Page 10 of Kiss for My Kraken
Sam floated disconsolately in the river next to the tavern. He didn’t like the fact that Nina was inside and he couldn’t keep an eye on her, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave. She’d come out twice with her dog, and both times she’d looked out across the water. Both times he’d been tempted to reveal himself, even though he knew it was a foolish notion. There couldn’t possibly be a future between them.Future? What the fuck am I thinking?But even though he scolded himself for his foolishness, he remained where he was.
It was bad enough that Flora knew, but he was sure that Jekyll was aware of his interest. And now Grondar. The big orc had walked down to the water’s edge after leaving the tavern. “You coming to the Halloween festival, Sam?”
He considered ignoring him, but he was fairly sure that Grondar knew he was there, so he let his head emerge from the water. “Maybe. You expecting any more trouble?”
There had been an incident the previous year where a worthless human male had come after the mate and child of one of Flora’s grandsons, and Sam had helpedconvincehim that hewas not welcome in Fairhaven Falls. It was amazing how much more reasonable he’d become after a period under the water. Personally, he didn’t think any male who threatened a female and a child deserved to live, but they’d convinced him it would cause more trouble if he disappeared, so he’d thrown him back on shore.
“Better not be,” Grondar said, scowling. “You should still come.”
He shrugged noncommittally. “I’ll think about it.”
He attended most of the town festivals, if watching from the river counted as attending. He liked being part of the town, even if it was at a distance. Grondar, being Grondar, didn’t press, just nodded abruptly and reached into his apron for a paper-wrapped package.
“Here.” Grondar tossed it towards him, and he automatically reached out a tentacle to intercept it. “Something new I’m trying. Tell me what you think next time I’m back this way.”
The big orc turned and walked away before Sam could unwrap the paper to reveal a box filled with small, fish-shaped cookies, decorated in bright colors. He laughed, took a bite, and groaned with pleasure. Like everything Grondar made, they were delicious.Would Nina enjoy them?he wondered, then shook his head again at his own foolishness.
He finished the treats and sank back down beneath the water, watching the lunch crowd going in and out. The River Cafe on Main Street also did a thriving lunch business. They had an outside deck overlooking the water, and he often frequented the water alongside the deck, listening to the town gossip. But today, he had no inclination to pull himself away from the tavern. The lunch crowd dispersed, and he waited expectantly for Nina toappear, but there was no sign of her.Is Ben going to keep her working all day?he thought, growing increasingly irritated. She didn’t look strong enough to be on her feet that long.
He was still worrying about her when three people emerged on the porch. “Fuck,” he groaned when he recognized Flora’s small figure. What was she up to? She had the beatific smile on her face that always boded trouble. Ben was scowling even more heavily than normal, and Nina was looking nervously from one to the other. He quickly swam closer, although he remained submerged.
“I don’t like it,” Ben snapped.
“Why not?” Flora asked. “It’s empty, and you don’t use it. This way it will be occupied. You’ll get a little income, and Nina will have a home.”
Home? What was she talking about? On one hand, he didn’t want her living out of her car. But on the other hand, he hated the thought that she would be in town and further away from the river.
“It’s not suitable for a female,” Ben said, stomping one of his big feet. The porch floor vibrated, but Flora’s saintly expression remained unchanged.
“I’m sure Nina can take care of that, can’t you, dear?”
She bit her lip, looking so nervous that he wanted to reach out of the water and wrap his tentacles around her.Which would only frighten her, he reminded himself.
“I don’t mind cleaning,” she said hesitantly. “I won’t cause any harm.”
Flora snorted. “Anything you did would be an improvement. Isn’t that right, Benjamin?”
“It’s Ben,” the rabbit growled, before frowning at Nina. “You’d be better off in town.”
“I like being by the river,” she said softly, and a wave of satisfaction washed over him. Flora looked over at where he was submerged with a knowing smirk, but fortunately she didn’t say anything.
“I can’t afford very much,” Nina added, her fingers flexing nervously at her side. “How much would it be?”
Ben studied her for a moment, then shrugged. “$200 a month.”
“$150,” Flora corrected.
“This isn’t a negotiation,” Ben snapped, and Flora gave him that annoyingly saintly smile.
“Everything’s a negotiation, Benjamin.”
“Don’t call me that,” he growled, but then he looked over at Nina, and his face softened. “I’ll take $50 out of your weekly paycheck for the first three weeks each month.Ifyou still want it after you see it.”
Even underwater, he could hear her sigh of relief as she smiled up at Ben, her smile a little too happy. He didn’t like to see her smiling at another male that way.
“Excellent. Come along, dear, let’s get you settled in.”
It wasn’t until Flora led the way back to the river path that he had a sudden sinking suspicion about where they were headed. Fuck, she surely didn’t intend to put his delicate little female in Ben’s run-down old fishing shack. He almost rose out of thewater to protest when he realized his suspicions were correct. But once again, Flora looked directly at him, and shook her head. He reluctantly subsided, hoping that she knew what the hell she was doing.
