Page 5 of Kiss for My Kraken (Fairhaven Falls #8)

S leeping in her car did not turn out to be as uncomfortable as Nina had feared.

The backseat was wide enough for both her and Ozzie, and her sleeping bag kept her warm.

Even though she had expected to feel nervous about sleeping in an isolated location, there was something about her dream, and the memory of her prince, which made her feel safe, as if someone were watching over her.

She used bottled water to brush her teeth and freshen up, then changed out of the borrowed sweats and into a clean pair of jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt.

Even after all this time, she still got a little forbidden thrill out of wearing jeans.

The Chosen women were never allowed to wear pants, and while her jeans weren’t particularly tight, they still revealed enough of her figure to horrify the Elders.

Or at least so they would have claimed. She’d worked at the small diner they ran as a way of raising money, and she’d noticed that however much they might disapprove, their eyes had a tendency to linger on the tourist women with their tight jeans and short skirts.

She folded the borrowed sweats neatly and placed them into a plastic shopping bag, then did the same with the clothes that had taken a dip in the river.

She didn’t want to take advantage of her new boss, but if he really didn’t mind her using his laundry equipment, she’d be able to save a few dollars, and every dollar helped.

Her stomach growled as she called Ozzie and started down the river path back towards the tavern, but she ignored it.

Ben had said that food was included as well.

He might have meant at the end of her shift, but that was all right; she could wait.

The morning was clear and cool, but held the promise of warmth later in the day.

The land rose rapidly on the other side of the river, and the trees were already starting to turn, especially at the higher elevations.

Their reds and golds were a shocking contrast to the brilliant blue of the sky, and she found herself humming as she walked.

When she reached the bushes that separated the river path from the Moonlight Tavern, she took a deep breath, then slipped through them and up onto the porch.

She hesitated a moment longer, looking out over the river, curiously reluctant to go inside.

The town of Fairhaven Falls lay on the other side of the road.

The foliage was still dense enough that she couldn’t make out too much of the town other than a clock tower and the roofs of some old-fashioned looking houses, but it looked peaceful and charming in the morning light.

Just like any other town , she told herself, then gulped as a huge orc carrying two large trays came stalking down the street towards her.

I’m sure it’s fine , she told herself as her hands tightened on the porch railing, although the fierce scowl on his face didn’t help her nerves. Dark eyes gave her a quick, assessing look, and his face seemed to soften a fraction.

“Where’s Ben?” he asked in a deep, rumbling voice.

“Um, I don’t know.” Her voice came out as an embarrassing squeak. “I only just got here.”

“New employee, huh?” He raised an eyebrow, and the corner of his mouth quirked up. “Hope you last longer than the last one.”

“I do, too,” she said sincerely, just as a splash came from the river behind her. They both turned to look in that direction, but the surface remained undisturbed, and she gave him a puzzled look. “Do you have a lot of jumping fish?”

He snorted a laugh and gave her a surprisingly attractive grin. “Hard to say what’s lurking in the river.”

Another louder splash, and she whirled around in time to see a ripple on the surface. When she turned back, the orc was shaking his head, still grinning.

“Name’s Grondar. Bakery delivery.” He started to hand her the two trays he was carrying, then looked at her again and jerked his head at the door. “Better let me carry them inside.”

She started to insist that she could manage, then took a second look at the size of the trays.

“All right,” she said, then bit her lip. “Should I just walk in?”

He raised an eyebrow again, and she immediately felt silly. “It’s my first day.”

“I guessed,” he said dryly. “News will be all over town before long. Go ahead. Ben unlocks the door as soon as he gets here.”

Grondar jerked his head at the door again. She took another quick look at the river, then hurried to open the door. Those trays did look heavy, even though he didn’t seem to be feeling the strain. She opened the door then followed him inside, Ozzie trotting along after her.

Grondar headed straight for the beaded curtain that led to the back hallway, but she lingered a moment longer to look around.

A big bar stretched across the back of the room, lined with stools in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Rough pine walls were covered with more music posters, and there was a small stage at one end of the room.

Wooden tables, also in a variety of shapes and sizes, were scattered around the center of the room, along with a row of booths along the far end.

Several wide windows would overlook the porch and the river, although they were still shuttered.

She’d worked in a bar once, and it always smelled like smoke and stale beer when she came in in the morning.

The air in the tavern was surprisingly fresh—pine with a hint of lavender.

Hopefully that was a good sign. Her previous experience had not ended well.

The owner had seemed nice enough, but he quickly began making her uncomfortable because of the way he would stand too close to her, frequently putting his hand on her arm or placing his arm around her shoulders.

Politeness to her elders had been drilled into her entire life, and she wasn’t sure how to tell him not to do it.

Finally, the bartender, a big biker with a beard halfway down his chest and the improbable name of Teddy, took her to one side.

“You interested in Ronnie?” he asked, and she immediately shook her head.

“He’s old enough to be my father.”

“Well, he’s interested in you, and the more you let him get away with, the more he’s gonna think he can do what he wants.

” Bushy eyebrows drew together as he shook his head.

“You ain’t cut out for this, little girl.

I can protect you out here. I’ve been watching out for you, but I ain’t always gonna be around. ”

“I need the job,” she whispered.

“You need it enough to sleep with Ronnie to keep it?” he asked bluntly. The color drained from her face and he sighed, putting a big hand briefly on her shoulder, a hand that felt comforting rather than predatory. “You’re gonna have to make a choice.”

Unfortunately, Teddy had been right. Two nights later, Ronnie cornered her in the supply closet. He only got as far as forcing a slobbery kiss on her before Teddy showed up.

“Need you out front, boss.”

Ronnie scowled, looking from Teddy to her, then shrugged. “Fine, I’ll see you later, babe.”

As soon as he left, Teddy pulled out an envelope and closed her shaking fingers around it. “These are your wages for the week. But unless you’ve changed your mind about sleeping with that asshole, you need to leave. Now.”

She’d realized he was right. She slipped quietly into the night and sat shaking in her car, hugging Ozzie, before going back to the room she was renting, collecting her things, and getting back on the road. That was the last time she’d worked in a bar.

“But this is also a restaurant,” she reminded herself. And while Ben was undeniably grumpy, he didn’t come across as a predator. Maybe it’s because he’s a rabbit Other.

The sound of raised voices came from the kitchen, and she hurried down the corridor to find the two males glaring at each other. Grondar was definitely bigger than Ben, but Ben was scowling back just as fiercely. He might not be a predator, but he certainly didn’t seem like prey either.

“I told you I couldn’t add cornbread to your order this week,” Grondar snapped.

“Well, what am I supposed to do now?”

The big orc shrugged. “Not my problem.”

“I can make cornbread,” she said softly, and both of them turned to look at her. She forced herself not to shrink back from the two huge males.

“There you go,” Grondar said, already heading for the door. “Problem solved.” He paused next to her for a moment. “My mate will probably come by to see you. Don’t let her talk you into a girl’s night.”

Before she could ask why, he disappeared through the swinging door. She turned back to find Ben scowling at her.

“You’re early.” He didn’t seem impressed by the fact, but before she could respond, he glared at Ozzie. “No dogs in the kitchen.”

“I know,” she said quickly. “I was going to fix him a place outside.”

“He house trained?”

Ozzie gave an indignant little woof as she nodded, and Ben’s scowl faded for a moment. “He can stay in the office. Just keep him out of the kitchen.”

“I will. Thank you.”

He ignored her thanks. “Can you really make cornbread?”

“Yes. I made it all the time at a place I used to work.”

“All right. I’ll give it a try,” he said begrudgingly. “Get the mutt settled. Put the clothes in the washer. Then get back here.”

She obeyed quickly, grateful that she wouldn’t have to leave Ozzie outside. He settled down happily enough on the towel she’d brought for him, and she rushed back to the kitchen to wash her hands and put on an apron.

Before she could begin work, Ben slapped a plate down in front of her.

“Food’s included.”

The plate contained another one of the huge biscuits, this one piled high with perfectly cooked bacon. Her mouth watered, but she carefully set aside two pieces of bacon to take to Ozzie. Ben shook his head, tall ears swaying.

“Made some for the mutt. You eat that. Coffee’s in the pot.

” He disappeared down the corridor with Ozzie’s bacon before she could say anything, and she gave the door through which he disappeared a bemused look.

The day was already off to a much better start than she’d anticipated.

The coffee was as good as the food, and she was just finishing both when he returned.

“That was delicious,” she told him sincerely.

He jerked his head, scowling. “Told you I’d feed you. A meal for each shift. But no eggs,” he added, his scowl deepening. “I don’t do eggs.”

She bit her lip and ducked her head before he could see her smiling, then set to work on the cornbread. She’d made more cornbread than she cared to remember, but she still waited nervously for him to sample it.

“That’ll do,” was all he said. But he finished the piece that she’d cut for him and took a second, much larger piece. The knowledge that he liked her food eased her nerves, and she set to work on the other lunch prep tasks with more confidence.

Ben didn’t talk much, but that suited her just fine. She’d worked with a lot of cooks who spent half their time yelling. A big werewolf showed up shortly after eleven, strolling casually into the kitchen.

“Well, hello there,” he drawled, grinning at her, and Ben immediately cuffed him.

“Shut up, George.”

She half expected the werewolf to snap at him, but he just grinned and rolled his eyes. “I’m perfectly harmless.”

“You aren’t perfect, anything,” a voice said dryly, as a woman joined them in the kitchen. A woman with bright blue eyes, bright blue hair, and shimmering wings the exact same color. She smiled at Nina. “But even though he isn’t perfect, he is harmless. I’m Annabelle.”

“I’m Nina,” she said, returning the smile.

“Enough yapping,” Ben snapped, as he ladled out bowls of chili, along with a platter of her cornbread. “Eat and get to work.”

The three of them obeyed, eating while Ben went over the menu for the day.

Annabelle turned out to be the waitress, while George was the bartender.

There was clearly something between the two of them, even though all they did was exchange good-natured insults.

Both of them complimented her cornbread, and the chili was delicious.

Typically, Ben just scowled when she said so.

George laughed and slapped Ben’s shoulder, hard enough that she suspected it would have sent an ordinary person flying. “Yeah, he can cook. As long as it’s nothing sweet. Thank the gods for Grondar.”

Ben glared at him. “I don’t do sweets.”

“No sweets, no eggs,” Annabelle and George said in unison, and she bit back a laugh.

“You got a problem with that?” Ben snapped, and George raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

“Not me, boss.”

The meal came to an end, and everyone scattered to their various tasks.

Lunch started a short time later, and she quickly fell into the familiar routine.

Just like any other restaurant , she thought.

Then Annabelle swooped into the kitchen to pick up an order, leaving a trail of blue glitter behind her.

Well, maybe not quite like any other restaurant.

She was too busy to think about anything else until the lunch rush ended, and it wasn’t until after she’d finished cleaning the kitchen that she realized how tired she was.

Ben had been doing some paperwork, and he stomped back into the kitchen and scowled at her.

His fierce expressions no longer made her nervous. Much.

“You should go home.”

Her heart sank. She’d been hoping for a full day of work.

“You don’t need me tonight?”

“You want to work the dinner shift as well?”

“Yes, please.”

“Are you sure you’re up to it? It’ll be even busier tonight.” When she nodded eagerly, he studied her for a moment, his nose twitching, then shrugged. “All right. Be back at five.”

She sagged with relief, but before she could thank him, he frowned again. “Where are you staying?”

“I know the perfect place,” a cheerful voice chirped unexpectedly, and Ben swore as a tiny little old lady came dancing into the kitchen.

She had pale green skin, sparkling black eyes, and a cap of white curls.

The vivid blue tracksuit she was wearing had “Up To No Good” scrawled across the front in rhinestones.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Flora?” Ben growled.

The old woman grinned, revealing disturbingly sharp teeth. “I told you. I have the perfect solution. For both of you.”

Flora turned that disturbing smile on Nina, and her heart skipped a beat. She had the sudden suspicion that whatever Flora had in mind, she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.