Page 33 of The Orc's Sweetheart
There’s a warm and cozy feeling forming in the pit of my stomach at her showing as much interest in me as I am in her. Knowing that this isn’t one-sided or based on physical attraction alone makes me extremely hopeful for our future.
“Glad we’re on the same page,” I say. There’s an added pep in my step as I propose, “You tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine.”
“Suggestive, aren’t you, you big flirt?” Tilly teases.
My smile only grows and I look south toward the ocean, breathing in the fresh morning air of what promises to be a fantastic day. I’ll surely be called out on all my smiling this week. I can guarantee it won’t go unnoticed in this small town.
“To be clear, I only flirt with you,” I say, and try to shoot her a wink over my shoulder, but I think it might have come out as a twitch. I’m definitely not a winking-type of male.
“Ditto,” Tilly says softly, before launching into her plans. “Starting today, I’m going to be in charge of consultations in the mornings, and your mom will sit in on them. Originally, we planned for me to do a couple of house calls in the afternoons, so I can introduce myself to a few of the creatures who don’t visit the clinic regularly. But I don’t think my ankle is quite up to long distances yet.”
I nod and turn right at the fork in the road, away from Kraken Cove and north toward town. “She’ll be very understanding if you tell her about your injury.”
“Yeah, I think so too. She’s been great. Ireally like her.”
“I’m glad you like her. She likes you too.” I can’t hide the smile from my voice. It makes me really happy that Tilly and Ma genuinely like each other.
Tilly switches topics and asks, “What’s your schedule like this week?”
“I’m heading to Beck’s mill this morning. There are a bunch of shipments coming in. He usually handles getting them across the water and onto land, and I act as postman and ensure they get to their intended destinations. After that, I’ll pop by Richard and Annamae’s cottage. Some tree roots have grown into a wall and I want to check the integrity of the structure. And then of course, dinner with Ma tonight.”
“Wow. I didn’t know that roots can compromise the structure of a cottage. Does this happen often? Should I be on the lookout for it?” Tilly asks, genuinely concerned.
I shake my head. “You don’t have to worry about it for your cottage. This is a recurring situation with Annamae, though. Whenever there’s a special occasion, she’ll dance with the plants and it will encourage growth. A friend of mine has a cottage close to theirs and he has found himself ensconced in a grove of tangerine trees ever since Richard and Annamae celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary.”
“That’s adorable and funny,” Tilly says. “I’ve seen the grove on my morning runs and thought it looked so pretty, if not overgrown. I hope your friend likes tangerines.”
“He liked them for a while, but I’m guessing he might have grown tired of them.”
“I can imagine. Does the rest of your week look similar?”
I set the cart down in a blind spot not visible from the shops on the hill so Tilly and I can continue talking a little longer without a hundred eyes on us.
Stepping toward Tilly, her legs automatically bracket mine, and I pull her into my arms. Her hands find their way under my shirt, making a shiver run down my spine at the feel of her fingers trailing softly against my skin. I can’t wait until I can be in this exact position with her, but without any clothes between us.
“Besides hoping to spend every free moment with you this week, my days kind of look the same. Cottage care, shipment deliveries, and a couple of upcycling projects. My friend Marisol, the siren who runs The Singing Seahorse, went through a lot of tables when she started karaoke nights, until she finally invested in very sturdy ones that can carry the weight of creatures dancing on top of them. She gave me the old ones that I’m repurposing now.”
Tilly’s laugh is light with a hint of self-deprecation. “I can vouch for their sturdiness, I still have a bruise on my hip from the one I bumped into.”
I lean back and place my hand lightly on the exact spot I know the bruise is. “Do you want to show me so I can kiss it better for you?”
Tilly’s fingers still and her eyes narrow like she’s considering it. “Don’t tempt me, Bodin. I don’t think I’m able to say no.”
“Soon,” I promise.
“Soon,” Tilly echoes.
I take one of her hands in mine and marvel at how tiny and soft it is. “Can you make me a promise?”
Tilting her head to the side, Tilly says, “That’s a little broad, buddy. Care to specify?”
I chuckle at her insistence of keeping that nickname. Knowing I’m going to give her averygood reason to replace itverysoon, I let it slide and say, “I want you to tell me if you are set on making those house calls after all. If you’re going to venture outside The Bandage Heart for long distances, let me walk with you. I can rearrange my schedule easily.”
“You’d do that for me?” she asks, her brows scrunched together.
I look directly into her warm brown eyes as I answer honestly, “You’ll come to find there are many things I’d do for you.”
Tilly’s face takes on a dreamy look and her body sags into mine. Her scent sweetens and my heart starts galloping. Unable to resist any longer, I lean down and kiss her.
