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Surprisingly, five crows landed on the peak of the barn and watched as he strode toward the house. As soon as he’d come inside, they flew down and landed near the food, plucking their way over to it while peering around to make sure it was safe.

“Crow friends?” I asked as he shucked his boots by the back door.

“It’s… They only come when I call them that way.”

It was quite endearing, actually. I wanted crow friends too.

“I need to, um, clean up before I go to town,” he said, his face and pointed ears darkening. He placed the bowl beside the sink. “And clean up my house. I don’t, uh, usually keep it this way. I’ve been…busy. Not sick. I don’t get sick!”

“That’s good. You go get ready. I’ll take care of all this.” So exciting. I was going to get towash dishes, and no one was going to tell me I couldn’t. “You cooked. I'll straighten things up.”

His brow furrowed. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to.” I meant it. It shouldn't be that complicated.

Ruugar hesitated, then gave me a slow nod. He strode down the hallway and returned a short time later dressed in clean jeans and another vest over his bare chest, one in matching denim this time. With only a grunt in my direction while I sashayed my hips with my arms buried elbowdeep in sudsy water, he crossed the kitchen and grabbed the cowboy hat hanging on a peg by the back door. When he settled it on his head and adjusted the brim, my heart flipped. He looked every bit the rough riding orc cowboy, all broad shoulders and quiet strength.

Something low in my belly tightened. He was handsome. Rugged in a way human men never could quite pull off. Did he have any idea how impossible it was not to stare at him all the time?

He turned back to me. “Stay inside. Don’t answer the door. If anyone comes near?—”

“I’ll hide,” I said. “I won’t put myself in danger. I promise.”

“Good.”

“Yes, good.”

“I won’t be long. We’ll leave soon after that. When we get back… Well, we’ll talk.”

I had to come up with a plan before then. This was temporary.Iwas temporary. I doubted he’d be sad when I left. Maybe he’d even breathe a sigh of relief, happy to be rid of the burden.

His expression stayed tense, like he didn’t like leaving me alone. But finally, with one last nod, he stepped out onto the porch, shutting the door firmly behind him.

The lock clicked into place, and the house fell silent.

Seven days. That was all I had. And after that, this strange, quiet piece of freedom would disappear. He’d go back to his life, and I’d go back to what? Running?Hiding? I doubted Ruugar would even think of me once I was gone. But I’d remember this. I’d rememberhim.

He was being kind, that was all this was. Keeping me safe from a sense of duty. An honorable thing to do, nothing more. But still, some hopeless part of me wished he’d look at me like I was more than a problem to solve.

I stared down at the dishes I was still washing, then watched the crows feasting on the leftovers. It wasn’t easy, but eventually, I shoved my sadness aside and started humming again.

The dishes didn't take long. Warm water, soap, scrubbing. Simple and straightforward. Before long, everything was put away in the cupboards, and there was something satisfying about putting his place in order. Like I’d accomplished a small but meaningful thing.

I wiped down the table and counters, then dried my hands and wandered into the living room.

Blankets lay strewn across the couch.

I stared at them, realizing he’d slept here. I mean, I knew he must've. He'd insisted I take his bed, even making it up with clean sheets.

Big as the couch was, it wasn’t big enough for an orc to sleep on. His feet must’ve dangled over the end. A blanket lay on the floor, and I’d bet anything it kept sliding off him all night long.

For a moment, I stood there, my heart aching for some odd reason. Then I reached down and lifted a blanket to fold. His scent clung to it, warm, earthy, something utterly him. I tightened my fingers on thefabric, holding it too long before forcing myself to fold it properly. It was ridiculous, the way my heart twisted at the thought of him sleeping here, on something too small for him, just to give me comfort.

I shook my head and finished tidying up before slipping into the bathroom to shower and get ready.

If I was going to turn myself into Ben, I still had a lot of work to do.

Chapter 8