Page 92 of Mystery in the Mountains

“What?” Asher asked as he shook his head. “Mad about what?”

“Ummm . . . about what happened in the bar. Ya know, when you threw that guy out.”

“Oh, yeah, no. But now that you bring it up, what were they talking about?”

Sunny turned in her seat. “Okay, so get this. Do you remember the other night when I was working by myself, and she sent back some of Ol’ Ray’s moonshine for him?”

Asher nodded as he turned into her driveway.

“Well, he was back, asking for more. Apparently, Ray’s phone is disconnected, and he hasn’t been home, and he needs more.”

Asher put the truck in park and looked at her. “More moonshine?” He cocked his head. “What is he doing with it? Stripping paint?”

A little giggle bubbled up in Sunny, and it settled deep in his soul.

“Right? That stuff is awful. That’s weird, right? I mean, yes, I get weird vibes from him but not drunk vibes.”

“Yeah . . . that’s odd.”

They got out of the truck, and Asher waited for Sunny to come to the porch, but when he looked for her, he found her staring up at the sky. He walked over and slipped in behind her, sliding his arms around her waist to hold her close.

“I just love looking up at the sky. The stars are the brightest here.”

Her hands settled over his as she sighed and snuggled into him. He rested his cheek against the top of her head. “Ya know, I really am sorry about earlier. I trust you, and I understand the job of being a bartender. I’ve done my fair share of shifts at the Corner Tap.”

“What?” she said, attempting to turn in his arms, but he held her tight. “You flirt for tips?”

“Who doesn’t?”

“I wasn’t?—”

“I get that. But I just need you to know I trust you. My wolf gets a little possessive, but I will keep it in check.”

She sighed, and he could feel a shift in her, but he wasn’t sure what it was. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, really,” she said as she turned in his grasp, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest. “I just wish there was a magical way to fix what I did and make you trust me again.”

He wished there was, too, but things like this didn’t have a quick fix.

“I’m trying. I love you, and right now, that’s enough for me.”

She reached up on her toes to kiss him. “Wanna split a frozen pizza with me?”

They made their way up the stairs, and he held the screen door open as Sunny unlocked the door. “Do you want to put the pizza in while I hop in the shower?”

Before he knew it, they were curled up on the couch, Sunny’s wet hair down and drying, while they ate a pizza and watched reruns on her dad’s crappy TV. It might not have been much, but it was damn near perfect.

As the credits ran and the pizza sat discarded on the coffee table, Asher stood and held a hand to Sunny. “Are you ready for bed?”

Her mouth cracked open in a yawn, and she nodded and reached out her hand, allowing herself to be pulled up off the couch.

They climbed the stairs in comfortable silence.

Asher undid his jeans and took off his shirt before getting into bed in his boxers. “Ya know, Sunshine,” he said as she tried to get comfortable. “You really do need a new mattress.”

But when he looked at her, he saw sleeping was the furthest thing from her mind.

He sat up on the bed, but she put a hand on his chest to keep him from getting up. Lacing his fingers behind his head, he watched as Sunny took off her clothes.

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