Page 41 of Wrangling the Orc Cowboy

Something in the way he said it made me wonder if he was talking about more than the bird. Himself, maybe? My heart twisted at the thought.

“You have a way with second chances, don’t you?” I asked.

He blinked, his hand pausing mid-stroke on Sharga’s head. “I don’t know about that. I try to do what feels right.” His gaze flicked back to me, and there it was again—that intensity that made it impossible to look away. His next words came so hushed I almost didn’t catch them. “Sometimes second chances are all we’ve got.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of what he wasn’t saying. The moment stretched between us, heavy with something that felt too big to name. Sharga hooted again, breaking the silence, and Tark chuckled, the sound low and warm.

“He’s not subtle, is he?” Tark scratched under the bird’s chin. “Always has to be the center of attention.”

I smiled. “I think he earns it. He’s pretty charming for a raven.”

“Oh, he knows it.” Leaving the bird to eat, Tark settled next to me again. He turned his head, catching my gaze, and I realized I was staring. Heat crawled up my neck, and I reached for my phone as a distraction.

“I, uh, wanted to show you something,” I said, fumbling with the screen as I pulled up the social media account. “I’ve been working on the saloon’s pages. Look at this—your dartling muffin post went viral overnight. People are commenting almost every minute, asking if you plan to cater wedding events or host baking classes once the town opens to tourists.”

Tark reached out, hesitant at first, before his hand brushed my wrist as he angled the phone to see better.

A searing feeling spread across my skin, but I didn’t take time to look.

He was touching me, and it was amazing. Even something this simple sent an electric jolt through me. I fought to maintain a light tone of voice.

“See?” I pointed to the screen, desperate to focus on anything other than the warmth that lingered where his fingers had been.“This one says, ‘I’d travel from three countries away just to taste this.’ And this one. ‘When is the first bake sale? I’ll bring my wallet and my appetite.’” I smiled up at him. “You’ve got a fan club growing already.”

Tark studied the screen for a moment, his expression somewhere between awed and uncertain. “I didn’t think people cared that much about muffins.”

“It’s not just the muffins. It’s the story we’re telling through what you’re building here. People feel that. They want to be part of it.”

His gaze shifted to mine, and for once, there was no barrier between us. No fumbling or shyness. Only a raw, unfiltered warmth that made my breath catch. He held my gaze for a beat longer than was safe for my heart.

“You’re part of it too, Gracie,” he said, his voice a low rumble that wrapped around my name like a caress. “More than you know.”

I swallowed hard, suddenly hyperaware of how close he was, of the way his broad shoulders seemed to take up all the space in the room. Of the way his kindness wasn’t only a passing trait, but something deeply rooted in who he was as a person. And that thought—oh, that thought—sent my mind spiraling.

Get it together,I scolded myself.People don’t fall in love in a matter of days. It doesn’t happen that fast.

Tark’s eyes flickered between the phone screen and me, as if he couldn’t quite process what I’d said. He didn’t seem to understand how talented he was. Instead of basking in the attention, his expression shifted to something close to embarrassment. He rubbed the back of his neck without meeting my gaze.

“I didn’t think anyone would actually care about this stuff,” he said, his words barely audible.

“Of course they care. They see the love you put into everything you and your brothers are doing here. But in the post about the muffins, they seeyou.” I leaned over, narrowing the space between us in an effort to pull him out of the cocoon he’d retreated into. “I’m only helping people notice what’s already there.”

He struggled to meet my gaze, then exhaled heavily. “I didn’t think I had anything anyone would want to see, you know? Not too long ago…” He shook his head. “Never mind. That’s in the past.”

The hint of vulnerability in his voice felt like a gut punch. I didn’t like seeing him uncomfortable, not when he’d gone through so much effort. For me, for this place. All to create something beautiful for others to enjoy.

“Well,” I said, brightening my tone. “If this sudden internet stardom is too overwhelming, I know a way we can escape for a little while.”

He blinked at me, confused but curious. “Escape?”

I grinned. “How about a trail ride? You can show me an example of what you’ll be offering tourists, and I’ll take some videos for tonight’s posts. Along the way, I'll explain how I use hashtags and comments to engage readers.”

His brow furrowed, but the tension in his shoulders eased. That shy smile played on his lips again, and the effect was immediate. My stomach somersaulted, my heart along with it. “You’d want to do something like that with me?”

“For the cake.” I grinned to show I was teasing. “I think the cake deserves it.” I pushed back my chair and stood. “What do you say?”

Tark’s smile pulled wider, bringing out the faintest hint of dimples that made my legs feel unreliable. “Alright. But don’t blame me if the trail gets a little rough. We're still working on that part of the business.”

“Rough works for me,” I said.

---