Page 24 of That’s My Orc, Tusk Off

“Willa should provide the human element.”

“She does have strong people skills,” I said. “Willa would do a great job with that part of the project.”

“She would,” Brovish said, still looking up at me.

“In a support role,” I added. “I’ll maintain project supervision.”

“Yes, I’m sure you will.”

“I’ve already divided the work.” I pulled up the chart I’d made at one yesterday morning. “I’ll handle the lesson planning, the schedules, and the documentation. Someone else needs to handle the parents and the talking parts. That would be Willa.”

“While you handle everything else?”

“Yes.”

“So you’d be working together.”

“In clearly defined roles.”

“I see you suggested meeting with her three times a week?”

I frowned. “The project timeline requires regular meetings.”

“For months.”

“The school district indicated interest in a year-long program if the initial introduction goes well.”

Brovish sat back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest, and smiled with all his tusks showing.

“What?” I said.

“Nothing.”

“You’re smiling.”

“I’m allowed to smile, Traig. I live in a state of great happiness with my mate.”

Sofia chirped from the filing cabinet.

The door opened.

Drogar walked in carrying a mug of tea, saw both of us, and immediately grinned.

“Something’s happening, right?”

“Traig wrote a seventy-six-page proposal,” Brovish said. “Last night.”

“Plus appendices,” I said softly, my hands twitching at my sides.

Drogar leaned against the doorframe. “Proposal for what?”

“A school partnership,” Brovish said.

“One where he’ll be working with Willa?”

How could he know that already?

I raked my fingers through my hair, dislodging the tie at my nape.