Page 18 of One Forbidden Night with Her Orc Boss

Ican’t tell if mycrewmates are looking at me funny because they somehow know that Brann and I are...what even are we? Or if I’m being overly sensitive and paranoid. But the morning is painfully slow as I try to assemble more water and food kits for missions.

“Food kits, great work, Beckett. We can’t survive on secrets and kisses, can we?” Peder says. The words surprise me so much, I gasp before I can control my face. He’s gone, chasing some missing piece of gear, before I can cool my cheeks enough to respond.

Bjorn sets a cup of coffee down in front of me and says, “Don’t let them bother you. No one really cares. We’re madder at Captain for being such a dick. We’ve been taking bets—since before I joined—on when he was going to settle down. This place operates on trust, no secrets.” He winks and walks away, only to return with my purse a few minutes later. “It keeps ringing,” he holds it out in front of him like it might explode.

It’s Sophie. Her mom’s sick and she can’t have Lucy while helping her mom, who is apparently contagious. Panic flares inside as I stumble over words. “Let me see if I can get off.”

“Too late. We’re out front.” Shit.

“Mommy!” I just have time to school my face from anger and panic into delighted surprise at my daughter showing up at work.

“Hi, Lovebug!” I squat down and pull her into my arms. “How are you today? Can I show you around my work?” Lucy thankfully doesn’t understand my stressed smile as I introduce her to my co-workers, who all high-five her. Bjorn tries to sneak her a cookie slyly, so I won’t see. Lucy’s gasp and giggle totally give the two of them away. I look away, smiling to myself.

I set her up in the corner, out of the way, with her snack pouch and coloring book, and hope that Suthorn’s door stays shut. I’ve been mentally begging for it to open all day. Now, I want it locked shut—him trapped inside.

No such luck.

The door creaks open, he appears, eyes laser-focused on me. Then on Lucy. Back to me. Well, shit. “Beckett, why didn’t you tell me your daughter was here?”

“Only just happened. My nanny’s mom is ill and contagious, so she dropped Lucy off.” His head nods slowly, thoughtfully. My eyes analyze everything about him—his posture, how slow he’s breathing, the twitch in his neck, trying to decipher the future based on his body language.

I can’t do this to myself. I can’t live walking on eggshells in case my secret lover-slash-boyfriend gets angry at my situation. No, not my situation, my life. Lucy is my life. Standing, straightening my cargo pants and polo shirt, I’m about to walk over and give him an earful when his face breaks into a smile. A genuine smile. Not the scary fake one of the other day.

He squats down, a brief wince as his knees pop—I hear them from across the room—and Lucy flies into his arms, squealing. He picks her up and my heart stops. It’s like watching the slow-motion part of a movie, the part where the tissues appear for the tears, and there are gasps in the audience at the sweetness of it all.

“Hey, Lucy. I’m happy to see you. Want to build a fort?” And then they’re gone, into the supply room to gather who-knows-what.

Peder comes up to me and whispers, “He’s a good guy. And he’s great with kids, no matter what he says.”

After a few minutes of feeling like a fish dying for air as my mouth opens and closes, trying to decide if I should follow or not, I go back to my job and try to breathe.

An hour later, it’s lunchtime, and I go in search of my daughter and my boss. Gulp.

They’re in a fort made of hypothermic blankets, backpacks, and other random gear, held together with clothespins. His deep baritone speaks softly, telling her a story, while he brushes her tangly hair. We didn’t have time this morning to brush as I overslept.

On my hands and knees, I crawl closer, smiling at the twist of a family fairy tale he recites to her. “Hey, are you hungry? It’s lunchtime.”

“Yes! Branny said he’d get me pizza.” Dazzling smile. I cut my eyes at him, as if to say,really?

“I figure I’d get it for everyone. Boss’s treat.” He winks at me, and my insides flip-flop.

Pizza at work with my co-workers, my daughter, and my whatever-Brann-is, is almost perfect. Except for the part where our fingers touch as I reach for another piece of mushroom pizza at the same time as him; I blush hard. The giggles from Peder and Bjorn let me know they see.

Trying to keep us a secret is never going to work. In fact, it’s going to rip my heart out and flip it inside out. By the time Lucy is leaning on me, eyes half-lidded, ready for an after lunch nap, I’m furious at myself again.

I carry her back to her fort and lay her down. She snuggles right in, covering up with a work coat. SUTHORN written on the badge. She inhales and exhales sweetly, like the scent of him is soothing to her. Leaving her, I march straight to his office, entering without knocking.

“Welcome,” he says, a smirk on his face, pen in hand as he does whatever it is that bosses do behind closed doors. I shut the door and sit across the desk from him.

“I can’t do this.” My knees tremble uncontrollably. It takes all my effort to keep my voice level and calm.

“Do what?” he asks, curiosity on his face.

I wave between us. “This.” His nostrils flare as he sets his pen down and leans back in his giant orc chair.

“Can you give me more information? What can I do that would put you more at ease?”

“I—I don’t know. But being afraid of being found out, of keeping us secret, isn’t working for me. I need this job. Need this security. Lucy is my top priority, always. No matter what my heart wants.” My voice cracks at the last words. Closing my eyes, I try to keep the tears at bay.

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