Page 27 of Ash

A woman with burnished bronze hair was standing behind the counter.

As soon as the door swung closed behind him, she looked up and caught sight of him.

"Oh. My. Stars."

"Hetty." He felt his heart warm at the sight of her. "Hello."

"Hello?" She gasped and rounded the counter, brushing her hands off on her apron. "That's all you have to say to me?"

She reached up her hands and clapped them against his cheeks. "Look at you, you big ol' bear, you!"

If it had been a stranger touching him, he would never have allowed it, but Hetty was as much a part of Mystic Mountain as she was a part of his life.

"It's been an age since you've been in my shop!" A soft, saddened look crossed her features before she continued. "Come, let's feed you!" Hetty lowered her hands and grasped the hand of his that was closest to her. "What do you want to eat?"

He started to speak, but she cut him off with a flourish of her hand.

"Before you ask," her smile faltered a little, "I don't have any honey bread."

At the mention of the treat, Ash's stomach sank.

He'd forgotten about honey bread.

But the mere mention of the treat made his stomach growl and groan.

Ash flatted his palms against his belly and sighed. It wasn't just his hungry belly thinking of the treat, but his bear as well. Not so much the bread, but honey.

As his stomach quieted down, he became aware that the bell above the door had just quieted down again and he could hear the soft footfalls on the laminated floor tiles. "Honey bread?"

That voice.

From deep within, his bear's eyes popped open and his big ears perked up at the sound.

"I think I remember how to make that."

Ash turned. Just his head at first, looking toward the door that he's stepped through moments before.

The sunlight flooded through the window panes in the front door, the lacy panels that were gathered and hung from brass rods were pulled to the sides allowing the golden light in.

Standing before the door was James, the attorney for everyone in town, a fox shifter that he'd known his whole life.

But it was the woman standing beside James that was the center of his rather singular focus.

Her form was a gift. He couldn't see the details of her clothing with the light flooding in behind her, but he could sense her curves and lush form beneath. Her hands were lifted and likely folded over her heart. He could see the pale fingers against the darker fabric of her dress. And her hair.

Her magnificent hair was something he wanted to touch.

Something he ached to touch.

It looked thick and heavy and-

Honey.

Yes,he agreed with his bear. Her hair was the color of honey.

"I'm sorry," she apologized reflexively and he wanted to shake his head and tell her that she never had to apologize to him. "I know we haven't been introduced, but I heard you mention honey bread." She crossed the room and Ash turned hishead to follow her movement, his nose and his heart tracking her across the floor. She met Hetty at the end of the counter, holding out her hand. "I should have done that first."

Hetty, with her flame red hair, didn't take the woman's hand.

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