I nodded with enthusiasm, and watched as a small, shy smile fluttered across her lips. It was like an arrow to my heart.
Fuck, she’s beautiful.
“You’re so beautiful,” I blurted and that made her eyes widen before she looked away from me. Instead of running, though, the smile widened.
“Thank you,” she murmured, clearing her throat as she stood, walking away, her gorgeous ass swaying at my eye level.
“I’ll see you tonight,” I called, like an idiot, but she peeked back at me, biting her lower lip and making my shorts tent again. I cursed, scrambling to cover myself, hearing a tinkle of laughter from my mate’s direction.
CHAPTER 14
Emma
Ipressed my back against the wall next to the doorway through the kitchen of the Green Kobold.
Hans was at his prep station, his hands flying as he chopped, his lips pursed as he grinned in my direction.
“Still avoiding him?” he asked, not even glancing down as he pushed the cut vegetables into a bowl. He turned, folding his arms while still holding onto his knife. “Did he do something I should rough him up about?”
I snorted out a laugh, tipping my head up and squeezing my eyes shut. “Nope. He’s actually…” I released a rough breath before opening my eyes and nibbling on my lower lip. “He was talking to Lin aboutme,” I told him, having bared my soul about Krusk to him previously.
“And you checked with her?” Hans asked, narrowing his eyes with suspicion, his hand flexing on the knife. When I nodded, he relaxed his hand. “Good,” he said with a firm nod, pointing theknife in the direction of the door. “So stop being an idiot and go talk to him.”
I glared immediately. “I’mnotan idiot,” I gasped, crossing my arms and glaring right back at him.
“There’s a male out there that you’re attracted to, who decided that he would throw himself at the mercy of your best friend and get tips from her to woo you and you’re in here withme, a happily mated kobold. Tell me, is thatnotidiot behavior?” he asked, with a shrug.
I scowled, not wanting to validate his statement or blatantly lie and deny it.
“Thought so,” he said, humming a cheerful song as he turned and started chopping something else—that I was certain was more for show than necessity.
“So what do I do?” I asked, in a voice low enough that no human could have heard. But he did. He didn’t indicate it, continuing what he was doing, but he spoke.
“You go out there and get to know the orc who’s pursuing you. If he’s just as much of an idiot as you, then you set him free. But if he’s worth the hassle of allowing him to chase you…” he trailed off, turning to send a mischievous wink in my direction. “Then you let yourself be chased. And maybe if he’s lucky, you’ll stop being an idiot long enough to let him catch you.”
My face was flaming with heat as I spun around, huffing loudly and slamming my way out of the heavy doors of the kitchen. I ignored the whole-hearted cackle of laughter that followed me out into the dining area. Swallowing hard, I adjusted the tight skirt that I’d wiggled myself into for this shift.
I told myself that it was because I hadn’t done the laundry this week, but deep inside, I knew the truth. I lookedgoodin this skirt. It enhanced some of my best assets and made me feel confident.
In that moment, Ineededto feel confident. I was certain thatI could walk right up to the male and tell him that I wasn’t interested. That I needed time and space so that I could handle my responsibility to my grandma—the only family that I had—first.
It was a Friday, which meant that I had two more days to go before I could go see her. I counted down those days like clockwork every week. If I had the time, I would spendallof her last days with her. But I couldn’t, and every second in her presence would have to last me a lifetime after she was gone.
Straightening my spine, I focused on my section, noting that he was the only table occupied. I sent a glare in the direction of the kitchen where I wascertainthat Hans had manipulated this somehow.
I glanced in the direction of Rhondda, our beautiful Gwragedd Annwn hostess. Her gown shimmered like sunlight on ripples, woven from fabric so fine it seemed to move before she did. Drops of moisture clung to her hair—pale as river quartz. Her eyes were the color of a deep pool at dusk, dark but alive with reflections that never stayed still.
The fact that she looked everywhere but at me told me everything that I needed to know. Rolling my eyes, I shoved aside my hesitation and focused on Krusk.
He’d previously been staring down at his menu with a bored expression but as soon as he’d noticed me, he sat up straight, a wide grin passing across his face. I strode toward him, ensuring that my stride was confident and didn’t reveal how anxious I was.
“Good evening, Zemar. Fancy seeing you here,” he said in a low, seductive voice that spread pleasant goosebumps over my skin.
I stopped in front of him, tilting my head in query. “What does that word mean? You’ve called me that twice now.”
He cleared his throat, shaking his head. “It’s just anendearment. No special meaning,” he said, but he was looking anywhere but at me, so I was fairly certain that was a lie.
With a shrug, I moved on, focusing on where he was holding the menu with a death grip. As it started coming apart at the seams, I bit back a grin, leaning closer. His lips parted and he moved to do the same right away.
