Page 9 of Mystery in the Mountains

“I don’t know . . . but let’s do more of this,” she said as she laid back on the blanket, looking up at the clouds.

“Sounds good to me.” Asher laid next to her. He took her hand as a sweet-smelling breeze blew around them.

Yes, if her summer was filled with more moments just like this one, it might be the best summer ever.

“Sunny . . .” Asher said, turning to look at her with careful eyes.

Sitting up, she tucked her hair behind her ear.

He fiddled with the edge of the blanket. “I was wondering if . . . Well . . . would it be alright if . . .”

“What is it?”

He turned back to her, mere inches away.

The air shimmered around them as a warm breeze blew a long strand of hair in front of her face.

Asher tucked the tendril behind her ear. “Can I kiss you?”

Her breath caught in her throat with anticipation as she nodded.

He cupped her jaw as he moved closer, pausing, allowing her time to change her mind.

But she was not changing her mind. She was about to have her first kiss with Asher in this magical place. It was like a dream.

Slowly, Asher continued to close the space until he tentatively pressed his lips to hers. Magical was the only word she had to describe what happened next. A warm breeze whirled around them as Asher cupped her jaw and slid his hand into her hair.

When he broke the kiss, he leaned his forehead against hers and took a deep breath. “Wow . . .”

“Yeah . . .” She opened her eyes, and he was right there, gazing at her like she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

Looking around the meadow, she could swear there were even more flowers than there was before the kiss.

“This is our spot,” she said as she leaned into his side.

“Yeah, it is.” He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

Chapter

Five

ASHER

As the sun rose, Asher lifted his head and sniffed the air. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept in his wolf form.

He stood and bowed in a stretch before making his way home. While in wolf form, he felt more connected to the mountain and the magic. He could sense all his people and know they were good. In his shifted form, the chasm Sunny had left in him felt smaller. His wolf was just happy his witch was back. With her near, he could protect her. It felt simpler.

He shifted, and a ripple of goose bumps came over him as the cool morning air hit his flesh, though he should have known his wolf would run straight to Sunny. At least he had the sense to hang back. Asher wasn’t ready to deal with her yet, but his wolf wanted to see her, smell her, and make sure she was safe. She was, and the relief he felt at that annoyed him.

Why did he care? He shouldn’t have. He wanted to yell and make her feel the pain he felt, but in the same breath, he was so relieved to finally set eyes on her. He was a mess of emotions.

It was time to start his day. Maybe getting to work would serve as a distraction. As he made his way to the workshop, he could smell Julie, so he slipped in the back.

Luckily, he had clothes stashed in the back room, as he and Abe had all over this mountain for just this. After pulling on some jeans, he slipped into a fresh T-shirt and pulled on his hoodie before heading into the workshop.

He sat on the bench and laced up his work boots.

“Good morning, Asher,” Julie said cheerfully.

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