Built Orc Tough

She doesn’t belong in my shop.

Too polished. Too stubborn. Too damn tempting to be tossing ribbon around like she’s not standing six feet from an orc with a violent past and hands built to break things — until she gave them something worth holding.

She fights me over shelf space. Petal choices. Lease terms.
Says she hates the way I reorganize her flowers.
Then blushes when I look at her like I’m about to ruin her and the bouquet she’s holding.

I should’ve stayed quiet. Should’ve stayed away.

Instead, I’m carving her name into benches. Brewing teas she never drinks.
And watching her laugh like it doesn’t undo something deep in my chest.

I was built for battle. But she’s the war I lose on purpose.

She thinks I’ll let her go when the festival ends.
She doesn’t realize I’ve already made her permanent.

She thought we were going to share a shop.
She didn’t realize it would escalate to a bed.

Read on for flower feuds, forced proximity, filthy bench-building, and one possessive orc who never learned how to share. HEA Guaranteed!