Page 28 of My Orc in Uniform

He snorted and handed it right back to me. “You can’t get rid of me that easily,” he announced, and threw his arms around my shoulders. “I’m hanging out with you and Simbel. I’ll chaperone.”

The way he winked told me he was teasing me, but I couldn’t help my blush. “Your friends—”

“The hoodlums?” He flicked his fingers dismissively. “I know you’d rather I not hang out with them.”

Was I that obvious? Frowning, I pulled to a stop and grabbed hold of the hand that was dangling over my shoulder. When did my baby get so tall?

“Patrick, I’mgladyou have friends. I’m just worried about you getting into trouble.”

“Mom, they’re good guys.”

I winced but tried to hide it. “Are they?”

He huffed out a breath. “Yeah, they are. They just…sometimes get bored. Ethan and I are trying to get them to…” He shrugged awkwardly and glanced away. “You know. Try different stuff.”

I squeezed his hand, relief easing the cramp in my stomach. “Like the band?”

Blue eyes darted to me, then away. “Maybe we could be called The Hoodlums.”

I huffed out a breath, then snaked my arm around his middle. “I’m proud of you, kiddo.”

“I know.” And just like that, his cockiness was back. “I’m pretty perfect. Hey, there’s Simbel!Bro!” he called, waving.

But Simbel had already seen us, and his face had split into a huge grin. God, he was so handsome, wasn’t he? Just seeing his joy made my face heat. Or maybe I was remembering the way he’d made me feel last weekend beneath the bleachers, how gentle he’d been.

“My two favorite people!” he declared, marching up to us.

He didn’t halt, but crouched down, wrapped his arms around both Patrick and me, and lifted us into a bear hug that shouldn’t be possible. My feet dangled above the grass, and my shoulder jammed into Patrick’s side, and I joined my son in laughing and squirming.

“Just be glad I’m not tickling you,” Simbel announced seriously, his nose inches from mine.

I snorted and squirmed again, as Patrick hollered, “Put me down, bro! The ladies will see!”

Chuckling, Simbel released Patrick, but not me. No, me he liftedhigher, and right there in front of everyone, he kissed me. Like we were young and in love.

In love?

Oh hell.

Ohhell.

I did love him, didn’t I? Oh hell.

All this second-guessing myself and trying to distance myself. It hadn’t worked. It hadn’t stopped the little lurch my stomach gave when I saw him smile at me like I was the most important person in the world. Or the way my heart beat faster when I thought of him.

“I can smell you thinking,” he murmured, nuzzling his nose against mine. “I hope it’s good thoughts.”

His eyes were green again.

Scoffing, I smacked his shoulder. “You can’tsmellme thinking. Put me down.”

“Orc senses are far more advanced than humans. You’d be surprised what we can smell.” He winked, but then slowly released me, allowing me to slide down his chest and stomach until my feet touched the ground.

And I couldn’t deny there was a bulge in his jeans that made me wonder if he reallycouldsmell everything. Had he smelled the way I’d been remembering his touch?

The way he grinned down at me, the way he bent down to drop another kiss on my lips, told me that hecould.

Patrick’s loud humming broke through my haze, and I blinked, lifting my fingertips to my lips, a little confusedabout what I was doing standing in the middle of the park… When I glanced around, it was to see my son standing with his hands in his pockets, staring fixedly at a nearby tree, humming loudly.

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