Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
I tap everything into a machine as I’ve been taught, even though it would have been much more convenient to write it down on a piece of paper. I tried to convince my boss about that when I first arrived, even showing off my neat handwriting, but to no avail. Apparently, if I do it on the machine it logs it… somewhere, so their taxes are counted automatically. Why would they want to pay more taxes? I don’t know and didn’t ask.
“Anything else, sir? We do have a special offer which would allow you to get an extra portion of fries for just fifty cents with your sliders.”
The man laughs, and his rasp buzzes in my ears so intensely I find myself curling my toes. “You convinced me. Bring it!”
I do smile at his cheerfulness, even though I’m instantly embarrassed that talking someone into additional fries gives me any sense of achievement.
“It will all be ready in a few minutes, please approach the window to pay,” I say, because my manager has taught me payment comes first, as some people may take the food and run.
“Coming right up,” the customer tells me, and I’m about to walk off to throw the meat into the fryer when thudding footsteps resonate in the drive instead of the growl of a motor engine.
I pop my head out just in time to see a towering beast with long, thick arms. Since arriving in the human realm, I have faced men and women who far outgrow the average elf. They are stockier by nature, and distinctly hairier, but the giant standing before me in a black hoodie, joggers, and with a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes must have forgotten to stop growing.
When our eyes meet, his jaw goes slack as he cocks his head, staring at me as if I were made of gold.
I lick my lips, unsure what to do for a moment because he is a bit intimidating. I end up clearing my throat as I eye him.
“Sir, you must come in a vehicle to use the drive-thru. Otherwise, you are causing a risk to everyone on the road.”
This seems to wake him up from whatever realm his mind drifted off to, and he looks around the empty asphalt. “There is no everyone here. Just us,” he says and his mouth stretches into a smile. As he tips his chin higher, the glow coming from above catches dark stubble, an element of appearance in some human males, which I’ve become unwillingly preoccupied with. It makes them look somewhat… beastly.
I hesitate, once more glancing behind him, at the empty road. “If I bend the rules once, I will be obliged to do it again.”
The stranger licks his lips before stepping closer, about to reach inside through the window, but he stops himself in the last moment. “Nah, I’m a gentleman. There’s no obligation to do anything.”
He is most definitely no gentleman, but I don’t want to argue for the sake of the argument. He’s been friendly enough. “I will agree this one time, but I warn you that it cannot become a precedent.” I discreetly assess the width of his shoulders. He’s… massive. It gives me that tightness in the throat and moths in the stomach, like when I used to take sneaky glances at the royal guards, sometimes even taking my walks at a time when they were likely to bathe in the pond.
The stranger grins and winks at me. “Don’t you worry. I’m real good at keeping secrets. Maybe I could buy you a drink? Or a cookie?”
My neck gets hot under the silver collar. “I do not need to be bribed. I made my choice to serve you out of my own free will. Are you paying cash or card?” There's a tension between us I can’t fully pinpoint, but it’s making me nervous.
The man snorts, shakes his head and bites his lip as he looks at me with a half-smile. “Okay, I’ll just be frank. I can’t take my eyes off you, and I want to talk to you a bit more. Do you want that cookie?”
I stare at him, dumbstruck. “I am not female,” I say, because I’ve learned the hard way that some men approach me because my delicate features confuse them about my gender.
“I know.”
Heat rises up my neck. I wish I was more experienced in these things, but matters of the heart have never been my priority.
But also, what is he thinking? That I, Prince Sylvan Goldweed, will fall at his feet because of a handsome smile and thick arms? Unless… Dread pools in my heart.
“Did they pay you to come here and agitate me?” I ask harshly.
The man pulls up the visor of his cap just enough for the light to catch the green of his eyes. He has really long lashes, which make his masculine face even handsomer. “Who’s they? I just came in for food and got hungry for more than that.”