Page 17 of One Stolen Night with Her Orc

“Oh Addy,” I reach over our table and hug her. “No one can ever replace you. I will never forget about you. We’re all we’ve got. I promised mom I’d take care of you. That doesn’t change. We’re in this together, okay?” Forehead to forehead, we promise each other daily phone calls and lots of visits and love.

Chapter 12

Koru

One Month Later

“Koru? Have you seenmy library books? I need to return them before Betty has a cow.” Poppy sounds slightly panicked as she looks under every surface of the apartment. “She’s going to fire me for being a delinquent!”

“No, she’s not. I’m pretty sure late library books are not a fireable offense. Besides, she loves you. Keeps telling everyone how much life you’ve brought to our little library. I know, because then everyone comes and tells me.” I roll my eyes in a mock gesture, but really, I’m smiling, pleased as a dog stretched out in the sunshine that Poppy is making a life for herself here. Making an impact on the community. Making friends.

We’re still getting used to the new place. It felt like a fresh start for us together to not live on top of the brewery. We have plans to rent it out for short-term rentals. Poppy thinks there’s a market for summer hikers and also winter cross-country skiers. Who knows, but I’m willing to try if she is. This place, though, not far from the brewery and the library, is perfect for the two of us. Except for all the boxes and piles of things (all mine) everywhere. We’ll get it sorted.

I watch her look under more papers and pillows and boxes. Move some stacks for her, then put my coat on.

“Sorry, Babe. You’ll have to kiss Betty’s ass. I need to get back to the brewery. Time to rack the newest ale.” Quick as light, Poppy runs toward me, throwing herself at me. Oof.

“Gee. That never gets old,” she says as she grins that sparkling smile up at me. Her breasts squished against my chest are one of my favorite feelings. Gods, how did I get so lucky?

“What never gets old?” I tuck her hair away from her eyes and behind her ears.

“Running into you. Jumping on you and having you catch me. You being strong enough to hold me without complaint of my volume or size.” Poppy shrugs, a little flushed in the cheeks as she talks, then tucks her head against my chest in a hug.

“Who complains about your size? I’ll pummel their ass. You, Pop, are a delightful creature. Perfect in every way. Never change.” I crook a finger under her chin to make her look up at me. My flower. “You have brought me happiness, joy, and light. I love you.”

“I love you, too. But I’m going to be late!” The satisfied, cozy smile falls off her face at the realization that she’s going to be late for work. “Gah! I still need to find those books!”

Laughing, I help her look. “They can’t have gone far.”

They’re in the oven.

“Are they at least—cookbooks?” I ask, a little concerned at what else she is storing in weird places.

“No,” she says as she shoves them in herOrcs do it Besttote bag. The library made them as a fundraiser. They didn’t make a lot of money, but Poppy now owns five tote bags. “I was cooking while reading, and the sauce was splattering. It was the driest, cleanest place I could think of to put them. But then you walked through the door soaked to the bone, and—you know—I got distracted.” She grins, winks at me, a hand on the doorknob. “See ya tonight.” A blown kiss and she’s out the door, a veritable flower tornado.

Rack the ale. Clean the tanks. Update the spreadsheet. Schedule kegging and bottling. I go through the motions, but my mind is completely elsewhere—on Poppy. It’s hard to believe it’s only been a month. But what a heartening month it’s been. I never thought love was something that was in my life path. My job was to take care of my brothers and my town.

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