Page 20 of Bear Creek Valentine
The door chime startled Aiden, and he looked over to find Dash heading right for him. He opened his arms in greeting, and Dash walked into them, burying his face in Aiden’s neck for a good scenting. He knew they were being watched by the others, but didn’t want to spoil the moment with his man. When Dash pulled back, Aiden planted a soft kiss on his mouth and then introduced him.
“This is my boyfriend, Dash Hawthorn. His company is building the Pocono Ridge Resort I mentioned a few minutes ago, and he’s a silent investor in the expansion ofDelicious. Dash, this is Leo Park and Serena Thompson, the manager candidates I told you about. They were just sampling a few things before we head out to see the town and visit D2.”
The ‘boyfriend’ comment threw Dash for a loop—his face flaming even as he made that odd purring noise. His friends’ startled expressions revealed that they probably hadn’t met a bear shifter before, and Aiden was curious to see how they handled the situation. As expected, Dash moved in close to scent both of them and shake their hands. Though still polite, they were uncertain what to say or do, and Aiden used the encounter to press home a point.
“There are many bear shifters in this community, including Dash, who make up a large part of our clientele and suppliers.Deliciouscarries something called Bear Brownies, which you can see in the far-end display case. They’re a special treat for shifters only, found nowhere else, and I carry several varieties depending on the season. Don’t get me wrong, our bear friends like everything else here, too, but we sell alotof brownies!”
Dash excused himself for a moment to pay for his twice-weekly supply of the homely treats his bear couldn’t do without. Meanwhile, Aiden faced Serena and Leo’s raised eyebrows and pointed looks.Somebodyhad been keeping a secret, forcing him to fess up.
“I know, I know! It’s fairly new, so I didn’t tell you before, and I wasn’t expecting to see Dash today. By the way, he can hear everything we say and scent our emotions, too. Shifters are normally very direct, and you might think they’re being rude, so don’t let that throw you. Other bears, like my Dash, are sweet most of the time.”
Dash walked over and grabbed Aiden’s hand.
“What do you mean,mostof the time? I’m always nice. Can I come with you to show your friends around?”
Aiden kissed his cheek.
“Would you? I’ll fetch your order when we get back.”
Aiden told Blanche and Toby he’d return to the shop in one hour, and to call him if anything came up. They piled into Dash’s roomy SUV for a quick town tour, pointing out landmarks and important buildings. About fifteen minutes later, they arrived at D2 and went inside to view the space.
The seating area of the old restaurant, now devoid of tables and chairs, was repurposed as a large supply room—filled with clearly marked shelving. Many gaps were yet to be filled, waiting for Aiden’s enormous orders to arrive. When they reached the former kitchen and prep area, he handed everyone a map he’d created to show where things would go once they arrived. Worktables, mixers, candy machines, tray racks, melting pots, and so forth. Since this would be Leo’s domain, Aiden asked for his opinion. His dubious expression said it all.
“Until I learn what we’re making and how it’s done, my opinion doesn’t mean much. I’m used to a standard kitchen setup, so this is all Greek to me. I see why you want us to startin June since it allows me to test the arrangement and make changes before production begins. You’re obviously putting a lot of money into this place, but you said it’s only temporary. May I ask why?”
Aiden let Dash answer this one.
“The goal is to put the retail shop and production facility under one roof. Right now, there’s no suitable location for it, and it would have to be built from scratch. There isn’t time to get it done before the busy season, so this was the only way to solve the problem. We know it isn’t ideal, but Aiden believes it will work.”
Serena turned to Aiden for a question.
“Delicioushas a lot of different products, but will everything be made here?”
“Good question. I’m still working out the specifics, but nearly everything we offer will eventually be produced here. I’ll still be making small batches, working on new recipes, and creating Bear Brownies at the shop. Once Leo and his team know all the recipes and are adept at using the machines, they’ll produce and ship it all from here. He’ll have a delivery van and driver to shuttle the finished product wherever it's needed.”
The pair looked around and asked more questions before Dash drove them back toDelicious. He waited in the vehicle while Aiden went to fetch his box of brownies, placing them in the back seat, and then jumped in the front to say goodbye. Dash growled lustily, yanking Aiden closer for a punishing kiss.
“You called me your boyfriend.”
Aiden gave him an unrepentant grin and kissed him back.
“Yes, I did. You’re... already more than that, but I won’t push. What did you think of Leo and Serena?”
Dash knew what Aiden almost said; what he truly wanted. His bear didn’t even hesitate about making Aiden their mate, but he let it slide.
“I like them, and my bear didn’t pick up any red flags. My guess is that they’ll both accept the positions. If they do, find out what kind of housing they want, and we can start looking.”
Aiden smiled and kissed his man one more time.
“Thanks for being here today. It really helped, you know. See you tonight?”
Dash gave him a growly nod.
“Call me when you get home. I’ll bring food.”
They parted reluctantly as Aiden hurried inside to his waiting candidates, relocating to the back room for last-minute questions. They discussed job-related issues and expectations for some time before Leo and Serena asked about living in Bear Creek and whether Aiden was happy here. He took it as a good sign that they were seriously considering joining his team. When the conversation ended, Aiden handed each of them a sealed envelope containing a formal offer, salary, and benefits package.
“I would appreciate a decision by the end of the week. Meanwhile, call or text with questions or concerns.”
