Page 86 of Buck Wild Orc Cowboy
“Oh, thank you.” The woman was a stark contrast to the brooding man. “I’ll go there next.”
They left.
Throughout, the man had said nothing.
I shouldn’t feel this unsettled.
Yet I did.
Chapter 31
Holly
Near closing time, Gracie stepped into the kitchen like she had a storm chasing her.
“Don’t even offer me tea,” she said, holding up both hands. “I’ve got ten minutes, tops, to go through everything for the picnic auction tomorrow.”
“I can’t even tempt you with a sessaline scone?” I held one up with tongs. They’d just come out of the oven and smelled amazing.
She grinned but shook her head. “I’ll be back tomorrow for one.”
“Come on, then. Let’s sit outside while we make sure everything’s set.” I wiped my hands on my apron, nodded to Sel who was elbow-deep in dough at the far table, and stepped out with Gracie into the pale afternoon sunlight.
We sat on the bench beneath the front window, tourists meandering past on the boardwalk, many of them wearing bonnets or Wild Western-styled shirts they'd bought from Aunt Inla’s general store. The carved wood sign above us creaked in the wind. Gracie pulled out her phone and read, rattling off last-minute updates related to timing, table arrangements, who had recently signed up.
I half-listened, nodding at the right times, but my gaze had been caught by someone standing in the shadows outside the general store. I couldn’t make out his face, but the shape of his shoulders was too familiar. It was the same man from earlier, the one who’d scowled, who’d made me feel uncomfortable. I’d never seen him before in my life, so I should ignore him. For whatever reason, though, I couldn’t.
My stomach dipped, but I kept my voice light. “Tark’s still going to be the auctioneer, right?”
“He wouldn’t miss it,” Gracie said, typing something.
Movement inside caught my eye, and I glanced through the bakery window, finding Sel serving a customer at the counter.
When I looked back down the street, the man was gone. Had he stepped inside the general store? Maybe it was nothing; I was mistaken, and it was someone else.
Must be.
“Can you think of anything?” Gracie asked. “You’re kind of quiet.”
“I’m sorry. I’m…distracted.”
She gave me a long look. “Is everything alright? You and Sel didn’t fight or something, did you?”
“Things couldn’t be better between us. We’re…together.”
“Oh, yay.” She dropped her phone and grabbed my hand, squeezing it. “I knew it.” Her eyes widened as she gazed down, and she lifted my arm, squinting at the mating mark I still wasn’t used to seeing. “What’s this here?”
My face heated. “You know what it is.”
“I’m so happy for you both.” She gave me a quick hug, then picked up her phone again, adding a few more details. “I’d be distracted too if I was newly mated.” She stood. “Get back inside and kiss Sel or something.”
I grinned at her. “Something, huh?”
“I’m sure you have a good imagination.”
Did I ever.
I rose as well. “Anything else?”
