Page 65 of Bear Creek Valentine
Aiden cupped his cheek and kissed him.
“Now don’t you go getting yourself into trouble on my account. I can always start another business, but I can’t find another Dashiell Hawthorn. I won’t allow anything to take you away from me.”
Dash purred as Aiden’s words stoked a different fire. He lifted his mate off the couch and carried him to the bedroom for some slow, sweet lovemaking. It calmed and reassured them as they faced the future, stronger together than they could ever have been alone.
####
The following Sunday
“There’s the turn, love. Oh, look, the new sign is up!”
SHADY LANE ORCHARD
You-Pick Apples, Berries, Cherries.
Local Honey. Family Friendly.
Aiden pointed and Dash grunted, turning in at the long driveway. The fresh sign, funded by one of Dash’s grants, was a vast improvement over the original—large, sturdy, easy to see, and lit up at night. This portion of Shady Lane, north of the highway, led to only a single address. Both sides of the drive were lined with mature Red Maple trees, gloriously decked out in their reddish-gold fall colors. Gruff Cunningham had purchased the neglected property some years ago and worked hard to make the business profitable again.
To the left of the drive lay a stretch of the Lehigh River, while the orchard and berry patches were found to the right. Dash parked in the public lot near the barn, and they got out to look around. A lovely circular pond lay between the barn and the house, which sat atop a small rise. Gruff stepped off the front porch and headed their way; a black and white tuxedo cat perched on his right shoulder.
Most shifters declined to own pets, and while very few could tolerate dogs, they were known to fancy a cat from time to time. Dash sniffed the air curiously while Aiden grinned as the odd pair came to a stop. Gruff leaned in to scent his visitors, as did the well-fed feline, meowing an opinion from his lofty perch. The badly scarred man reached up to scratch the cat’s ears and offered an introduction.
“This is Baxter. He likes to ride up here when I go out unless he’s in the mood to hunt. Best mouser you’ll ever meet.”
Baxter’s gold eyes glittered like jewels as he looked over the strangers in his domain—long tail curling back and forth like a serpent. Dash gave an amused growl, and Aiden chuckled at thefeline’s careful inspection. A burning question presented itself, and he couldn’t resist asking.
“He’s a handsome fellow. What does he do when you’re in bear form?”
Gruff grunted; the corners of his mouth twitching into an almost-smile.
“He likes it. Thinks I’m the best rug in the house. Your apples are over here, ready to go.”
They followed him to the barn to pick up three cases each of Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and Gala varieties. Caramel and chocolate-covered apples were big sellers in the fall, and Gruff’s organically grown produce made them top-of-the-line. Instead of requesting a special delivery, Aiden decided to pick them up and check out Gruff’s recent improvements.
Baxter jumped down when Gruff opened the barn door and went off to stalk something in the shadows. Once the boxes were loaded into the back of Dash’s SUV, Gruff took them on a quick tour of the orchard. Over time, he’d replaced most of the older trees with dwarf varieties since they bore fruit twice as fast and were easier to harvest. Parents liked them because their children could pick their own without help.
The newest sections of orchard and berry patches were easy to identify, with spindly branches that bore no fruit as yet. Dash asked how long it took to get a crop from them.
“Dwarf varieties take two to four years, and don’t let their size fool you. A single mature tree can produce up to five hundred apples per season. Most berry bushes take about the same amount of time, and cherry trees need an additional year. I’ll keep adding more until I run out of space.”
Aiden noticed the strategically placed beehives throughout the orchard, knowing they came from Malcom Nesbitt. He, too, took advantage of Dash’s charity funds to almost double his business, placing hives all over the region and buying newequipment. He knew his mate wouldn’t mention it while they were here, but he was very proud of him for being so generous. On the way back to their vehicle, Dash asked Gruff if he’d given any thought to adding a revenue source during the winter.
“A bit. Thought maybe ice skating on the pond. Offer hot drinks. Play some music. I’d have to add a building, plus extra lights and such. Probably hire someone to help run things. Don’t have the money for anything like that yet.”
Aiden was going to add his two cents' worth, but Dash beat him to it.
“Funding is available whenever you want it, and we can help you figure out what’s needed. If you choose a ready-made structure, you could be up and running this winter. Think it over and let me know so we can get the wheels moving.”
Surprised by the offer, Gruff managed a curt nod.
“Appreciate it, Dash. I’ll be in touch. Thanks for stopping by.”
Since the apples needed refrigeration, Dash headed for the shop before returning home. Aiden’s scent revealed that he was happy about something. Soon enough, he spoke up.
“I’ve known Gruff sinceDeliciousopened and have never heard him talk so much. I always knew he was uncomfortable around people, so maybe on his own turf he’s more relaxed. What do you bet he’s a sweetheart underneath all that scowling? Gruff needs a mate who will look past his face and love him for what’s inside. Probably has to be a shifter, though. Humans aren’t very good at overlooking flaws.”
Dash considered that for a few moments, grunting softly.
