Page 16 of My Orc in Uniform

I hid my wince at having to confess, “It’s…I’m having dinner with Simbel.”

There was a pregnant pause, as Patrick figured out who I was talking about, and then—to my surprise—he let out a whoop and punched the air. “That’sawesome, Mom!”

Okaaaay. Not the response I was exactly expecting. “It is?”

He huffed and rolled his eyes. “Officer Simbel is a good guy. Acoolguy. I mean, he’ll treat you right, is the point.” Suddenly, blue eyes met mine, and the serious look in them made me catch my breath, imagining what kind of man this son of mine would become. “You deserve that, Mom.”

Oh.

Oh my.

My eyes filling with tears, I groped for Patrick’s hand. “Thanks, honeybear.”

He squeezed my fingers, then gently extracted himself and reached for the door again. “Have fun! Take your time! I brought my biology homework, so Ethan and I can do it together if you’re late.”

I watched him sling his backpack over his shoulder and hustle toward the house, and I wondered how I’d gotten so lucky.

In a kid, I mean.

But also, you know, in the wholeholy shit a hot orc cop is interested in me.

Simbel met me in front of the new Asian fusion place, and when he offered his hand, I didn’t think anything of taking it and twining my fingers through his. His hand was so much bigger than mine—hewas so much bigger—but not once had I felt unsafe in his presence.

In fact, Simbel made me feel protected. Special.Cherished. Maybe it was because I’d heard enough stories by this point—thanks to our late-night text and phone conversations—to know he’d really leaned into the wholeProtect and Servething. Or maybe…maybe it was something else.

Maybe it was the way he made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Maybe it was the way he made me laugh, and—more importantly—laughed atmyjokes, which made me really feel like he valued my contributions.

Or maybe—and this wasn’t too big of amaybe—it was because of the way I responded to him.

It was becoming a bit ridiculous, actually.

All he’d have to do is lean close, allowing me to get a whiff of his musk, and my insides would go all gooey. When he grinned and winked knowingly, making me wonder if he somehow knew, I felt liquid heat pool between my thighs.

I wanted him.

I was a grown-ass woman, and I had a crush on my coworker, acop. He made me feel like a young woman again, flirting and laughing and actually putting some thought into my appearance. It was silly. It was wonderful.

How long had it been since I’d felt this way? Well, at least since Iwasthat “young woman,” realizing David was interested in me. We’d been too young, too stupid, to really think about the future, and when I’d become pregnant, he’dnopedout of there pretty quickly. Last I heard from social media, he was living his best life out in Vegas, and I—and Patrick—were better off without him.

But Simbel?

Simbel wasn’t like that. He’d had a chance with thehot teacher, and had confided in me that he thought Kelly was immature. He’d turned her down in favor ofme.

He was interested inme, not just theideaof me. He was attentive and sweet in a way no other guy had ever been. In the way I wanted to raise Patrick to be.

I wondered what kind of lover he’d be.

It’s a good thing he can’t tell how horny you are.

Except…there were times—like now, for instance—when I would see Simbel’s nostrils flare, see that flash of green inhis eyes, and wonder if there was somehow hecouldguess how I was feeling.

When the sushi arrived, he teased me over not eating with chopsticks, which resulted in him trying to teach me. About ten minutes of laughter later—and two dropped sushi pieces—Simbel moved around to my side of the table, wrapped his large hand around mine, and tried to physically show me how to hold the little sticks.

Every bit of my attention went right out the window as I leaned into his hold, inhaling deeply, allowing his heat to warm me in all the best ways.

Was it my imagination, or did his chin dip toward my neck, as if tempted? Was that a little groan I heard, or had I just wished it to be true?

The server showed up with our Peking duck then, and we both hurried to straighten.

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