Escaping my past is tough. Staying immune to one sweet, bumbling orc cowboy’s heart-melting charm might be impossible.

Gracie: Escaping my old life as a reality TV star was supposed to be my fresh start, not a one-way trip to a dusty Wild West town with a fake saloon, real orcs, and a pet raven who meows. But when I take a job at Lonesome Creek, a Western-themed orc tourist destination that desperately needs social media help, I find myself dodging pink ostrich-chickens, wrangling content, and falling hard for one broody orc cowboy who makes muffins like a dream and kisses like he means it. I came here to fix a brand, not catch feelings. But if I can’t figure out how to make this work, I might lose more than just a paycheck. I might lose the best thing I’ve ever found.

Tark: I knew Gracie was my fated mate the instant we touched. She’s bright, bold, and smells like hope. I run the social media for Lonesome Creek, which mostly means posting blurry photos and coming up with hashtags while elbow-deep in mud or feathers. But ever since she showed up, I’ve been trying to act like a normal, charming orc instead of a lovesick disaster. I fumble my words. I panic when she smiles. I’m more comfortable with wounded animals than a beautiful woman who makes my heart pound. But I know she’s the one. If I can’t convince her that this odd little town—and this bumbling, soft-hearted orc—are worth loving, she’ll leave when the job ends. And I’ll be left missing the person I didn’t know I’d been waiting my whole life for.