Page 59 of Bear Creek Valentine
“Ms. King tells me you will also be selling your home, and it meets the criteria I have been looking for. One of my new managers is moving into the area from out of state and has asked me to watch for something in Bear Creek. He would even be willing to rent from you until the sale closes so he can get his family settled before the resort opens. If it’s all right with you, I’ll give him your contact information so you can discuss it.”
Loretta blinked at him, astonished by the speed of such major transactions.
“Mercy me! And just this morning I was telling my daughter that it might takemonthsto wrap up my affairs here. I look forward to hearing from your employee, Mister Hawthorn, and it’s been such a pleasure doing business with you.”
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September 16th, Blakeslee
Dash never enjoyed the limelight, but it was the price he paid for being the chief representative of the Pocono Ridge Resort and Golf Course on opening day. Assembled before him were media from all over the state, and a few from national outlets, to witness and record the momentous occasion. Flanked by his mate and executive assistant, Dash stepped up to the microphone and addressed the crowd.
“This facility represents the fulfillment of dreams going back almost twenty years, and I would like to thank the dedicated teams who have worked hard to make the resort a reality. In a few minutes, I will lead you on the grand tour so you can see foryourself what wonderful things await our guests. First, however, a few words from the mayor of Blakeslee, Stephen Nomikos.”
Scattered applause greeted the handsome young mayor as he stepped up to speak. The resort had already brought numerous changes to the sleepy community, presently transforming itself into a tourist town. Ryder became Nomikos’ go-to person when questions and issues arose, but he’d proven himself to be perceptive, flexible, and wise beyond his years. Ryder also became the mayor’s occasional lover, though they’d succeeded, thus far, in keeping it quiet.
Dash returned to Aiden’s side, grabbed his hand, and heaved a sigh of relief. This was just the beginning of a very long day and having his mate nearby grounded him. He felt a little guilty claiming so much of Aiden’s time on what was also a jam-packed day for him andDelicious. He couldn’t stay more than a couple of hours, but it meant a great deal to Dash. Aiden seemed to understand and gave his hand a squeeze as Mayor Nomikos finished his remarks.
A traditional ribbon cutting came next, amid the flash and snap of cameras, followed by a Q & A session with the media. Next came the promised tour of the building, led by Dash and Ryder. The reporters were awed by the beauty of the structure, along with the broad range of activities and services available to guests. Not only was there more to do and see here, but Pocono Ridge offered accommodations specifically designed for shifters—a first in the state.
When they reached the Hungry Bear along Main Street, Aiden waved to his new full-time employee, Ginger Osborn. The single mother of two lived in Blakeslee, and having worked as a waitress for many years, was ready to give it up in exchange for steady wages and regular hours. Ginger’s people skills had been honed to perfection, and she was a quick study under Serena’s tutelage over the last two weeks. Aiden got exactly what hewas looking for; a mature, trustworthy employee to oversee the satellite location and two part-time employees who would cover night and weekend shifts.
By the time Dash completed the tour, it was time to welcome their first guests. The main entrance was cleared of everyone except the front desk staff, plus Dash, Aiden, and Ryder. Aiden could feel Dash’s low rumble of pleasure as they stood hand-in-hand under the glass dome, and leaned over to kiss his cheek. The signal was given to open the doors, and the excited crowd rushed inside. Most were paying guests, eager to get checked in, while others were here to gawk or shop at Main Street.
Once the initial flurry of activity waned, Dash asked Ryder to hold the fort for a few minutes while he said goodbye to his mate. The couple made their way to Dash’s office suite, falling into each other’s arms behind closed doors. The first kisses were fierce and heated, driven by love, accomplishment, pride, and relief. The opening of the resort also represented a fusion of new hopes and dreams for both of them, looking far into a future they now shared.
Dash’s heart beat faster because the most important thing here wasn’t the resort at all. It was the precious human he held in his arms; his mate, and the one who made it all worthwhile. No, Harv didn’t live to see what the two of them had planned, but he would have approved. Now, this fulfilled dream included his beloved Aiden, and the future looked brighter than ever.
A comforting peace descended, and the pair pulled back with smiles. Any further celebration would have to wait, and they tucked away the simmering arousal until later that night. The day wasn’t over yet, and as they both had things to do, Aiden gave Dash a final, soft kiss.
“So proud of you, mate. I’ll see you around six unless something goes haywire. In which case, I might just drive down and keep you company. Love you.”
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Three days later, D2
Though Aiden didn’t say it out loud, this was the worst possible time of year to expand his business. The Fall harvest was in full swing, he had new employees who didn’t yet know the ropes, and his list of local suppliers swelled from a few to over a dozen. Harvesting berries was a time-sensitive operation since they must be picked when ripe and either used or frozen within hours. At least the nut harvest, which came next, allowed for a bit of flexibility in processing.
With production now running full tilt at D2, along with daily deliveries to the resort and downtown, Leo and Skip were just barely keeping up. It forced Aiden to spend most afternoons at D2 playing receiving clerk while training the new guys—Hudson Burch and Cooper (Coop) Armstrong. Neither had worked with shifters before and were new to this specialized niche of the food industry. As hoped, they’d both caught on quickly to the chocolate-making process, and though still green, were given high marks from Leo. It wasn’t their fault a perfect storm of changes and increased business awaited them right after joining the company.
Between deliveries, Aiden went into teaching mode so they could learn to do this without supervision: make sure the product belongs toDelicious, check off everything received, sign and keep a copy of the paperwork, and be polite to the drivers. The last truck delivered a load of paper products, and while they put them away, Aiden switched to quizzing them about interacting with shifters.
“We have a lot of new local suppliers who you will see regularly through October, but only a few of them are human. Coop, what are the telltale signs that you’re dealing with a shifter?”
Aiden figured this one should be easy for him to answer since he was built along the same lines.
“Uh, not real tall, beefy build, brown or black hair, and dark blue eyes.”
“Good! Remember that females are even shorter than males and not as heavy. Hudson, what happens when you meet a shifter?”
His eyes lit up, as he was fascinated by his new ursine neighbors.
“They will lean in and scent you first, so stand still and let them do it. Sometimes they’ll growl, too, though it doesn’t always mean they’re angry.”
“Correct! You guys are both doing great. What youdon’twant to do is point it out or make a big deal over it. And remember, they have excellent hearing and can almost always tell what you’re feeling by how you smell. Oh, and don’t be offended if they sometimes sound rude—it’s a bear thing and not personal.”
Their next delivery ended up being Malcom Nesbitt, the local beekeeper who supplied most of Aiden’s honey. The young shifter wasn’t averse to poking fun at humans from time to time, as he loved to make people laugh. Aiden wondered how this first encounter between him and the newbies would go.
Aiden waved when Malcom got out of the truck, and he walked right up and scented him as always. He then turned a curious eye to the other men, sniffing the air madly. Coop was closer and stood stiff as a board while the beekeeper leaned in to scent him. Aiden began the introductions.
