Page 3 of Orc Charming

I tilted my head. “From what?”

“Too many obligations.”

“You don’t come across as a guy who’d shirk something like that.”

“Sometimes, it can be incredibly overwhelming. I needed a break.”

“Breaks are good. To be honest, there have been times when I’ve felt like running away myself.”

“Something we have in common.”

My smile rose again, and his joined in. Damn, was he gorgeous with his dark hair brushing his big, burly shoulders, his majestic horns, and his jaw that looked chiseled by diamonds.

I took a deep breath and blurted out, “Do you need a place to stay?”

Surprise danced across his features. “What are you suggesting?”

My mind shot to all sorts of steamy ideas—none of them appropriate for conversation with a guy I’d just met. “The house I inherited from my mother is small, just one bedroom, but I’ve got a free couch if you need a place to stay until you get settled.”

“I couldn't impose.”

I shrugged. “I’m offering. It’s no imposition.”

After a brief pause, he nodded. “Thank you, Cat. This means a lot to me.”

Chapter 2

Deegar

Iwas stunned by Cat’s offer.

She stood on the other side of the bar wearing a confident smile, her dark blue eyes studying me.

I almost blurted out the truth. I didn't need her help. I had more money than I could spend in three lifetimes. Although I couldn’t access it at this time, not without revealing my location.

Something about her intrigued me. She was pretty as far as humans went, extra curvy, the way I like females. Her eyes had caught my attention right away. Orcs only had varying shades of gold. Seeing green, blue, and even brown surprised me when I first arrived in the human world.

The air between us crackled. The low lights overhead cast a warm glow on her face, highlighting strands of pink in her long, dark hair. My orc senses tingled with interest. I’d like to get to know her better, and it was refreshing that she didn’t realize who I was.

“That’s generous of you,” I said.

She shrugged. “No problem.” She glanced at the clock hanging above the center of the bar. “The lunch crowd will begin arriving soon. If you want to come back here around three, I’ll bedone closing, and I’ll take you to my house. We can walk there from here.”

I stood. Her gaze scanned my frame, and I wondered what she thought of me. Some humans found orcs attractive. Others . . . well, we didn’t need to mate with them all to maintain our species.

“I’ll be back at three, then. Unless,” I frowned, “would you like help? You appear short-staffed.”

“Until Mom died, there were three of us. Wilfred cooks, and Mom and I waitressed. We’re not open 24/7, just for breakfast and lunch, thankfully, but it’s a lot for one person to handle.”

“I could pitch in if you’d like.”

“Do you have server experience?”

Not a bit. “I can figure it out.” My grin came easy. I felt like doing it all the time while near Cat. “You fed me. You’re offering me your couch. It’s the least I can do to pay you back.”

“It’s an old couch, though it’s still comfy.”

“I appreciate your willingness to help me.”

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