Page 4 of Bear Creek Christmas
Meanwhile
For Knox, the toughest part of picking wild blueberries was not eating them as he went. He ignored his grumpy bear, harvesting quickly and then carrying them to his workshop for later processing. With berries scattered all over his territory, it saved time to select the ones closest to home first. While he’d love to gobble them down, they were destined for a higher purpose.
He had an agreement with Aiden Romero atDeliciousto provide seasonal supplies of wild fruit and nuts in exchange for cash or finished goods. The man worked wonders with whatever he could get his hands on, and Knox was his primary supplier. Aiden ended up freezing most of the fruit Knox delivered through the summer, enabling him to offer his creations year-round.
In another month or so, he’d be kept busy with the Fall nut harvest of acorns, beechnuts, hickory nuts, chestnuts, and black walnuts. Without question, acorns were his favorite and Aiden used them to create a treat called “Bear Brownies”. He also made human candies with them, but Knox didn’t know of anyone else who crafted snacks exclusively for the local shifter population.
By noon, Knox gathered an enormous haul of berries. He gently spread them out on a clean tarp to remove the bad ones, along with any leaf litter or twigs. Lastly, they were transferred into shallow plastic crates for transport into town. Knox was a sweaty mess by then and decided to shower and eat lunch before making the delivery. It wasn’t until he’d loaded up the truck that he thought to check his phone. Sure enough, one of his regular customers had left a voicemail message a couple hours back for a plumbing job.
Providing on-call maintenance for various apartments around town was Knox’s bread and butter. He did other work on the side and in-between, including minor remodeling or special projects for homeowners. He liked having his own handyman business, as it gave his other half the freedom he needed during the mating season or the coldest months of the year. Bear shifters didn’t need to hibernate, but they did tend to sleep more during the winter.
Normally, it was no problem arranging the schedule around his unique needs, and the townspeople understood without asking for an explanation. They were happy to hire someone known for high-quality, honest work, and it didn’t hurt that he was an affable fellow. It was common for Knox to do a little extra and then neglect to charge for it, especially if the customer was elderly or on a limited budget. Word-of-mouth recommendations kept him busy all year round, and he liked it that way.
It didn’t take long to load the needed tools and equipment in the back of his pickup. Locust Lodge Apartments were only a few blocks from Aiden’s shop, enabling him to combine two trips into one. Since he couldn’t allow the berries to sit out in the hot sun, he’d have to drop them off first and then head over to the complex. With a quick text, he let Aiden know that he was on his way, pulling up outsideDeliciousa few minutes later.
The popular shopkeeper met him at the delivery entrance in the back, transferring the crates into a large walk-in cooler. Knox could tell Aiden was excited to see him.
“Your timing is perfect. I’ve been itching to try out a new recipe and ran out of blueberries last week. If you want to stop back in another hour or so, I’ll have it ready to taste.”
“Now you’ve got me curious. I have some repair work to do first, but I should be able to swing back around. By the way, it looks like a bumper crop of blueberries this year. How many more do you want?”
Aiden didn’t even hesitate.
“There’s plenty of room in the freezer, so I’ll take all you can bring me this year. The same goes for the nuts when they’re ready, and you’ll get top dollar. Do you want cash or store credit for the berries?”
Knox grinned and shook his head.
“My bear wants store credit, but my bank account tells me differently! Why don’t we do an eighty-twenty split this time, and I’ll keep up the deliveries until the blueberries run out.”
“No problem. See you soon.”
Knox gave him an abbreviated wave and got back in the truck. Aiden was a talented artisan, a good businessman, and a secret admirer. He probably didn’t realize that Knox could smell his interest a mile away, yet somehow understood his attraction would never be acknowledged. Thankfully, their relationship remained friendly and without angst. Knox believed Aiden would someday find a mate of his own when the right guy came along.
Knox’s ruminations brought him to the Locust Lodge Apartments, and he hauled his toolbox up to the main entrance. With a stiff breeze blowing today, he didn’t notice anything until he stepped inside. The aroma hit him like a bolt of lightning, and he rocked back on his heels. It was him! The human with the red jeep! A deep growl slipped out as he climbed the stairs and approached the apartment cautiously.
The scent tugged at him, pulling him closer. Behind that door lived the man he wanted to meet. His bear grew restless even as his cock stood up to salute. Knox swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. He’d have to keep his hands off and be professional. After all, this was a work assignment, not a social call. The unsuspecting human had no idea of Knox’s interest, nor would he understand how it was possible if he knew nothing about shifters. With only one way to find out, he knocked firmly on the door.
“Maintenance!”
No answer. Knox tried again with no response. Using his master key, he let himself into the unit and called out his presence once more. Still nothing. He listened carefully and took several deep breaths. The scent made him dizzy with desire, leaving his neglected dick hard and leaking. A quick peek in the bedroom and bathroom confirmed he was alone, and he took a closer look around.
Judging by the physical evidence, he concluded that the new teacher Matt Langtree mentioned lived here. A row of unpacked boxes along the wall, stacks of sheet music on the kitchen table, and the Ohio license plate on his vehicle confirmed he’d found his man. While Knox couldn’t do anything about introductions at present, it pleased him to know more about the newcomer to town.
In the kitchen, it took less than a minute to ascertain the plumbing snafu. The fittings for the sink trap had loosened over time, giving way when the pressure of draining dishwater proved to be too much. Knox quickly reassembled the errant pipes and tightened the dishwasher connections while he was at it. Next, he tested the unit to ensure it emptied properly, refilled the machine with soap and turned it on. While it ran, he cleaned underneath the sink and the kitchen floor.
After completing the task, Knox made up a courtesy slip to let the resident know what type of work he’d done and the time of repair. As he set it down on the table, a piece of mail addressed to Levi Green caught his eye. Knox smiled, now knowing Levi’s name, address, occupation, and where he’d been living. Not bad for having never set eyes on the man. Though unsure how, hemustfind a way to meet the intriguing Mr. Green and get to know him better.
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At the same time
Levi endured open stares at the gym and pretended not to notice as he went about his routine. He may have a swimmer’s build, but the six-pack and firm muscles resulted from hard work, not genetics. Being ogled by soccer moms and gym bunnies wasn’t any fun, but at least no one was rude or in his face. Soaked with sweat, Levi headed for the locker room and a quick shower before continuing his errands for the day. Dressed and ready, he exited the building, cranked up the air conditioning in the jeep, and took off for the grocery store.
The route led him through downtown Bear Creek, and he couldn’t help but notice the distinctive sign aboveDeliciouscoming up on the right. Why not? Today was probably his best chance until his schedule settled into a routine, and he’d been thinking way too much about the candies he’d tasted earlier in the week. The danger, of course, was allowing his sweet tooth to negate his workouts. The shop didn’t appear to be busy, judging by the lack of cars, and he pulled right up in front and parked. The grocery list could wait a few more minutes while he checked the place out.
A cheerful bell sounded as Levi opened the door, and the scent of sugar, chocolate, and spices drew him in. A tall, handsome man appeared from the back room and greeted him when he reached the first display case.
“Welcome toDelicious. What can I get for you?”
