Page 40 of Bear Creek Valentine
Ryder didn’t bat an eyelash, as he would have done the same for his mate.
“I’ll take care of it. Our meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon, so you just take care of your man.”
Dash thanked him and hurriedly returned to Aiden’s side for their trip to the Sheriff’s office. The rest of the day was spent overseeing the installation of the security system, despite Aiden’s opinion that it was probably overkill. Still, both he and Dash felt better knowing it might help protect people and property. Poor Toby, blindsided by all the excitement, arrived for his shift to find a backlog of orders and technicians crawling over the place like ants.
When the exhausting day finally ended, Dash refused to leave Aiden’s side—following him home and into bed.
####
Meanwhile, somewhere near Scranton
A hobbling figure slowly climbed two flights of creaking stairs, only to reach the warped apartment door out of breath and cursing Aiden Romero’s name. Further imprecations followed the recently-minted vandal inside the dank rat hole called home. Walking with crutches was a skill one never expected to learn, but then tripping over a cat while running down the dark alley behindDeliciouswas also unexpected.
Inside was something of an obstacle course, but careful maneuvering led to the computer. Just trying to sit down nearly tipped over the table, scattering a collection of old empty prescription bottles onto the stained carpet. Didn’t matter.Counseling sessions and medication were too expensive without insurance—yet another issue ultimately caused by anold friend.
A quick search of theDeliciouswebsite turned up nothing about the cut internet connection. So the asshole swept it under the rug, did he? Of all the damned luck! Just when things were warming up, a badly twisted ankle delayed the plans to put Romero in his place. As soon as the ankle healed, he’d be receiving another visit, and this time, it wouldn’t be something he could hide.
Chapter 14
Saturday, June 4th
Dash growled, finding the long driveway to Knox and Levi’s home lined with cars on both sides.
“Wow, this is... will there be any room for us to pull in at the house?”
Aiden chuckled, shaking his head. Dash was on edge this morning because of the wedding and the overpowering aroma of Bear Brownies inside the car, driving him bonkers. There was a third reason, but Dash hadn’t discussed the effects of mating season with his lover.
“Eden is the planner for this wedding, and shepromisedto reserve a spot for us. Trust me; she wants to make sure our cargo is delivered safely.”
Dash continued a light-hearted grumbling until they reached the cabin. There, they found a young, blond man standing before a single empty parking space, holding a cardboard sign that said, “RESERVED FORDELICIOUS.” Aiden’s smug smile forced a laugh out of Dash as he pulled in and stopped the car.
“Okay, smarty, you were right. Let’s get everything inside before my stomach turns inside out.”
The fellow with the sign approached as they got out of the car.
“Hi! I’m Levi’s brother, Jett. I’m supposed to help carry things inside. Hey, are you guys mated, too?”
Oops. Leave it to Jett to ask the most unfortunate question possible. Levi might have strangled him if he’d heard it. Dash began to huff, and Aiden quickly moved to diffuse the situation.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jett. I’m Aiden and this is my boyfriend, Dash. No, we aren’t mated yet, but maybe somedaysoon. Let me get you started on the chocolates in the back seat. Try to keep the boxes level if you can.”
Aiden handed Jett an armful of goodies and sent him on his way. Dash had opened the trunk, stuffed full of Bear Brownies. Aiden cradled his bearded face with both hands and got right to the point.
“The human guests will assume we’re mates, so he’s probably not the only one who will ask.Relax, love. We’re here to support Knox and Levi, not try to guilt you into doing something you aren’t ready for. Let’s just enjoy the ceremony, meet some new people, and have a little fun.”
Relieved, Dash pulled Aiden closer for intense kisses, purring to beat the band. The man was adept at calming and assuring his bear, knowing exactly what to say. Behind them, Jett had returned for another load and stopped short at the scene.
“Uh, right... maybe you guys should get a room. I’ll just grab some more.”
The pair started laughing and got busy unloading the trunk. Ted Green, Levi’s father, and Matt Langtree, the Principal at Levi’s school, arrived to help carry things inside. Eden wisely asked human helpers to handle the Bear Brownies and stash them in the house. Some shifters might not have the fortitude to resist carrying them off into the woods for private feasting.
After delivering the last boxes, Dash and Aiden noticed Eden among a group of unfamiliar human women working in the kitchen. The scent of food hung heavily in the air, giving Dash’s nose a workout. On the kitchen table, they spied a lovely wedding cake, made by the Bread Basket—Bear Creek’s long-time bakery. Eden excused herself from the group and hurried over to say hello.
“Thank you for coming and bringing everything. Poor Levi was getting nervous because you and the brownies weren’t here yet! Except for my kitchen helpers, everyone is out back.The ceremony starts at eleven, so you’ve still got about twenty minutes to mix and mingle. Just so you know, none of Knox’s family is here because they couldn’t be located. He says it doesn’t bother him, but Levi is really disappointed. I guess every wedding has a wrinkle or two.”
Dash automatically reached for Aiden’s hand as they exited the house and walked around to the backyard. The weather was perfect for an outdoor event—seventy-one degrees, a clear blue sky, and a mild early summer breeze. Next to Knox’s workshop stood two tents, blue for the men and green for the ladies. The shifters in attendance would need a private place to disrobe and shift, especially among mixed company.
As the couple rounded the corner of the cabin, they were greeted by a dramatically transformed backyard. What was once a small, uneven swatch of scrubby grass bordered by woods had become a large, flat, manicured lawn. A white canopy now covered a portion of it, creating an ideal wedding venue filled with casually attired guests. The attendees included both humans and shifters, some alone and others with their mates.
