Page 3 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“Doesn’t matter. I’m still an orc wherever I go, and Gree-Gree is traditional,” Granik replied, referring to his grandmother. “She will insist.”
I frowned.
Granik’s stomach growled.
“We’d better get you to the tavern before you faint from hunger. But, here,” I said, digging out of my bag the muffin I’d picked up for him at The Sconery that morning. “Eat this along the way.”
“For me?”
“Ginger and lemon poppyseed. Your favorite.”
“You’re always thinking of me,” he said, pulling me into a brief hug.
I lingered there a moment, long enough to smell his lavender soap, the deep scent of his sandalwood cologne, and under that, the familiar scent of him.
Nowthatwas my favorite smell in all the world.
I cleared my throat and pulled back. “Eat,” I told him. “The last thing we need is an orc aswoon,” I added with a laugh, and then we began walking again while I attempted to understand why my stomach was full of butterflies.
CHAPTER 2
GRANIK
The Pig and Piper was as lively as ever. The moment we entered, Grella Barleyfist, the dwarven owner of the establishment, called out to Juniper and me.
“Juniper! Granik!”
“Merry met,” Juniper called in reply.
“Merry met,” Grella answered.
Several other people, also regulars, smiled at us and called out their greetings. Juniper and I took our usual spot at a table in the corner. As much as she enjoyed the tavern’s lively mood, Juniper could sometimes get overwhelmed by too much noise and too many people. I always did my best to shield her from it.
Ginny, the regular barmaid, arrived a moment later.
“Juniper and Granik, my favorite duo. Let me guess. Mixed grill with carrot salad and grilled tomato and cheese with today’s soup, which is garden pea.”
“Perfect,” Juniper replied. “Do you have larkflower shandy yet?”
“We received the first barrel today. I’ll bring you two tankards,” she said with a smile, then departed.
“Ah, I nearly forgot,” I told Juniper, dipping into my satchel. “I passed Mellie Bee’s Chocolaterie just before she closed up.Look what she had in the window,” I said, handing her a package.
She gasped then smiled. “Cherry blossom chocolates. Oh, Granik. They’re my favorite.”
I felt the smile that lit up her face in my heart. “She said it was her first batch of the season.”
“Thank you,” Juniper told me, setting her hand on my shoulder.
My stomach knotted oddly. I gazed into her periwinkle-blue eyes. Seeing them shine with excitement made my heart feel happy. But strangely, my stomach flipped once more. Shaking off the feeling, I gestured to the box. “Well, are you going to open it? What are you waiting for?”
“Are these for me or for you?”
“You’re going to share, aren’t you?”
“Of course,” she replied with a laugh, then opened the lid and handed me a candy, taking one for herself.
She popped it into her mouth and closed her eyes. I watched as she savored the flavor. Her long lashes rested on her cheeks, and she smiled sweetly, her dimples forming on her face. A small smattering of freckles trimmed her nose and cheeks, dulled by winter. Come summer, her face would be covered in them, her cheeks rosy from her work in her garden. She was like a sunflower, brightening in the sunlight.
