Page 60 of Wrangling the Orc Cowboy

“Left, left. He stopped by this morning with this.” She lifted a plate of what looked like scones—green, but that was nothing new with orcs. I was sure they’d taste amazing.

But where was Tark?

“He mumbled something about needing to go on a very long trail ride to stake out locations where tourists will camp during overnight tours.” Inla’s pale green lips pursed. “Not sure why that darned youngling felt the need to do something like that now, but who understands males?”

“Right?” Rosey grinned and linked her arm through mine, urging me over to a table set up with a pot full of coffee, a tea kettle, mugs, and plates. “When he stopped by our place this morning on his way out of town, I felt this was the perfect time to meet you. I grabbed Jessi on my way to town.”

We sat and Inla dished up the scones while Jessi poured coffee for us all. I’d only had tea since arriving, and the smokey goodness of coffee perked up my senses that were floundering from the news of Tark going on a “very long” trail ride

“Did Dungar ask him to go?” I asked, blinking down at my scone sitting on my plate, my throat tight with pain. Talk about “I’ll call you in the morning”. He not only hadn’t called, but he’d also fled town.

I pulled my phone from my pocket but didn’t find a text from him, assuming he knew how to send one. No email either.

I could try texting him, but I wasn’t sure I dared ask him what was going on. What if he said it was over between us? We’d barely gotten started but my heart… It hurt to think I was falling in love while he wasn’t.

Did he regret being with me?

The thought sucked. It made me want to return to my lonely apartment in the city right away. But I was here to make thisbusiness a social media success, and damn if I wasn’t going to do it, with or without Tark’s help.

“Are you okay?” Jessi asked, her gaze warm. “You look a little sad there.”

“I’m fine.” I pitched my voice higher. “Fine.”

She studied me for a moment before nodding. “Orc guys can be…challenging. I’m with Greel, by the way. The tall, very silent one.” Her laugh rang out. “He’s chattering a lot more now than when I met him. Let me tell you, I thought he hated me when I got here. He barely said a thing.”

“He shows you his love in other ways, as does Ostor with me,” Rosey said with a wink. She took a bite of her scone and moaned, closing her eyes and wiggling in her seat. “Tark makes the best baked goods. I told him he should be running the bakery, not Sel, though Sel’s a great cook too. But he doesn’t seem interested in something like that.”

“He cooks from his heart,” Inla said proudly. “I taught him everything he knows, but he saves what he makes for those he adores most.”

If only. I shook off my glum feeling, not wanting to drag down the morning.

“You and Ostor went to Cancun together, right?” I asked Rosey, savoring a bite of my own scone. It really was good, even if I didn’t have much appetite.

“He was my fake wedding date.” She shook her head wryly. “I met him in a bar. Would you believe that? And spontaneously invited him to be my plus one at my sister’s destination wedding. She married a guy I’d dated a few times, and I was worried it would be awkward. But by the time the long weekend was over, I’d turned to the orc side.”

Jessi snorted. “Orc side. Love that.”

“As you should,” Inla said with a sweet smile sent their way. “No man can compare with an orc, especially one of my nephews.”

“You’ve got that right.” Jessi toasted Aunt Inla with her coffee cup before looking toward me. “Greel and I met online. I needed a fake marriage, but it didn’t stay fake for long.” She laughed. “Despite his silent ways, Greel won my heart fast.” She lifted her hand, turning it to show a golden, circular tattoo on her inner wrist. “When you’re fated, you fall fast.”

“Fated?” I asked, not sure what she meant.

“Surely Tark has explained.” Rosey frowned at my hand lying on the table by my plate. “You and Tark…” Her eyes widened. “Please tell me you know.”

“Know what?” I looked between the three females. Aunt Inla was beaming again, her green cheeks taking on a rosy cast while Jessi’s smile had widened. Only Rosey looked a bit stunned.

She took my hand and lifted it, turning it over. “Welcome to the fated mate club.”

“Wait. What?” I half-shrieked. I stared at the mark on my wrist that was a lot like the one I’d seen on Tark. “Where did that come from?”

“Maybe it just appeared. Did he lick your palms?” Jessi asked, laughing again. “Boy, was that a shocker.”

“All my younglings know the proper mating etiquette,” Inla said. “I’m sure he did not wait long after they met, because I’ve seen his mark.”

I had too. Why hadn’t he told me?

“Whydid he lick my palms?” Truly, I had to lower my voice, or I’d frighten my new friends away.

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