Page 55 of Buck Wild Orc Cowboy
“I can do that.” It felt good to be involved in something even if this task wasn’t showy or what others might call exciting. It made me feel like I was joining this community if only in a small way.
“Perfect. I’ll put you down.” She lowered her phone to the table and lifted the cookie again, taking a big bite. “This is amazing,” she said as she chewed. “I love everything orc.”
I was beginning to think I could one day love everything orc too.
Chapter 19
Holly
After Gracie left, I got back to work.
Sel and I moved together well, one taking the oven while another prepped and switching off here and there as needed. We soon had everything ready for the next day, and the bread was rising to bake in the morning. I went out front to turn the sign on the door to Closed, returning to the kitchen to help clean up, my least favorite task.
But doing it together made it go faster.
I’d placed the rags into the bin to be washed and turned when Sel scrolled into his phone and turned on some music, placing his phone on the counter.
I frowned. “The Blue Danube?” I only knew the tune because my first foster mom had loved classical music in addition to classic movies.
Sel strode over to me, his face and body stiff. He held out his hand. “Could I have this dance, little lady?”
Focused on his hand, I lifted my eyebrows. “Little lady?”
He paused, his hand sagging. “Is that incorrect?”
“No, it’s fine.” It was so easy to smile. This guy might be big and burly and good with a sword, but he was also sweetly endearing. “I like it. But dance?”
“I don’t know how to waltz, but how hard can it be?”
My laugh snorted out. “Pretty hard if you don’t know how. Fortunately, I can waltz. My foster mom taught me. So I’ll lead.”
“Lead where?”
“That means I’ll…never mind.” I glanced down at my soiled apron. My clothing underneath wasn’t in much better shape and would need a good wash. I was enjoying wearing new things, though, and feeling like I almost sometimes looked pretty. “I’m not really dressed for this.”
His brow narrowed. “How should you be dressed?”
My smile must seem whimsical. I probably looked like I was halfway to a fairytale, and worse, it felt good. I loved the image of the two of us dressed up and dancing somewhere that didn’t smell like baked bread and cleaning solution.
Despite my romantic heart being beaten down by my ex, I could still dream. “If we’re being picky, I guess I should be wearing a ballgown. You, a suit.”
“Suit of what?”
“Black. White shirt. No tie needed. You could even leave the top buttons undone.” As if he’d wrenched them apart because he wanted his skin to touch mine.
And I had no idea where all these wild thoughts were coming from.
Actually, I knew. I wanted to want again even if that meant cracking open the part of me I’d sealed shut when everything fell apart. I liked Sel a lot, and he’d sparked the dreams I’d had when I was young and thought romance and love could be pure and not hurtful.
“I…” He shook his head and gave me a rueful smile. “If you don’t want to dance, you don’t have to.”
I stepped forward, into his arms, looking up into his gorgeous dark eyes. “I’m not sure how I’ll lead if I can’t hold onto your shoulder and hand.”
He spanned his hands around my waist and lifted me up. “Like this?”
My low laugh rang out. “This will work except my feet aren’t on the floor.”
“I could bend forward.”
