Page 7 of Kiss for My Kraken
“Samarthan.”
“That’s a mouthful. I reckon you’ll be Sam from now on.” Before he could respond, she pointed at the island further upstream. “There’s a place up there that would suit you.”
“Who does it belong to?”
“No one now, but you’ve got a home there if you want it.” She gave him an oddly sweet smile and disappeared so quickly he was almost convinced he’d imagined it.
A home.That sounded nice. He was still half convinced that it was some kind of trick, but eventually he’d gone to investigate the island, and as soon as he’d emerged from the water, he’d realized she was right. This was home.
Perhaps Nina could find a home here as well.
CHAPTER 5
Sleeping in her car did not turn out to be as uncomfortable as Nina had feared. The backseat was wide enough for both her and Ozzie, and her sleeping bag kept her warm. Even though she had expected to feel nervous about sleeping in an isolated location, there was something about her dream, and the memory of her prince, which made her feel safe, as if someone were watching over her.
She used bottled water to brush her teeth and freshen up, then changed out of the borrowed sweats and into a clean pair of jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. Even after all this time, she still got a little forbidden thrill out of wearing jeans. The Chosen women were never allowed to wear pants, and while her jeans weren’t particularly tight, they still revealed enough of her figure to horrify the Elders. Or at least so they would have claimed. She’d worked at the small diner they ran as a way of raising money, and she’d noticed that however much they might disapprove, their eyes had a tendency to linger on the tourist women with their tight jeans and short skirts.
She folded the borrowed sweats neatly and placed them into a plastic shopping bag, then did the same with the clothes that hadtaken a dip in the river. She didn’t want to take advantage of her new boss, but if he really didn’t mind her using his laundry equipment, she’d be able to save a few dollars, and every dollar helped.
Her stomach growled as she called Ozzie and started down the river path back towards the tavern, but she ignored it. Ben had said that food was included as well. He might have meant at the end of her shift, but that was all right; she could wait. The morning was clear and cool, but held the promise of warmth later in the day. The land rose rapidly on the other side of the river, and the trees were already starting to turn, especially at the higher elevations. Their reds and golds were a shocking contrast to the brilliant blue of the sky, and she found herself humming as she walked.
When she reached the bushes that separated the river path from the Moonlight Tavern, she took a deep breath, then slipped through them and up onto the porch. She hesitated a moment longer, looking out over the river, curiously reluctant to go inside. The town of Fairhaven Falls lay on the other side of the road. The foliage was still dense enough that she couldn’t make out too much of the town other than a clock tower and the roofs of some old-fashioned looking houses, but it looked peaceful and charming in the morning light.
Just like any other town, she told herself, then gulped as a huge orc carrying two large trays came stalking down the street towards her.
I’m sure it’s fine, she told herself as her hands tightened on the porch railing, although the fierce scowl on his face didn’t help her nerves. Dark eyes gave her a quick, assessing look, and his face seemed to soften a fraction.
“Where’s Ben?” he asked in a deep, rumbling voice.
“Um, I don’t know.” Her voice came out as an embarrassing squeak. “I only just got here.”
“New employee, huh?” He raised an eyebrow, and the corner of his mouth quirked up. “Hope you last longer than the last one.”
“I do, too,” she said sincerely, just as a splash came from the river behind her. They both turned to look in that direction, but the surface remained undisturbed, and she gave him a puzzled look. “Do you have a lot of jumping fish?”
He snorted a laugh and gave her a surprisingly attractive grin. “Hard to say what’s lurking in the river.”
Another louder splash, and she whirled around in time to see a ripple on the surface. When she turned back, the orc was shaking his head, still grinning.
“Name’s Grondar. Bakery delivery.” He started to hand her the two trays he was carrying, then looked at her again and jerked his head at the door. “Better let me carry them inside.”
She started to insist that she could manage, then took a second look at the size of the trays.
“All right,” she said, then bit her lip. “Should I just walk in?”
He raised an eyebrow again, and she immediately felt silly. “It’s my first day.”
“I guessed,” he said dryly. “News will be all over town before long. Go ahead. Ben unlocks the door as soon as he gets here.”
Grondar jerked his head at the door again. She took another quick look at the river, then hurried to open the door. Those trays did look heavy, even though he didn’t seem to be feelingthe strain. She opened the door then followed him inside, Ozzie trotting along after her.
Grondar headed straight for the beaded curtain that led to the back hallway, but she lingered a moment longer to look around. A big bar stretched across the back of the room, lined with stools in a variety of shapes and sizes. Rough pine walls were covered with more music posters, and there was a small stage at one end of the room. Wooden tables, also in a variety of shapes and sizes, were scattered around the center of the room, along with a row of booths along the far end. Several wide windows would overlook the porch and the river, although they were still shuttered.
She’d worked in a bar once, and it always smelled like smoke and stale beer when she came in in the morning. The air in the tavern was surprisingly fresh—pine with a hint of lavender. Hopefully that was a good sign. Her previous experience had not ended well. The owner had seemed nice enough, but he quickly began making her uncomfortable because of the way he would stand too close to her, frequently putting his hand on her arm or placing his arm around her shoulders. Politeness to her elders had been drilled into her entire life, and she wasn’t sure how to tell him not to do it. Finally, the bartender, a big biker with a beard halfway down his chest and the improbable name of Teddy, took her to one side.
“You interested in Ronnie?” he asked, and she immediately shook her head.
“He’s old enough to be my father.”
