Page 7 of One Forbidden Night with Her Orc Boss

Chapter 5

Tasha

Once Lucy is tuckedin for the night, I take a shower. A really long, hot shower to scrub the residual ocean off. And also to scrub the thoughts of fucking Brann, my fucking boss, out of my head.

Admission, they’re still there when I towel off.

The sun was shining all day, and though it’s late spring, the water was still frigid. Though everyone started the day looking professional, by the end we were all wet, salty, in various states of undress, and wrapped in towels and blankets.CaptainSuthorn—still dry—had unbuttoned his shirt. All the way. And seemed to relish showing off the rippled planes of his chest and stomach. So hard. So smooth.

It was not okay. I was not okay.

Now, my daughter, my precious light of my world, has met my boss, fallen in love with the sexy beast, and talked non-stop about him tonight while I tried to distract her with her favorite penne pasta dinner and her favorite movie,Moana.

I had to get up and pour myself a glass of red wine when she looked at Maui singing on the screen, then at me, and said, “Mommy, if Maui were a little taller, and a lot green, he’d look exactly like your captain.” She gave me that cheesy grin I love so much, then happily went back to singing along to Maui singing “Thank you!”

I’m not sure which is worse—that she was thinking about him during the movie, or that she called him, “your captain.”

How am I supposed to work with this man? How am I supposed to get him out of my head when he is stuck in not only my head and heart, but my daughter’s?

No one at work seemsto mind my nerves when I drop equipment or ask for instructions to be repeated. I tell myself—and them—that I’m just nervous to make a good impression. They nod and say they understand.

He said to forget our tryst on the cliffside. I desperately want to. But it’s impossible to forget, to ignore the way he worshipped me and made me feel, when I see him every day. When Lucy talks about him every evening. When he is in my dreams every night.

But whether or not they believe me, I don’t know. I know that I’m lying to myself, though. The captain’s gaze is fire on my skin. Even when I tell myself I’m just being neurotic, when I look up, his dark eyes are on me, burning a hole into my soul. I manage to go for several days without needing to speak directly or get close to him. Today though, my luck runs out.

Halfway through my training with Kaj on the geography and trails of the island, the captain interrupts us. “Kaj, could you go read through Bjorn’s report from last week? I want to make sure he got everything.”

“Sure thing, boss. We both know he likes to exaggerate.” Kaj laughs and winks at me, passing Captain Suthorn the map. It isn’t lost on me that everyone has a first name but me.

“How are you settling in, Beckett?” That’s it. That’s the whole question. He stares at me expectedly, and I’m so caught off guard, I just stare back. Finally, I shake my nerves off enough to speak.

“Good. We’re going to drive around the island so I can get an understanding of distances and where the trails are.”

“Oh! That’s always fun. There are some great hidden trailheads the teens like to be sneaky about, thinking no one can find them...until they’re lost or hurt.” It’s the first semi-smile I’ve seen on him since he met Lucy the other day. And darn her, I see it. He’s much fitter than Maui, and greener, but he does have the same composure as an older, more mature, definitely sexier, and grumpier Maui.

Before I can make a snarky comment, his face lights up. “I’ll take you.” Standing, he turns and bellows at Kaj, “You’re in charge. I’m taking Beckett around the island!”

Kaj comes out of the galley area, mouth agape. “I had a plan, boss.”

“I’m sure it’s a great plan. But I have an itch I need scratched.” Captain Suthorn says the words so nonchalantly, as if he really does just have an itch in his shoe he needs scratched. I, on the other hand, feel my face heat to one thousand degrees and turn beet red. I mean, surely, he doesn’t mean what I think he means, right? Right. Because who in their right mind would announce that at work? To hisemployees? Clearly, I’m overreacting.

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