Page 60 of Bear Creek Valentine
“Guys, this is Malcom Nesbitt. He keeps bees and supplies all of our honey. Malcom, this is Cooper Armstrong, and that’s Hudson Burch—two of our new employees.”
Malcom almost face-planted in the crook of Hudson’s neck, scenting deeply and longer than usual, too. While a clueless Coop stared, Aiden noticed the pair were clearly aroused andMalcom was growling softly. Interesting. The beekeeper was younger than Hudson, but his bear nature made him bold and direct when it came to attraction. Hopefully, this wouldn’t end up being all kinds of uncomfortable. Malcom finally pulled back and then grasped Hudson’s hand in both of his.
“I really like your scent. Can I see you again tonight?”
Hudson flushed but didn’t pull away. He swallowed hard and answered the attractive shifter.
“Y-yeah... okay. I’d like that.”
Aiden winked at a stunned Cooper and redirected everyone’s attention.
“How much did you bring me, Malcom? I’ll be able to use a lot more with the resort open. Why don’t we give you a hand unloading?”
He and Coop began hauling the ten-pound glass jars from the back of the pickup truck. Inside, they set them on storage racks in the corner of the old dining room, away from windows. On their third trip, Malcom and Hudson joined them, both smiling and dreamy-eyed. Aiden asked Coop to record the number of jars in the delivery log so Malcom could be paid. When they finished, Aiden and Coop went back inside, giving the pair a moment alone. Coop was understandably curious.
“What exactly happened out there? Did he just hit on Hudson?”
Aiden nodded while trying to stifle a chuckle.
“Congratulations. You may have just witnessed a bear shifter finding his human mate. It reminds me of how it was for me and Dash. If you’re interested, I can see about finding someone for you, too.”
Coop’s eyes widened until he realized Aiden was pulling his leg.
“No thanks. I don’t think my girlfriend would be on board. I hope it works out for them, but damn—shifters move fast!”
Chapter 22
Friday, September 23rd, Delicious
“... so remember to check the list. And make sure you activate the security system before you go. Did I forget anything?”
Serena stomped her foot and shook a finger at him.
“Oh puh-leeze! I know how to close the shop by myself, and refuse to take the blame if you’re late for Dash’s surprise party. Nowget out of here!”
Aiden finally got the hint, gave Serena and Toby a silent wave, and exited out the front door. He’d been on tenterhooks all day, fretting over every little detail of Dash’s birthday celebration. He pointed the car toward home and went through his mental checklist on the way—shower, change, text Dash, and head for the resort. Fortunately, Dash’s mother, Jean, gleefully volunteered to arrange the surprise part of the evening.
Apparently, his mate was one of those stick-in-the-mud people who didn’t celebrate their birthday at all, and Aiden was determined to change his mindset from the start. As far as Dash knew, however, Aiden was to join him for an intimate supper in the Delaware Room, followed by an overnight stay in one of the luxury suites. Even that was a compromise on the stubborn shifter’s part, only possible because Aiden had been riding him at the time and refused to let him cum until he agreed.
Now clean and dressed, he texted‘on my way’to Dash and took off. Upon arrival, Aiden sent another text to Jean, alerting her they would be there in about ten minutes. He grabbed a colorful gift bag containing Dash’s birthday gift and used his set of keys to open the resort’s private entrance and the owner’s office suite.
Dash was waiting just inside the door and wrapped his mate in eager arms. Purring with pleasure, he snuffled and kissed Aiden’s neck while kneading his ass with both hands.
“Why don’t we go straight to the suite and ask for room service? I’ve been waiting for you all day.”
Aiden suspected he would try something like this and was prepared with an honest answer.
“You’re going to feel me later, baby, more than once, but right now I’m starving. Open your gift and then let’s go eat.”
Dash growled but took the gift bag and reached inside to pull out something hard and rectangular, wrapped in yellow tissue paper. It was an expensively framed photograph of him and Aiden, taken on opening day. They stood side by side in the main lobby, dressed in their matching suits, next to one of the polished live-edge tables. Aiden explained.
“Happy birthday, my love. You’re impossible to buy for, but I thought you might want to put it on your desk. I have one just like it for the shop, so everyone knows who I belong to.”
Dash hugged him, purring softly.
“Thank you. It’s perfect, but you’re the best gift I could ever want.”
Dash found just the right place for it on his desk and then led Aiden through the hallways to the Delaware Room. As they neared the doors, Dash began sniffing the air, growled, and stopped to question his mate.
