Page 22 of Horn in My Side

“I got the drinks!” Leila cried, raising her small hands, which miraculously held three martini glasses without spilling. “Oh my gods, Jasmine, that bartender really is as hot as they said. I’m so glad we came here.”

Actually, ancestor spirits, how about we start from scratch? Like, to before the Big Bang happened? That was probably the only way to erase this embarrassing moment from existence.

“Here.” The olives in the glass sloshed around as she handed a glass to Jasmine. “I—Oh, hello.” The pixie’s eyes widened to occupy half her face as she gaped at Mal. “Jasmine, who’s your friend?”

“Leila, this is Mal,” she introduced. “Mal is my, uh, boss.”

“Is that so? I’m Leila. Nice to meet you, Mal.” She flashed him a bright smile.

“Same,” he replied. “I was about to go home, so—”

“Oh noooo!” Leila shoved the second drink at Jasmine then hooked her free hand around his forearm. “You can’t possibly be going. We just got here. I can get you another drink. Or you can have mine.”

“Er, I’m okay, thanks.”

Jasmine’s stomach twisted like a pretzel at the sight of Leila so close to Mal, her body pressed up against his side. This stupid crush was getting out of hand because she was now feeling so jealous of another woman flirting with Mal that she wanted to throw up.

“Hey, I’m back—hey there.” Tracy’s gaze flicked down to Mal and Leila’s linked arms. “I thought you said we were going to meet a hot gargoyle bartender?”

Oh, for goddesses’ sake, can we stop talking about the gargoyle bartender for one minute?

Leila introduced Mal and Tracy. “Mal doesn’t want a drink, but he can keep us company.” She dragged them over to the nearest empty cocktail table and set her drink down, then released his arm, much to Jasmine’s relief. “So, Mal, you’re an orc.”

“And you’re a pixie,” he replied.

Leila laughed aloud. “Yup, I am. I’ve never seen an orc before, much less in Dewberry Falls. My family’s been here for almost a century now.”

“Leila’s clan was one of the original Founding Families,” Tracy said. “As in, the Founding Day Families.”

Mal’s nose wrinkled. “Jasmine told me about the Founding Day, but not about Founding Families.”

“Let me give you a primer, then.” Leila took a swig of her martini.

“Nearly one hundred years ago, ten families escaping persecution from the larger world came together and founded Dewberry Falls as a place where all races, species, and creatures could live in harmony. They wanted this town to be a sanctuary for those who may not be accepted by the humans—no offense, Tracy, Jasmine.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I know how cruel they can be—even to other humans,” Tracy replied.

“Anyway, that’s the short version of the Founding Day. Isn’t it cool?” She fluttered her eyelashes at Mal. “Orcs don’t really travel much or mingle with non-orcs, do they?”

“No, I’m afraid not. Listen, ladies, I should head home. I have an early day.”

Leila pouted. “So soon?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Seeing as you’re new in town, Mal, you’ll probably want someone to show you around.” She grinned up at him, then her gaze flicked toward Jasmine. “I mean, unless Jasmine has already been doing that?”

Jasmine swallowed the tightness in her throat. “N-no, not at all.”

“Oh, great.” She snapped her fingers and a card appeared in her hand. “Here’s my number. Call me anytime, okay, cutie?”

“Er, sure.” Mal’s eyes darted to Jasmine. “I forgot to tell you I finished the tank. You can look it over when you get in. Enjoy your drink. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Jasmine sipped her martini, watching his retreating back from over the rim of her glass. Why did he have to choose to eat here of all places?

“Your boss is gorgeous, Jasmine,” Leila said. “Even hotter than that bartender. I hope he calls me.”

“Why didn’t you ask for his number, then?” Tracy said. “This is the modern age, you know. Guys don’t always have to make the first move. You don’t have to sit around waiting for one to come courting.”

“Courting?” She laughed. “Oh, you sweet summer child, I’m not looking to get courted.” She licked her lips. “I want some of that legendary orc dick.”

Jasmine choked on her drink. “E-excuse me?”

Leila’s voice lowered. “Don’t you guys know? Orcs have, like, these huge dongs.” As if to emphasize her point, she held up both her hands and formed a circle with her fingers. “Actually . . .” She pulled them apart, leaving a gap between them. “More like this. And they have ridges on them.”

“Ribbed, for her pleasure?” Tracy piped in.

“Yeah. I’ve never tried it myself. Seen the photos, though.”

Jasmine wiped her mouth with a napkin, hoping it would hide the blush on her face. It was probably too late, as now she couldn’t stop thinking about Mal naked and what his cock looked like.

Not that she would ever see it.

“You okay, Jasmine?” Tracy asked.

“Er, yeah.” She took a healthy swig of her drink, the warmth shooting straight to her belly, making her limbs all as loose as rubber bands. Or maybe it was the thought of Mal’s big—

“Oh, speaking of dicks, I dated his jaguarman once . . .”

Tracy sent Jasmine an apologetic look as the pixie waxed poetic about the male anatomy of her former conquests. She returned it with a wry smile and a raise of her glass, then downed the rest of her drink, trying not to think about facing Mal tomorrow.

Turns out, Jasmine didn’t have to worry about seeing Mal at the shop the next day. She arrived thirty minutes before opening time, but she could tell he wasn’t there. Normally, the lights would all be on, but it was still dark when she stepped inside Fantastic Tails.

Huh.

She never bothered to check the house before leaving, because nine times out of ten, he was always here first. While it was unusual, perhaps her ancestor spirits had heard her prayers and made him sleep in.

Or maybe he stayed up late texting Leila?

Her stomach churned, but she put those thoughts away. If Mal wanted to text Leila until four a.m., he could do that and there was nothing Jasmine could say or do about it. She was only his employee, after all.

As soon as she hit the light switch, her attention was immediately drawn to the center of the room.

Gone was the construction area and in its place was a cloth covering what Jasmine assumed was the hatching tank, cordoned off with a rope and makeshift poles.

Mal mentioned he had finished it last night.

He must have been working late, because when she’d left for the day, he’d still been at it.

Ding ding dong!

“Welcome to—Mal.”

“Jasmine,” he greeted as he trudged inside.

“Er, sorry, my morning call ran late.” He shoved his hands into his mop of hair, pushing it back, the muscles on his forearms flexing.

Instead of his usual flannels, he wore a black T-shirt today, perhaps due to the temperatures rising the past week.

The material stretched over his wide chest and trim middle, clinging to what she guessed was a perfect set of abs.

Don’t ogle him, don’t ogle him , Jasmine repeated. And definitely don’t look below his waist.

She wished she had never learned about orc dick. It had taken all her might not to start searching on the internet the minute she got home last night.

“Have you had—” A loud buzzing sound interrupted him, and he fished his phone from his pocket and glanced at the screen. “Sorry, excuse me.” Without another glance at her, he marched toward the back office, the door slamming loudly as he hurried inside.

Mal had never been the type to get distracted by his phone. He never scrolled his feed when he was bored. He never even texted as far as she could tell.

Did he make an exception for Leila?

Jasmine rubbed at her chest, trying to ease the pressure building there. If they were talking, that wasn’t her concern, she reminded herself sternly. And if they decided to sleep together, that was definitely none of her business, even though the thought of it made her want to lose her breakfast.

Oh Mother Goddess.

If it wasn’t evident before to Jasmine, it was now: she had to get over this crush. Pronto. With a determined huff, she strengthened her resolve to draw a clear line between her and Mal, one that she would never cross.

Jasmine busied herself with work, taking care of the creatures, entertaining customers, answering emails and messages, and accepting deliveries.

Still, her stupid brain wouldn’t stop reminding her that Mal hadn’t left the back office all afternoon.

Sure, he’d emerged at lunchtime, but he looked distracted as he walked out the door, phone in hand.

He hadn’t even asked her if she wanted anything from the café or bakery, not that she ever said yes because she did pack her own lunch.

No, he just walked out, eyes focused ahead, not even giving her a second glance.

Was he ignoring her because of last night?

Or because he was too caught up texting Leila?

“Argh!” She curled her hands into fists and looked to the heavens. How in the world was she going to get over this little crush?

Focus on work , she told herself. Five more months and he’ll be gone .

Besides, she had more important things to worry about.

For example, Founding Day was about two weeks away and she still had to think of what promotions to do, how to decorate their booth outside, and to start designing the flyers and coupons she would be giving away.

Determined to focus on her tasks, she worked on the designs for flyers and their booth for the next few hours.