I found myself checking my appearance in the bathroom mirror more carefully than usual, smoothing down my hair and wondering if I should have it trimmed. When I caught myself doing it, I frowned.
“What are you doing?”
My reflection didn’t answer, which was probably for the best.
I made tea and tried to eat breakfast, but my stomach was too busy doing flips to handle much food. Tressa watched me pace around the kitchen with what looked like amusement.
“Don’t stare at me like that,” I told her. “I’m just… I want to make sure everything goes smoothly today. That’s all.”
Tressa’s expression suggested she didn’t believe that explanation.
By the time I made it to the pottery barn, I’d worked myself into a state of nervous anticipation that made yesterday’s class anxiety look calm by comparison. I busied myself checking the kiln and arranging the workspace, trying to keep my hands occupied.
At exactly five, I heard footsteps approaching the barn. My heart started doing complicated things in my chest, and I turned toward the door as Allie appeared in the entrance.
She carried two cups of beverages and a small bag tucked under her arm holding something that smelled amazing. She’d pulled her hair back in a simple ponytail and her clothing appeared worn, perfect for working with clay. She looked fresh and alert despite the early hour, and when she smiled at me, I felt that nervous energy settle into something warmer.
“Good morning,” she said, walking closer. “I brought coffee and muffins from Jessi. Well, she gave them to me.” Her face got pinker. “I thought we could both use the caffeine.”
“I, um…” I hadn’t actually tried coffee, which I’d read contained caffeine, but if Allie enjoyed it, I was sure I would too.
She held out one of the cups and set hers on a workspace, digging into the bag to pull out a muffin, offering it to me with the same easy generosity she’d shown with the tourists yesterday.
I took the muffin, my fingers brushing hers.
Flames shot through me.
I gulped, sputtered, and gaped down at my wrist as a mate bond symbol appeared in blazing gold.
“Oh no…”
“Are you alright?” Allie’s eyes widened with panic. “Are you choking? Shit, you took a bite and now you’re choking, aren’t you? Don’t worry! I know the Heimlich maneuver.”
She raced around to my back, wrapped her arms around me, and jerked her clenched fists against my belly.
Chapter 5
Allie
Ijerked my fists into Hail’s stomach again, but he eased away from me, turning to hold up one large hand.
“I’m fine,” he said, though his voice sounded strained. “Thank you, but I’m not choking.”
The wild look in his dark eyes should have frightened me. Any sane woman would’ve taken a step back when a seven-foot orc stared at her like she’d done something both stunning and wonderful and maybe a touch scary.
Such a strange thought on my part.
But I trusted Hail, which was probably going to be my downfall. I’d always been a decent judge of character, though, and this male was a sweetie all the way through.
“Are you sure?” I searched his face for signs of distress. “You looked like you were having a problem.”
He stuttered something I couldn’t understand, his gaze falling to the floor before lifting to my arms. For a moment, I thought he was going to drop to his knees, though I had no idea why he’d do something like that.
I touched his forearm, feeling the warmth of his skin through his shirt. “Do you have seizures? Any health problems I should know about?”
“No.” He picked up his coffee cup with hands that I swore trembled. “Nothing like that. I’m alright.”
Since he was acting like nothing odd had happened, I decided to let it go. Pushing people to share things they weren’t ready to talk about never ended well.
