Page 1

Chapter 1

Cat

T he smell of brewing coffee filled the air as I hustled around my little seaside diner, preparing for the breakfast crowd. Marge had settled in her usual spot near the front right window and was drenching her pancakes in maple syrup. And Dr. Yang sat alone at the bar, savoring his scrambled eggs and homestyle toast. They were regulars here, part of the heartbeat of Seashell Diner.

I wasn’t sure what I would’ve done without them when Mom got sick and died. They’d stepped in—actually helping serve customers—and then stood at Mom’s graveside beside me.

When the door chimed, I glanced up from where I wiped down the butcherblock counter my dad had built for mom so long ago. Sadly, he was gone, too. An accident claimed him when I was eight, while Mom passed just a year ago.

An orc entered the diner, his green skin still startling despite seeing them on the TV and around town for the past month. Six weeks ago, a delegation of orcs emerged from a mountain range and announced they wanted to form a treaty with us to join human society. After the initial treaty was formed, the first wave of orcs arrived, most of them males. Many of their women had died, and those joining humans hoped to find mates from among us.

I wasn’t sure what I thought about all that, but each orc I met was super friendly and kind. They were an asset to our society.

On TV, I saw that a second delegation had arrived a few weeks ago to further relations with us, and I was curious to hear what they’d discuss.

The orc walked up to the counter and took a seat—perched on it, that is. Orcs stood over seven feet tall, and unless an establishment had big and tall chairs and booths, they had a hard time fitting. Fortunately, my stools could handle almost any sized butt.

I handed him a laminated menu. “Welcome to the Seashell Diner. Can I get you something to drink?”

“What do you recommend?” For whatever reason, his deep voice sent a thrill through me, making my heart flip.

“Most request coffee or tea at this time of day, but . . . Have you tried either?”

“We grow coffee and cocoa beans in the orc kingdom,” he said. “Tea for leaves as well.” Sucking in a deep breath, he released it. “I’ll start with coffee.”

“Coming right up.” I placed a cup and saucer in front of him, noting his ill-fitting clothing, a basketball shirt with the number one on the front and too-snug jeans—though he might like them that way. Some guys did.

Manufacturers were scrambling to produce clothing that would fit orcs. Other than what they brought with them from their city, they’d been buying clothing made for super-tall bodybuilders.

After pouring piping hot coffee into his cup, I nudged my head to the small containers nearby. “Cream and sugar are there.”

“Thank you.” He flashed me a tusk-filled grin that made hummingbirds fly through my belly.

He was cute. Devastatingly so.

I hadn’t dated an orc yet, but I was open to the idea. There was something appealing about them I couldn’t define.

“I’m Deegar,” he said with a nod.

“Cat. Short for Catherine.”

“A pretty name.”

My grin joined his. “Cat or Catherine?”

“Both.” He sipped his coffee and studied my face.

“Order’s up,” my cook, Wilfred, called out, placing the mounded oversized plate on the shelf between the kitchen and the bar section of the diner.

“Let me know when you’re ready to order.” I turned and grabbed the dish to bring to a customer.

After serving the food, I strode back behind the island and up to Deegar. “What would you like?”

He scanned the menu again, his fingertip falling on the cheapest thing in the place.

Down on his luck?

There was no reason I couldn’t make him feel welcome in our sweet little town. “If you're feeling adventurous, I can offer a full breakfast for only ninety-nine cents.”

“Hey, you didn’t tell me about that special,” Joe griped, glaring at his almost-empty plate. “How come he rates?”

“Because he’s cute.” I flashed Deegar another grin. Truly, it felt good to smile. I’d wallowed in sadness since Mom died.

His golden eyes lit up, and my suspicion was confirmed when I spied relief in his gaze. “Seriously?”

I leaned across the counter and lowered my voice as if I was sharing a big secret. “It’s just my way of giving back. Consider it a special deal for a new guy in town.”

“You’re right. I arrived not long ago. I’m here . . .” He cleared his throat, and his gaze dropped to his coffee. “I’m new.”

We all knew what it was like to hit rock bottom. Maybe in addition to being new to the area, he didn’t have a place to stay.

“The special includes two eggs any way you like them, bacon, hash browns, and either toast or pancakes. Everything’s made fresh to order.”

“I haven’t tried pancakes,” he said.

“We use my mom’s special recipe.” Made with a dash of vanilla.

“Sounds good. Eggs scrambled, then.”

I noted four eggs on his order. He was a big, muscular guy.

His gaze scanned the small diner with glass walls making up the front. In the distance, the ocean sparkled. A few customers sat on the tiny deck beneath umbrellas, savoring the view. “You’ve got an amazing location here.”

“Thanks. The diner belonged to my mom, though I worked here with her from the time I was sixteen.” My smile faded. “She died a year ago of an aneurysm. It happened fast.” Too fast. There’d been no time to say goodbye.

“I’m sorry.”

“Thanks.” My throat tight, I turned to place his order and continue serving my customers. The diner was open for breakfast and lunch Saturday through Wednesday, and I was the only server. When it was me, Mom, and Wilfred, we got by, but lately, I’d begun to think I needed to hire someone. I could only do two jobs for so long.

Wilfred completed Deegar’s order, and I set it in front of him.

He gazed at it with appreciation. “It smells wonderful.”

“Rumbling belly?” I nudged the syrup and bowl of butter packets his way.

“I’m famished. I feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks.”

So he was having a hard time.

While he dug in, I refilled his coffee. I rang up Marge and Dr. Yang, giving them both kisses on the cheek. Even Joe, who was still grumbling, got a hug. All of them were like parents to me now, and I couldn’t imagine how I would’ve gotten by over the past year without their friendship.

The diner slowly cleared out until it was just me, Wilfred cleaning the grill, and Deegar. I bustled around, rolling silverware in cloth napkins and refilling the mustard and ketchup, prepping for the lunch crowd.

As I washed the menus, Deegar pushed his empty plate aside. “That was fantastic. I can’t remember when I’ve eaten so well.”

He reached into his pocket—

I shook my head and leaned close to him again. There was no one else who would hear, but I liked being near him. He smelled good, like a spice you would dab behind your ears. Or roll in. “Your breakfast today is on me. Consider it a gift from a friend.”

“That’s sweet of you. Thanks. I . . . I need to remember to carry cash.”

“Many use cards. Have you set that up yet?”

All the orcs emerged from the mountain with bags of gold and jewels, making them incredibly wealthy—once they’d found the right buyers for their earthly treasure.

Deegar said he was new. He may not have had a chance to trade his in for cash.

“I haven’t. I got here and well,” He frowned, “I guess you could say I ran away.”

I tilted my head. “From what?”

“Too many obligations.”

“You don’t come across as a guy who’d shirk something like that.”

“Sometimes, it can be incredibly overwhelming. I needed a break.”

“Breaks are good. To be honest, there have been times when I’ve felt like running away myself.”

“Something we have in common.”

My smile rose again, and his joined in. Damn, was he gorgeous with his dark hair brushing his big, burly shoulders, his majestic horns, and his jaw that looked chiseled by diamonds.

I took a deep breath and blurted out, “Do you need a place to stay?”

Surprise danced across his features. “What are you suggesting?”

My mind shot to all sorts of steamy ideas—none of them appropriate for conversation with a guy I’d just met. “The house I inherited from my mother is small, just one bedroom, but I’ve got a free couch if you need a place to stay until you get settled.”

“I couldn't impose.”

I shrugged. “I’m offering. It’s no imposition.”

After a brief pause, he nodded. “Thank you, Cat. This means a lot to me.”