Page 20 of Bear Creek Thanksgiving (Holiday Mates #3)
Dustin felt like he’d been running laps around the building, and they hadn’t even opened yet!
Asha was busy baking upstairs while he and Jillian made sure the display case looked inviting and the drink machines were ready to go.
Half gallon jugs of cider filled a cooler to the left of the customer service counter for those who wanted to take some home.
Dustin had extra cash in the office safe if they needed it, and his eager employees all looked sharp in their bright red aprons and logo ball caps.
As management, he and Jillian wore forest green aprons and caps instead, helping them stand out among the crowd.
Dustin clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention.
“It’s time, people. Stations, please, and don’t forget to smile!”
Dustin approached to unlock the doors, noticing that an even bigger crowd had gathered.
His greeters, Clarice and Jordan, stood ready to welcome guests, and with a flick of his wrist, Dustin opened the Red Barn for their test run.
He didn’t see anyone familiar—no surprise, since he only knew a half-dozen people so far, including Gruff.
A glance outside revealed Ruben taking off with the first group of U-Pick customers, as more approached from the big old barn.
Inside, people had spread out—some ordering food and drink while the rest were wandering through the gift shop. Dustin motioned to the nearest employee, a sweet retiree who appeared delighted by all the activity.
“Glenda, grab a basket by the door and offer it to that gentleman with his hands full. Spread the word for me—we want to encourage guests to shop till they drop.”
She laughed and went off to do his bidding as Dustin caught Jillian’s eye behind the counter. She gave him a thumbs up and turned to fill a customer’s drink order. A line had formed at the bakery display case, and Dustin went over to help serve, slipping on a pair of disposable gloves.
“Samples are available for anything you see, folks. Don’t be shy—try them all.”
Most of them did, encouraging greater sales but restricting Dustin’s freedom to roam and troubleshoot.
He drafted an affable fellow named Franklin to take over for him and made a note to have at least two people staff the bakery section during busy times.
A new group of people made their way inside, composed of moms with their children, and they all waved at Jillian.
He wasn’t sure if they were the PTA group or her neighbors, but it looked like they were ready to have some fun.
A steady stream of visitors kept them busy all morning, including the first Pocono Ridge Resort shuttle bus, a number of downtown business owners, and members of the town council.
Just before noon, things slowed down and Dustin had pizza delivered for the morning group of employees.
As they cycled through their lunch break, Dustin watched an adorable group of six cubs come in with a handsome long-haired shifter.
The man sought him out, scented him thoroughly, and introduced himself.
“It’s good to finally meet you, Dustin. I’m Orrin Crosby, and these little ones are from the Cub House.
I came here last year with a different group and had a great time picking apples, so here we are!
I figured we should probably check out the Barn first to satisfy everyone’s curiosity, and then go out to the orchard. ”
Dustin had read about the shifter orphan home from the Bear Creek website, and it tugged at his heart that so many cubs needed families.
“Welcome, Orrin. If you’d like to take a look around, we have a children’s corner where the cubs can color or listen to someone read. If you’d rather have a sweet treat, I’d like to offer you and the children something from the bakery case—on the house, of course.”
The cubs thought it was a wonderful idea, and they dragged Orrin over to see the goods.
Inevitably, they couldn’t decide what to choose, so Dustin gave each of them a maple donut stick and a small cup of cold cider.
That proved to be the least messy option and Orrin took a few minutes to walk through the gift shop while the cubs were being entertained.
After another ten minutes or so, the group went outside to catch the next hay wagon.
Moments after they left, a distressed Gruff marched in, tugged Dustin into his office, and shut the door.
“What did he say? He didn’t touch you did he? You’re MINE!”
Dustin had seen this possessive streak before when Malcom Nesbitt came to the shop weeks ago. Gruff still hadn’t explained his troubled past, but today’s encounter must have triggered his insecurities. It was both sweet and disturbing, though getting to the bottom of it would have to wait.
“I’m sure he picked up your scent on me, but nothing happened. He was very nice, and the cubs were so sweet.”
Relieved, Gruff pulled Dustin into a tight hug, scenting his neck amid growls and huffs. It was easier to talk once he’d calmed down.
“Orrin and I hooked up during the mating season, but I stopped seeing him right after you came. It was just sex, Dusty. I only want you. Please don’t be mad.”
Dustin understood now. Evidently, Gruff saw Orrin, an unmated male, as a threat to his ‘claim’ on Dustin.
Worse, the two of them had been intimate, and perhaps Gruff’s bear considered Orrin as unwelcome competition.
In a way, his reaction was similar to human behavior.
After all, Dustin wouldn’t like someone paying special attention to Gruff now that they were boyfriends.
He couldn’t change shifter instincts, but he could reassure the poor guy.
“I’m not angry or jealous, Gruff. Neither you nor Orrin did anything wrong, and I won’t hold it against you. You’re the only one I want, and I know you’d never cheat on me.”
Gruff peppered Dustin’s face with kisses, muttering “thank-you’s” in between.
Obviously, a conversation needed to happen, soon, or he risked pushing the wonderful human away.
That wasn’t what he wanted at all , and his bear most certainly agreed with him.
Unfortunately, they were out of time and were needed elsewhere.
Gruff gave Dustin a final smooch and reminded him to eat his lunch while things were slow.
Leaving the office, the pair received a few curious glances from employees, wondering what they’d been doing in there.
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The crowds returned after lunch, and the second group of employees arrived for the afternoon shift.
There were a few bumps along the way, quickly corrected for the most part, as Dustin and Jillian explained duties all over again.
The first hour involved restocking, and Dustin took note of the fastest selling items. Cider was flying off the shelves, and at this pace, he and Gruff would have to make a lot more before Monday morning.
While Asha was doing a great job of keeping up, she’d have her hands full tomorrow replenishing the baked goods cases.
In mid-afternoon, Jillian’s husband and their two girls came in to see her new place of employment.
She introduced them to Dustin, and they chatted for a few minutes before he offered to work the counter while Jillian showed them around.
Shortly after, a smiling group of five shifters and two humans walked in, immediately drawn to a prominent display of new merchandise—mugs, T-shirts, hoodies, hats, aprons, calendars, greeting cards, and wall art featuring the town’s dancing bears.
In his quest to carry unique Bear Creek items, Dustin had cut a deal with DeeDee Tillman and a music teacher named Levi McCoy.
In exchange for donating most of the profits to SHARP and the Tri-County High School music program, he’d secured permission to create a new line of merchandise featuring the famous ursines.
After several minutes, one of the human visitors, a very attractive blond fellow, approached the counter with a wide smile.
“Dustin? We haven’t officially met, but I’m Levi McCoy. I love the cool stuff you’ve created, though you probably didn’t know that my mate is one of the dancing bears.”
Dustin reached out to shake his hand, equally pleased to meet the man he’d only spoken to on the phone.
“He is? I’ll have to get his autograph before you leave then! I have more product ideas for the Christmas season, and I need to order copies of the recordings from the last two years. I also added a new page to the Red Barn website, and there’s been a lot of interest already.”
By this time, the rest of the group approached the counter to say hello—each of them holding at least one bear-related item to purchase. Levi introduced them.
“This is my mate, Knox, and the Shaw family: Calvin, Eden, and their boys Wyatt, Arlo, and Ezra. Eden and I both teach at Tri-County. Folks, this is Dustin Mowry, the genius behind all the cool merch we’ve been looking at.”
The Shaws were completely new to him, but Dustin was glad to find two more mixed couples who lived in the region.
“Welcome everyone! Gruff is driving one of the tractors, so you might see him hauling people to the orchard. There’s food, drink, and plenty to look at in here if you’re not picking apples.
By the way, we have a bunch of five-gallon buckets full of pomace that your bears might enjoy—free for the taking.
Let me know if you want some before you go. ”
Jillian returned to her post and switched places with Dustin so he could watch the sales floor. While the others wandered off to look around some more, Levi stayed behind to chat for a bit.
“How’s it going for you and Gruff? Yeah, I heard. Bear Creek’s too small to keep a secret, so you’ll have to get used to everyone knowing your business.”
Dustin blushed, unused to strangers being so frank, but since Levi had a shifter mate, he felt comfortable talking to the man.
“We’re still getting to know one another, but he’s something special. How did you and Knox meet?”