I backed myself up the hall to stand outside our shared bathroom, turning on the light again, taking another photo of the space. I'd done up the bathroom before Harry arrived, and then made minor adjustments to accommodate him—a new set of shelves tucked under the sink, a longer towel rack. The space was clean and bright, but it did look a bit dated now to me, and I kept thinking of the lovely, lush bath at the cottage.

Plants would be nice, ones that liked the humidity. I could do a little demolition on my own too, just enough to make that windowsill extend around the entirety of the tub stall.

A new tub would be even better. Rip out the built-in, bring a new freestanding tub with higher walls and…and redo the tile wall…

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and started making notes.

The coach house was mine again, and I knew myself just that little bit better than ever before.

* * *

There was something about a girl in a skirt in a hardware store.

"Need some help with—"

"I'm good, thanks," I said automatically, for what seemed like the hundredth time. I was up on my toes, reaching for the rough cut walnut four by fours overhead, and I twisted to deliver a perfunctory smile to whatever male employee had marked me as damsel in distress of the hour.

My smile froze in place at the sight of moss green skin, bright white tusks tipped with gold, and black eyes with a vivid ice blue center.

The orc's nostrils flared as our eyes met. He was dressed in a T-shirt tight enough to test the construction of the seams and a baggy pair of jeans with the cuffs rolled up. He wasn't nearly as tall as Khell, but he was even broader and charmingly squat. Or maybe the charm was the way those pointed ears stuck far out from the sides of his head.

I hadn't seen another orc since Khell left the cottage, and there was a giddy relief in my chest. I'd started to wonder if I'd made Khell up, and now here was proof otherwise. If this orc existed, so did mine.

He cleared his throat and stepped back, eyes flicking up and down my body. Orc bait, I remembered Khell saying. Was this orc about to—

"Sorry." he grunted. "Didn't realize."

And then he turned tail and hustled as quickly down the broad aisle as his bulky frame allowed.

Hmm. Maybe not such bait after all. I was an odd mix of relieved—he wasn't Khell—and disappointed. Did I have something on my face, or…

Oh.