Page 27 of Bear Creek Christmas
Levi led the way to his vehicle instead of Knox’s truck.
“I need to get gas while we’re out, and yes, Icansay those things. I know it’s been a few days, but your bear can’t always have what he wants!”
Levi was mostly teasing, yet his words contained a kernel of truth, and Knox knew it. Humans couldn’t truly understand the conflicting needs of man and bear—a constant give and take that sometimes left both unsatisfied. Nevertheless, Knox believed Levi would welcome his bear's advances if they weren’t in such a rush. Maybe after supper.
They could have easily walked the short distance toDelicious, and Levi pulled the jeep into an empty spot near the front. Several other parked cars and a peek inside told them they were probably the last to arrive. The shop closed at five, and this special taste-testing was conducted after hours to minimize distractions. It also enabled Aiden to keep his new creations a secret until after Thanksgiving. Knox opened the shop door for Levi, and a few voices called out a welcome as they walked in.
Levi didn’t expect to find Dee Dee Tillman among the group, along with an older male shifter he’d never met.
“Levi! So good to see you again. I don’t believe you’ve met my mate, Sunny. He runs Tillman Hardware, right up the street.”
The friendly shifter leaned over to scent Levi and then shook his hand. Sunny smiled and winked at Knox.
“Got yourself a fine mate here, McCoy. ‘Bout time you settled down.”
Knox growled, Levi turned red, and the awkward moment passed as Eden and her mate, Calvin, came over to say hello. She gave Levi a quick side-hug, provoking growls from both men. Eden ignored their irritation and introduced Calvin.
“Honey, this is my friend, Levi. You’ve already met Knox.”
Calvin’s hair color was a light brown, unusual for a black bear, though his eyes were the stormy-sea blue they all seemed to share.
“Good to see you again, Knox, and nice to meet you, Levi. Eden’s told me so much already I feel like we’re old friends. How is Bear Creek treating you so far?”
“It’s nice here, and I have some great students! I can imagine putting down roots in this place.”
Clearly pleased, Knox pulled Levi closer and kissed the top of his head. The three couples turned as Aiden and his new assistant, Toby, brought several trays from the kitchen and placed them on the long countertop. Levi’s eyes bulged while all the shifters scented the air madly, growling at the neat rows of candies and cookies—all festively decorated and labeled with little placards. Last came a tray containing glasses of water to cleanse the pallet between varieties. Aiden already had their attention for instructions.
“Thanks for coming, everyone. Some of these are variations of things you’re already familiar with. But, there are also some brand new items I’ve never tried before, like the liqueur bonbons. And, I have some unique coatings for the truffles this year. It will be easier for me to take notes if you are all tasting the same thing at once, so please begin down here with the star cookies. Ready?”
With no further encouragement required, Aiden jotted down notes while Toby doled out the delectable morsels. The moans and groans were almost enough to give Levi a boner, but he was too busy enjoying the samples for himself. One thing was certain—customers were going to beveryhappy with this year’s holiday delicacies.
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Daniel exited the interstateand stopped to use the rest area before continuing north. Within another ten minutes, he’d arrived at the last turnoff and approached Bear Creek. It looked like a typical small town, the main drag lined with various shops—some old, some new. The travel app on his phone called out directions as he came closer to Levi’s address, with another turn down the block. On the right, he noticed the back end of a bright red vehicle, reminding him of Levi’s tacky jeep.
Wait a minute – thatwasLevi’s jeep! It had a Pennsylvania plate now, but the same irritating junk hung from the rearview mirror, confirming the man must be close. It appeared only one nearby business remained open this late on a Saturday, a place calledDelicious. Daniel pulled in next to the other cars so he could think. He’d expected to deal with Levi privately at his apartment and not in a public place with other people around. Maybe this was better. Whoever else might be there wouldn’t care about the new school teacher’s private affairs, and their presence might actually nudge Levi in the right direction. Daniel turned off the car, took a deep breath, and went to meet his future.
####
Stuffed with Christmasdelectables, the sugared-up tasters mingled with Aiden and Toby to compare notes and guess which new offering would be the biggest seller. Outside, each of the shifters picked up the sounds of a new arrival, though none of the humans realized someone was headed their way until the door chime sounded. Seconds later, a familiar voice Levi never wanted to hear again reached his ears.
“Hello! I’m looking for Levi Green.”
Levi’s heart thudded ominously, and his sour scent alerted Knox that something was wrong. He looked up to find the concerned shifter searching his face for clues. The words barely escaped Levi’s lips.
“Shit! It’s Daniel!”
Knox began to growl immediately and pulled Levi back against his body, one beefy arm across the man’s chest. The rest of the crowd parted, quietly watching the scene unfold. Daniel spotted his prey and advanced with confidence.
“Levi! I saw your jeep outside and assumed you would be here. Aren’t you going to say anything? And why is this... thispersontouching you?”
Levi swallowed hard and took Knox’s free hand.
“What are you doing here, Daniel?”
“I’m here to take you home, baby. We belong together, and you know it.”
Knox bared his teeth, growling at the obnoxious stranger, and with all eyes on the spectacle, no one noticed Dee Dee recording the whole thing on her phone.
