One Stolen Night with Her Orc (Toothsome Monster Romance #2)

Chapter 12

Koru

One Month Later

“K oru? Have you seen my library books? I need to return them before Betty has a cow.” Poppy sounds slightly panicked as she looks under every surface of the apartment. “She’s going to fire me for being a delinquent!”

“No, she’s not. I’m pretty sure late library books are not a fireable offense. Besides, she loves you. Keeps telling everyone how much life you’ve brought to our little library. I know, because then everyone comes and tells me.” I roll my eyes in a mock gesture, but really, I’m smiling, pleased as a dog stretched out in the sunshine that Poppy is making a life for herself here. Making an impact on the community. Making friends.

We’re still getting used to the new place. It felt like a fresh start for us together to not live on top of the brewery. We have plans to rent it out for short-term rentals. Poppy thinks there’s a market for summer hikers and also winter cross-country skiers. Who knows, but I’m willing to try if she is. This place, though, not far from the brewery and the library, is perfect for the two of us. Except for all the boxes and piles of things (all mine) everywhere. We’ll get it sorted.

I watch her look under more papers and pillows and boxes. Move some stacks for her, then put my coat on.

“Sorry, Babe. You’ll have to kiss Betty’s ass. I need to get back to the brewery. Time to rack the newest ale.” Quick as light, Poppy runs toward me, throwing herself at me. Oof.

“Gee. That never gets old,” she says as she grins that sparkling smile up at me. Her breasts squished against my chest are one of my favorite feelings. Gods, how did I get so lucky?

“What never gets old?” I tuck her hair away from her eyes and behind her ears.

“Running into you. Jumping on you and having you catch me. You being strong enough to hold me without complaint of my volume or size.” Poppy shrugs, a little flushed in the cheeks as she talks, then tucks her head against my chest in a hug.

“Who complains about your size? I’ll pummel their ass. You, Pop, are a delightful creature. Perfect in every way. Never change.” I crook a finger under her chin to make her look up at me. My flower. “You have brought me happiness, joy, and light. I love you.”

“I love you, too. But I’m going to be late!” The satisfied, cozy smile falls off her face at the realization that she’s going to be late for work. “Gah! I still need to find those books!”

Laughing, I help her look. “They can’t have gone far.”

They’re in the oven.

“Are they at least—cookbooks?” I ask, a little concerned at what else she is storing in weird places.

“No,” she says as she shoves them in her Orcs do it Best tote bag. The library made them as a fundraiser. They didn’t make a lot of money, but Poppy now owns five tote bags. “I was cooking while reading, and the sauce was splattering. It was the driest, cleanest place I could think of to put them. But then you walked through the door soaked to the bone, and—you know—I got distracted.” She grins, winks at me, a hand on the doorknob. “See ya tonight.” A blown kiss and she’s out the door, a veritable flower tornado.

Rack the ale. Clean the tanks. Update the spreadsheet. Schedule kegging and bottling. I go through the motions, but my mind is completely elsewhere—on Poppy. It’s hard to believe it’s only been a month. But what a heartening month it’s been. I never thought love was something that was in my life path. My job was to take care of my brothers and my town.

But Poppy has flipped all of that on its head. My job now is to take care of her. Love her and accept love from her. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.

When Grev comes in, he startles me out of thought. He looks broody. “Your smile is annoying,” he says by way of greeting.

“Good to see you, too. What’s up? You’re early.”

“Do I need to have an appointment to see my brother?” His words are sharp, clearly aggrieved by something, or someone.

“Bjorn?” I ask, not bothering to stop cleaning down the bar and tables for today’s foot traffic.

“He’s so fucking proud of himself. And loud. And stupid. I’ve been prepping the garden for ages. I mean, it’s all frozen, but I’m marking things out. Sketchbooks on what I’m farming this year. And the asshat had to come over and use my sketches as napkins. Then tromp all over the garden spaces with his stupid giant boots. Just undid all the work I did in the fall.”

“Here,” I pass him a bowl of chowder and newly kegged IPA. “This is the newest. Has coriander and peppercorn in it.”

“What is it with you and fucking peppers?”

I shrug, amused at his extra grumpy mood. “I just like spice. This was Poppy’s idea. She’s got a good tongue for flavors.”

“Oh gods. Do NOT talk to me about her tongue.”

At that, I throw my bar towel at him. “Don’t worry. I won’t.”

Grev settles after that, dunking big chunks of dark rye bread into his chowder and drinking his beer. Grev’s the quiet one, which means sometimes he gets forgotten about. I make a mental note to ask Poppy if we can have him over for a meal once a week. I mean, we eat here at the brewery most nights. But I can see, just as with Poppy’s sister Addy, that sometimes we need to make more of an effort. I’ll talk to Bjorn, too...the asshat.

The first real customers of the day wander in about the time Grev is making motions to leave. “Thanks, Koru, for letting me vent. And for feeding me. That was delicious. I’m off to rewrite all my notes for the season.”

“No problem, anytime. Oh, Tuesdays are slow. Why don’t we plan for dinner together here? I’ll ask Poppy to make a dessert.” She was just telling me about a spiced cake with cream cheese frosting her mom used to make. Maybe she’ll want to make that?

Grev grunts a nod and walks out, but I saw the surprise on the face, and the something like joy peeking out from behind his hairy orc face.