Page 78 of Mystery in the Mountains

Well, I could have handled that better.

She loaded up the cart with the beer she needed to restock, lost in thought.

By the time she got the cooler stocked, the karaoke setup was ready, and the bar was in full swing. This would serve as a good distraction. But her thoughts kept meandering to a handsome distraction who would meet her in the woods that night, and that thought would get her through just about anything.

When the bar slowed down and karaoke was over, Dusty sent her home and told her to come in on Monday. Sunny said yes but didn’t pay too much attention. She had a date in the woods.

She went home and hopped in the shower, trying to wash the scent of the bar off her. Asher would be able to smell that a mile away . . . Who was she kidding? He would be able to smell just about anything a mile away.

She put on a pretty nightgown and loosely braided her hair over her shoulder. Slipping on her Birkenstocks, she got a blanket from the back of the couch before heading out the door.

She thought about getting a flashlight, but the moon was full, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Even without the heightened senses Asher had, she could make it to the meadow alone. It had been so long since she’d done anything this magical, and she was ready.

Chapter

Twenty-Four

SUNNY

With the blanket in her hand, she set off down her stairs. She was safe, and Asher would take good care of her.

Excitement built her stomach with each step.

As she entered the woods, it got darker, but she knew the path. Not only that, but the closer she got to the mountain, the more the magic started to swirl around her, helping her find her way. By the time she got to the stream, she knew she was getting close.

With the reflected light from the moon, she found the steppingstones to get across.

Something in the woods rustled on the other side. A chill ran up her spine. There were many things it could be, but she knew what it was, and that sent a different kind of chill up her body.

As she continued down the path to their meadow, the feeling of being followed had her senses heightened.

It was Asher.

She kept saying that, but every now and then, she would swear she saw those glowing red eyes in the woods. She was legitimately scaring herself instead of becoming aroused.

She took a deep breath and blew it out. If she wanted this to be over, all she would have to do would be to call out for Asher to stop, and he would immediately comfort her. But being scared was part of the fun, as there was something about the excitement that kept her journeying deeper into the woods.

“Now, what have we here?” a low voice rumbled behind her.

She recognized it as Asher’s voice . . . but it was more. His wolf was right there with him.

She didn’t acknowledge the voice until it growled, “Run.”

And she did. Taking off in the direction of the meadow, she ran. It wasn’t long before she was huffing and puffing. Her calf muscles burned in protest, but her adrenaline was in control, and she was running full tilt through the forest.

As she passed a thinner pass of the path, branches pulled at her nightgown, leaving scratches along her legs. She had to turn and yank her nightgown free from the branch, accidentally tearing the fabric. As she slowed, a rustle came from behind her again.

She saw the meadow ahead of her, and she pushed past the pain burning in her legs and her lungs. As soon as she made it into the moonlight of the meadow, a big black wolf jumped out in front of her with a terrifying growl.

Screaming, she clutched her heart, reminding herself this was Asher. Her body didn’t seem quite soothed . . . No, her body didn’t know exactly what to make of what was going on. She was terrified but suddenly grew more aroused than ever. She turned to run from the wolf, who was right alongside her before disappearing into the woods.

She couldn’t see him anymore, but she could hear him growling. That growl sent chills through her body.

Then big strong arms wrapped around her and carried her swiftly into the middle of the meadow. A scream ripped from her throat and echoed through the woods. She kicked back, and the arms dropped her, and she took off, only for him to catch up within seconds.

“You’ve been a bad witch,” the voice growled in her ear. “Now, what am I supposed to do with you? I think I need to teach you a lesson.”

He put her on the ground. “On your knees.”

---