Page 6 of Bread with the Orc
Instead, I’d given her apastry, for fuck’s sake.
Yeah, but a pastry that made her moan with pleasure.
There was that, yes.
Hmm.
What would it be like to hear her make that sound again? To have her in my space? To see her smile each day—no, eachhour, if what I was considering came to fruition…
“She cleaned?” Feydin interrupted my thoughts as he closed the cooler for the last time. “What did she clean?”
“Behind the counter.” I jerked my head. “Without being asked. Just picked up the rag and started.”
“Hey, Iofferedto help.” Feydin’s wing nudged me, and I knew he was teasing. “But she sounds like a better friend if she just sees what needs doing and does it. What do I know about running a bakery or a tea shop?”
“Nothing.” I scooped up the box with his Mate’s cinnamon rolls and thrust it at him. “But you are a good lawyer, a better guardian, and you don’t completely suck to talk to.”
“Dorvak.” He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“It is.” I hid my smile with a fierce scowl. “Now go away.”
Because I needed to think.
My friend waved cheerfully as he let himself out the back door, the alleyway beginning to lighten with the coming sunrise. My oven dinged its readiness, and I took a deep breath, rolled my shoulders, and began my day.
As each loaf went into the preheated oven, I checked it off on my tally sheet. Once those were ready, I pulled out my cookbook and flipped it to the page for fruit tarts, wondering if Laney would like them.
Absently, I glanced through the window to the front area, imagining people lined up to buy tarts and cheese Danishes and pastries. I would have more customers, yes, but that meant I’d have todealwith more customers, which sounded like the hells to me.
Unless you hire help.
But I didn’t want help. I could barely tolerate Feydin in my kitchen.
You tolerated Laney well enough.
I pictured the big room decorated like her tea shop, with the cozy wall hangings and those tables and chairs spread throughout. I imagined people sitting there in front of the big picture window, doing the community stuff she’d dreamed of. I pictured her bustling about, making tea and smiling and charming the customers into buying another bearclaw.
Would it work?
Could I take the chance?
Deep in my chest, myKteerthrummed, remembering the sweet scent of Laney’s arousal.
Yes, I wanted her. Here with me.
How could Inottake the chance?
Chapter Three
Laney
I’m not sayingthat I was in a better mood the next day, and I wasfarfrom cheerful. After all, I was busy packing up my dream into a million boxes I couldn’t hope to store, and the upbeat music blasting from our local Monster Tunes radio station wasn’t making that any easier.
It’s just…I’d cried all my tears. And despite my mother’s advice, I was programed to look on the positive side. Granted, at this moment, I couldn’t exactlyseethe positive side, but I was confident that one would eventually show up, and I wanted to be ready to see it when it did.
Also, I had the memory of yesterday—Dorvak’s touch—to distract me. Maybe I’d tossed and turned a bit last night in my almost-empty apartment, knowing he wasright next door. I’ll admit that I took my time eating the last of that bearclaw, enjoying every single bite.
Le sigh.
