Page 17 of Falling for the Grumpy Orc
Chapter Eight
Cassidy
Myneckfeelslikeit's been put through a meat grinder, and my shoulders aren't any better. The air mattress betrayed me again last night, deflating slowly until I woke up practically on the floor, tangled in a mess of thin, scratchy blankets. Between that and the draft from the plastic-covered window, I barely slept.
I brace my hands on the countertop as my newly purchased coffee machine drips steadily. I still don't have a refrigerator, so I'll have to do with the disgusting fake milk powder to get my morningstarted.
Ugh. At least, Gerralt takes his coffee black so he won't have to deal with this.
I allow myself to feel deflated for just a moment longer. It's not that I want to ignore the mountain of work that waits for me or all the way my dreams could turn to ashes in my mouth. I can't afford to fail, simply put. So I don't allow myself to think about failure. If I do, I'm afraid it'll swallow me whole, like a dark mouth closing around my soul.
Okay, Cassie. Enough of this.I mentally shake myself like a dog.You have a long day ahead of you.
I press my fingers to the back of my neck, kneading the sore muscles as my phone buzzes. Silvia's name flashes across the screen, and I can't help but smile as I answer, leaning against the chipped counter.
"How's the renovation going?" Silvia asks, not bothering with a proper greeting. "Do you share a bed with a family of raccoons yet?"
I giggle at her tone and it lifts my entire spirit. I hadn't realized how much I needed to hear her voice.
"Guess what? I'm picking paint samples today!" I squeal. "I think I'm going with a sage-green kitchen, but I'm not sure yet."
"Ooh, progress!" Silvia croons over the constant buzz of the city in the morning. I can picture her, walking with her phone pressed to her ear, holding to her Pumpkin Spice latte, dressed to kill even at this hour. "Tell me more. Don’t be shy."
"Well, the rusted eyesore that was the old stove is gone, and I'm actually going appliance shopping today. With any luck, I'll have both a new stove and refrigerator delivered by the end of the week. No more microwave dinners for this chick."
Silvia scoffs into the receiver and I don't need to see her scrunched-up face to know what she thinks of microwave dinners and air mattresses. My bestie is not one to rough it up.
"And how's the hunky orc helping with all this?" Her tone is teasing. "All green and sexy? I’ve heard orcs are amazing lovers. They don’t stop until their woman gets what she needs. Multiple times."
"Silvia!" I feel my cheeks heat up. "Gerralt's just doing his job."
And looking mighty fine doing it.But I don't say that. If I say that, I'll never hear the end of it with Silvia.
"Honey, I'm calling because you texted me, promising details about your sexy contractor, and I've waited long enough!" Silvia's laugh radiates through the speaker. "Now give me all the juicy details or I'll jump in my car right now and you won't be rid of me until you tell me everything."
"Nothing is happening between Gerralt and me!" I protest, but I can hear it in my voice and I know Silvia heard it, too. I have it bad for the grump and it's the simple truth. "He's, well, he's grumpy and bossy and—"
"Mm-hmm." Silvia hums in triumph. "And the way your voice gets all breathy when you say his name is just a coincidence?"
She giggles and the tips of my ears burn.
"I do not get all breathy," I deny, knowing full well she's right. And I almost hang up on her for it, but I know she’ll make good on her threat and come harass me here if I do.
"Come on, Cassie," Silvia interrupts. "The man swooped in to save you from that scamming contractor, then immediately offered to help fix up your place. He's interested."
I glance over at the stack of granola bars and instant noodle packets I've been living off of, my stomach twisting. I try my best to ignore the tiny spark of happiness in my gut at the idea that Silvia might be right about this, but I squash it down. I don't need that kind of complication in my life.
"He's just being nice."
"Nice? Honey, men are never just nice. If they're protective, that means they're interested. I've even heard that orcs get especially horny in the fall and winter when their urges to mate are at their strongest."
"Silvia…" I frown at her words. For some reason, I don't like her speaking of Gerralt or orcs like that. "You shouldn't say things like that."
"What?" she scoffs. "All I'm saying is that after all you went through with Jason, you could use a good rumble in the sack with a big, broody green orc. God knows any man would be lucky to have someone like you interested in them." Her voice softens. "You deserve someone who looks at you and sees how amazing you are."
"And that's why I love you," I tell her, my gratitude at her ever-cheerful words almost choking me.
The rumble of a truck engine cuts through our conversation.
