he asks, the tone of his voice short and irritated.

I stumble to find my words, completely thrown off by his demeanor.

“Hi, I’m Rayna, I just moved in next door. My sister is gone, and she left my niece Lily in my care as her guardian.” I pause, to look up at him. He just grunts and crosses his arms, nodding at me to go on.

“Anyway, as you can see, she’s half-orc, half-human, and I'm completely in over my head right now. I’m not even sure if I’m cut out for this motherhood thing. And when I saw you outside, I figured?—”

He scoffs, narrowing his eyes at me with scrutiny. “You figured that because I’m an orc I could just help you and solve all your problems?” he says grumpily and almost condescendingly.

I frown, thrown off guard at his accusation. I shift my hold on Lily and suddenly feel very exposed standing here in front of this handsome and obviously inconvenienced orc. I can feel the tremble in my words as I swallow back tears of embarrassment.

“Well no. I mean it wasn’t exactly like that. I just thought that as an orc yourself you might have some advice. For me that is.” I’m stumbling over my words as they come out, silently cursing myself for daring to be so bold.

I’m usually very independent and don’t enjoy being put in a position where I need anyone to help me. But with the tailspin my life is currently in, it’s not just about me anymore.

He’s quiet for a moment, almost contemplative, before he grunts again, breaking the silence between us.

I swallow, feeling like coming over here was a mistake. His hazel eyes meet mine and he takes me in, looking me up and down and glancing across at a gurgling and whining Lily.

My heart is racing, and my palms feel sweaty.

“Yeah, I wasn’t exactly expecting to give out parenting advice today. I’m busy. So, sorry about your problems, but I can’t help you.” His words come out fast in a hurry, but the dismissal rings loud as he shifts and steps back into his house.

“Oh,” I say with surprise, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. ”I’m sorry I bothered you,” I add, feeling embarrassed about having put myself out there only to receive such an abrupt rejection.

“Hmm,” he grunts again before closing the door, leaving Lily and I standing on the porch.

My heart races and my ears are hot. I’m not entirely sure what I expected he would be like, but gruff and dismissive weren’t the vibes I got when I was watching him from the window.

I stand there for a moment before I turn around and head back to Ashley’s house. Lily begins to cry again, and I let out a sigh of my own, letting the tears fall freely from my eyes.

CHAPTER 2

Janta

“Ijust need five minutes of silence,” I grumble to myself.

I’ve just barely sat down, ready to tackle what will certainly be another busy day, and my phone has already started the incessant buzzing that will probably last until I go home tonight. I’m considering breaking the damn thing.

My day will be filled with high-stakes decisions and meeting after meeting. As the CEO of OrchTech, Curiosity’s leading tech company, I barely have a moment to breathe, let alone think of anything outside of work.

Stacks of paper and a calendar I can never find when I need it cover my expansive desk. With one hand, I avoid knocking over paperwork that I’ll somehow make time to finish and rustle around, looking for my phone.

I finally find it and hurriedly answer the call, knocking my CEO nameplate to the floor.

“Janta here.”

No sooner have I answered before a knock on my office door fills the room. Penny, my assistant, pokes her head in.

“Hey boss, they’re ready for you in room 3,” her chipper voice says. I wave her away with a nod before gathering the reports I need.

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