Page 1 of Bidding on the Orc Outcast (Sweet Monster Treats)

CHAPTER ONE

“ S econd Chance”

Posy took a step back to admire her new sign, an elegant swoop of emerald letters against the freshly painted cream storefront. The morning sun caught the gold flecks in the paint, making the name shimmer like a promise. A promise of a second chance not just for the items in her thrift store but for her as well.

The sun was shining but the air still carried the winter chill and she tugged her bright yellow coat closer - a vintage find that had sparked her love for pre-loved treasures years ago. A love that her ex-husband had not appreciated at all.

Pushing thoughts of him aside, she studied the frontage again and nodded. The display window still needed work. She’d only managed to arrange a few pieces, including a mid-century modern lamp and an art deco vanity mirror, but it already looked more like the store she’d envisioned. When she’d purchased the thrift shop from the previous owner - an elderly fairy who’d decided to move to Florida - it had been a charming but chaotic jumble of items. She was gradually restoring order to the chaos while hopefully retaining the charm.

The breeze picked up, bringing the scent of snow down from the surrounding mountains and rustling the newly hung wind chimes, their gentle tinkling mixing with opening sounds from the other Main Street stores. The street consisted of a mixture of old two and three story brick-fronted shops and old residences that had been converted into quirky little establishments, everything leading down the hill to the Town Square and the wide river that sparkled under the cold winter sunlight.

“Your new sign is very pretty.” Mrs. Chen from the herb shop next door came over to join her, carrying a small potted lavender bush. “This is for you, dear. Every new business needs a lucky plant.”

She gave her neighbor a grateful smile as she took the pot and breathed in the heavenly fragrance.

“Mrs. Chen, you shouldn’t have-”

“Nonsense. Martha was here forever, but change is good.” Mrs. Chen beamed up at her. She was even shorter than Posy’s already modest height, her skin tinted a subtle blue that shimmered in the sunlight. “‘Second Chance.’ I like it. Very meaningful.”

Exactly what she had thought. The name had come to her during one of those sleepless nights after signing the divorce papers, when she’d sat surrounded by moving boxes and doubt. But standing here now, watching the morning light play across her very own storefront, those doubts seemed very far away.

“Thank you,” she said, tightening her arms around the pot nervously. “I was worried people might think I was trying to erase Martha’s legacy.”

Mrs. Chen waved her hand dismissively. “Oh please. Martha would love this. She always said this place needed someone with fresh eyes and a young heart. Whimsical Wonders was her store. Second Chance is yours.”

Posy thanked her again, and Mrs. Chen bustled back to her store. All around her the street was coming alive as shop owners flipped their “Closed” signs to “Open” and greeted the morning. She smiled at the number of Others - creatures of myth and legend who lived alongside humans - emerging from their businesses. A towering troll arranged produce outside the greengrocer’s, his massive hands stacking apples into perfect pyramids. Down the block, a pixie zipped between flower baskets, leaving trails of sparkles that faded in the sunlight.

She’d previously lived in the city where Others were relatively rare, and it was a pleasant reminder of how different Fairhaven Falls was from her old home. Those differences were one of the reasons she had chosen the town - along with the incentives the town was offering to encourage more humans to move in.

Across the street, the door to “Java Joy” swung open, releasing the rich scent of coffee into the morning air. Elara, the very pretty, very curvy shop owner, bounced out, her blonde curls as sunny as her personality. Her mate Grondar, a massive orc, followed her, his broad shoulders barely fitting through the door frame. Despite his intimidating size, he wore a crisp white apron with little coffee cups embroidered across it.

“Hi Posy!” Elara waved enthusiastically, nearly knocking over their sidewalk chalkboard. “Your new sign looks amazing!”

She returned the wave, delighted by Elara’s enthusiasm. The other woman had been one of the first to welcome her to Fairhaven Falls, showing up at her door with a cappuccino and fresh croissants the day she’d started renovations.

Grondar steadied the chalkboard with a massive green hand, his tusks glinting as he shook his head at his wife’s antics. “Careful, sugar. We just got that new board.”

“Oh hush, you worry too much.” Elara smiled up at her mate, and he bent down - way down - to kiss her. The size difference between them could have been comical, but the tenderness between them was obvious.

A tiny pang of longing hit her as she watched them, envying their closeness, but she quickly pushed it away. She was here for a fresh start, not to find a man.

When Grondar raised his head, Elara was flushed and smiling. He started to lead her back into the store, but she stopped and looked over at Posy.

“Come by later. Grondar has perfected his maple oat scone recipe.”

“They’re acceptable,” he admitted.

Elara rolled her eyes and winked at her.

“I’m thinking of calling them Grumpy Orc Scones,” Elara said, ignoring her mate’s snort of protest.

Posy laughed and nodded. “I’ll come by after lunch.”

“Perfect!” Elara waved again and disappeared into the coffee shop, Grondar close behind her.

The pang returned as she watched them go. She and Larry had never shared that kind of friendly affection - which should have been one of the first signs that something was wrong.

Refusing to dwell on the past she entered her own store, breathing in the familiar mix of vintage fabric and wood polish. Sunlight streamed through the freshly cleaned windows, the crystal wind chimes sending rainbow reflections across the old wide planked wooden floors, now glowing softly after hours of polishing.

She’d transformed the space from cluttered to open, alive with warmth and color. Jewel-toned scarves draped between sections created intimate shopping nooks. A restored Art Deco vanity held a collection of costume jewelry, each piece cleaned and polished until it sparkled like new.

Near the window, she’d arranged a living room scene with a reupholstered emerald velvet armchair and a brass floor lamp. The chair’s worn patches had been patched with fragments of vintage brocade, turning its flaws into features. A hand-knit throw in shades of gold and cream draped over one arm.

“You all deserve another chance to be loved,” she murmured, running her fingers along a rack of vintage dresses. She’d spent hours sorting through the old stock, selecting pieces with potential and bringing them back to life. A 1950s cocktail dress with a torn hem now sported delicate lace trim. A faded denim jacket bloomed with hand-embroidered wildflowers covering old stains.

The old wardrobe she’d rescued from an estate sale now gleamed after days of careful restoration, and she’d lined the inside with wallpaper featuring golden birds in flight to match the polished brass handles. Every item told a story, carried memories of lives lived and celebrations shared. They weren’t finished yet – they were just waiting for the right person to see their worth.

She was adjusting a display of vintage teacups so that the morning light caught their gilt edges, making them glow like tiny treasures, when the bell over the door chimed. She glanced up as Flora and Gladys entered. Flora was an elderly lady with short white curls and a wicked grin who claimed to be an orc, even though she was barely five foot tall. Today she was resplendent in a hot pink tracksuit with “Too Hot to Handle” emblazoned across the back in silver sequins. She was also a member of the Town Council and one of the people who had approved Posy’s purchase of the thrift shop.

“This place looks entirely different,” Flora said approvingly. “You’ve done a wonderful job.”

“I’ll say,” Gladys agreed. She was an attractive, older woman who looked perfectly normal - except for the witch’s hat perched on her silver hair. “The aura in here is completely different.”

“Thank you. I want it to feel welcoming.”

“You’ve definitely succeeded.” Gladys nodded her approval as she explored, then disappeared into the back room that Posy had deliberately left a little more cluttered to allow for the thrill of discovery.

“Such an interesting mixture of items,” Flora murmured, examining a tray of vintage brooches, then gave Posy an innocent look. “Have you considered adding a line of sex toys?”

Posy choked on the sip of coffee she’d just taken and it took a full minute for her to stop coughing.

“Sex toys? In a thrift shop?”

“If you want to serve the community, you should consider all of their needs,” Flora said calmly.

“I’m sure that there are plenty of other places where they can purchase sex toys,” she said, not entirely sure that was true but hoping Flora would let the matter drop.

“True, but it’s a long drive to the adult store by the highway.”

Deciding she didn’t even want to ask how Flora knew that, she did her best to bring the discussion to an end.

“I’ll think about it.”

Black eyes sparkled at her.

“You could even make them vintage if that makes you feel better. Did you know they used whalebone to make the most enormous dil-”

“Flora,” Gladys sighed as she reappeared with two silk scarves and a long crystal necklace. “Stop teasing the poor girl.”

She wasn’t convinced that Flora was teasing her, but she gave Gladys a grateful smile as she rang up her purchases.

“That reminds me.” Flora opened her huge sequined purse and pulled out a sheaf of hot pink flyers. “We’re hosting our annual Valentine’s Day bachelor auction at the community center. All proceeds go to the local animal shelter. Would you mind if we put up a few of these?”

It was clearly a command rather than a question, but she nodded anyway.

“Sure. I’d love to help. Where would you like them?”

“By the register would be perfect.” Her stomach sank as the innocent expression returned to Flora’s face. “I hope you’re planning to attend, dear. We’ve got some prime specimens this year.”

After Larry and the whole divorce mess, dating felt like stepping into quicksand - scary and potentially disastrous.

“I really don’t think-”

Flora ignored her protest. “It’s about community. Getting to know your neighbors. And we have some very interesting neighbors.”

“Flora’s right.” Gladys twirled her new necklace, leaving trails of purple sparkles in its wake. “Half the fun is watching Flora drive up the bidding. Last year she managed to convince Lola Henderson that a date with the troll bridge inspector was worth her entire bingo winnings.”

“He was worth every penny.” Flora’s black eyes twinkled. “They’re expecting their second baby this fall. My matchmaking record speaks for itself.”

“I appreciate the invitation, but-”

“No buts. You’ve been in town for what, four weeks? And all you do is work in this shop. When was the last time you went out and had fun?”

She winced at the question, unable to remember the last time she’d done anything purely for fun. Between the divorce, moving, and setting up the shop, fun had taken a permanent backseat.

Flora arranged the flyers neatly then gave her another saintly look.

“You don’t have to bid. You can just watch me terrorize the eligible bachelors.”

“And I’ll be serving my special punch,” Gladys added with a wink. “Guaranteed to bring the fun.”

Posy looked from Flora’s too-innocent expression to Gladys’s encouraging smile and felt her resistance crumbling. Maybe they were right. She did want to be part of the community, and it wouldn’t hurt to step out of her comfort zone a little.

“I suppose I could come,” she said nervously. “But I’m really not looking to date anyone. Been there, done that, got the divorce papers.”

Her fingers tightened on the edge of the counter, memories of Larry’s betrayal still fresh in her mind. The way he’d looked at her across the conference table, his new girlfriend’s ring sparkling as she’d rested her hand on her pregnant belly. “

Flora reached over and patted her hand. “It isn’t really about dating. It’s about having fun. Meeting people. Getting to know your neighbors beyond just waving at them through your shop window.”

“The last auction raised enough money to fix the library roof,” Gladys chimed in. “And replace all those books the pixies ruined when they had that drinking party in the stacks.”

Flora sighed. “I keep telling you that was an accident. But you see, Posy? It’s about community. Supporting local causes.”

“I support plenty of causes,” she protested. “Just yesterday I donated money to purchase three boxes of children’s books for-”

“That’s not the same and you know it.” Flora shook her head, that dark gaze uncomfortably penetrating. “Writing checks is easy. Being part of something takes courage.”

The words hit closer to home than she wanted to admit. She’d chosen Fairhaven Falls precisely because it was different from her old life - because it represented a chance to belong somewhere real. Somewhere authentic.

“And even if you aren’t interested in dating, there’s nothing wrong with checking out the offerings,” Flora added.

“Fine,” she finally agreed. “I’ll come, but I’m not going to bid.”

“Of course not, dear.”

Flora’s innocent expression didn’t change, but as the two women left the store, she had the uncomfortable feeling that she’d somehow been outmaneuvered.