Page 32 of Bear Creek Thanksgiving (Holiday Mates #3)
Asha had been baking for nearly three hours before Dustin and Jillian joined her in the warm, fragrant, second-floor kitchen. It was an unexpected visit, though Dustin quickly explained.
“I wanted to let both of you know that Gruff and I are planning a quick getaway this weekend at the resort. We’re leaving soon after closing time tomorrow and won’t be back until Sunday evening.
If anything important comes up, call the main desk and leave an urgent message for us.
I’ll help you prepare for next week before we leave so you aren’t swamped on Monday morning.
“We also have some schedule changes coming up. First, Thanksgiving week is going to be a little different. The orchard will be done for the season after Saturday the eighteenth, and we’ll be closed to the public from Monday through Thursday, Thanksgiving day.
That gives us a chance to deep clean the building and reset the shop with holiday merchandise on Monday and Tuesday, leaving Wednesday and Thursday to celebrate the holiday.
You’ll be paid for both of those days, so no worries about a slim paycheck.
“Like all the shops in town, we’ll reopen on Black Friday the twenty-fourth, and be closed on Mondays instead of Sundays through the winter—not just through Christmas.
That way, we can accommodate our ice skating customers who we expect to come primarily on the weekends.
Gruff and I will cover the evening skating hours during the week.
Changing our days off won’t be easy, so let me know if there are ways I can adjust the schedule or staff to cover for you. ”
Both ladies asked questions, and they spent a few more minutes figuring out who would be doing what if things got dicey.
They both knew the change of hours was coming, but some of the temps would need additional training to take on new responsibilities.
Jillian already had a list of the people she wanted, and Dustin gave her the freedom to train as she saw fit.
Asha’s only backup was Dustin, so they had to coordinate more carefully to make sure the display cases were always full.
He concluded their meeting on a positive note.
“This first year will be the most confusing, and if something doesn’t work, I’ll fix it.
Feedback is always appreciated, and sometimes I miss things if it’s really busy, so give me a holler if you’re struggling.
I want you both to know how pleased Gruff and I are with your performance so far.
Our guests are leaving great reviews, and a lot of that is due to your hard work and dedication.
To show our appreciation in a tangible way, you can expect a Christmas bonus in December. ”
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Saturday evening, Pocono Ridge Resort
Pictures didn’t do the place justice.
Online photos and brochures were all Gruff and Dustin had seen until they arrived for their getaway.
Since they needed to be here for the attorney meeting, Gruff accepted Ryder’s offer to spend a night on the house and relax a little.
The main entrance was breathtaking, with live edge furnishings, forest green carpet, and a sparkling glass dome overhead.
The front desk staff warmly welcomed them, asked for their meal preferences, and handed over their keycards—attached to stretchy cords.
“You’re booked for one of our combination suites, equipped for mixed couples.
The foodpark is open around the clock, though traditional dining options are limited after midnight.
Both the Watershed and the water park are open until ten p.m. for your enjoyment.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the front desk at any time. Enjoy your stay, gentlemen.”
With such a short stay, their luggage consisted of two small duffle bags.
As explained earlier, their keycards granted them access to the shifter wing and their room.
Dustin stopped short as they stepped through the security doors into another world.
He hadn’t expected the low-ceilinged, faux-tunnel hallway, dim lighting, and astroturf under their feet. Impressive.
“Isn’t this cool, love? What does your bear think?”
Gruff’s nose was busy parsing out the multiple scents of strange shifters, while his chest rumbled with pleasure.
“We both like it. Dash sure knew what he was doing.”
At room one-sixteen, they took a minute to figure out how the door worked, sliding open after Dustin waved his key-card at the scanner.
Gruff could do it in bear form by stepping on the paw-shaped activator embedded in the floor.
If he were wearing the keycard around his neck, the scanner would automatically sweep the card and open the door.
Once inside, they had a quick look around the fantastic room, and then decided to eat supper before it got any later.
Gruff stripped, put the keycard around his neck, and shifted so he could get the full foodpark experience.
As the only shifter dining facility of its kind in the entire state, he was eager to try it.
The door slid shut behind them as the pair made their way down the tunnel-like hallway.
For human guests, inconspicuous signage provided guidance, though shifters simply used their superior sense of smell to find the dining facility.
On the way, they passed the entrance to the Watershed—a water-themed playland designed for bears.
Dustin was especially eager to try it out.
“Can we go tomorrow morning after breakfast? I can’t wait to play around with you.”
Though Gruff didn’t slow down, he nodded his furry head, and then returned to sniffing the air.
His ursine half had zoned in on the overwhelming aroma of food which must be found and eaten at the soonest opportunity.
Dustin understood it, and was grateful that his human nature had more control over the need to feed.
It wasn’t long before the tunnel ended at the foodpark entrance, and they walked straight into the cave-like space.
Subtle lighting reflected off the polished concrete floor, dominated by low platforms—each about a foot off the ground with a scanner mounted at one corner.
Several were occupied; singles, doubles, and what appeared to be a family group all eating from flat trays with raised edges.
Along one wall on their right, they spotted traditional seating for human guests.
None were being used, and Dustin picked a somewhat secluded corner location.
A portable scanner sat at the open edge of the table, and Gruff got close enough for it to access his keycard.
Dustin flashed his too, and the readout blinked with a message— Please be seated.
Your wait time is approximately twelve minutes .
Gruff would get whatever the attached kitchen was making that day, while Dustin expected one of his pre-selected meal choices from the Delaware Room—the resort’s primary restaurant.
Gruff sat on a cushioned mat right next to his mate, enjoying a good ear scratch while Dustin talked about what they’d do after supper.
“Main street has all the shops, including a mini- Delicious , so we can both get our chocolate fix. I want to find the water park, the restaurant, and the ballroom while we’re out—if you don’t mind.
Don’t worry, love, I intend to leave plenty of time for us to get horizontal before we hit the sack. ”
The randy ursine growled, pushing his warm nose under Dustin’s shirt for a sniff and a couple of good licks before the food arrived.
Gruff’s tray came first, held up off the floor by sturdy, retractable legs.
It resembled a stir fry dish containing an enormous mound of raw veggies mixed with seared and seasoned chunks of pork, topped by sliced boiled eggs and walnuts.
While it didn’t look appealing to Dustin, Gruff immediately dug in with relish.
By comparison, natural bears ate almost anything , including roadkill and garbage, so this was a feast fit for a king.
Dustin stroked his mate’s soft fur while he chowed down, receiving his own meal only minutes later.
His was a fried chicken platter, with rosemary potatoes, mixed veggies, buttered rolls, and a glass of sweet tea.
Both were hungry, eating in relative silence except for Gruff’s continuous rumble—a clear sign he was enjoying his food.
Before they’d finished, the staff brought out dessert; a cookie sampler for Dustin, and a big bowl of fresh fruit drizzled with honey for Gruff.
Dustin only had room for two of the cookies, feeding the rest to his appreciative mate before they got up to leave.
With the meals being charged to their account, there was no one to pay or tip, allowing them to leave without further ado.
Gruff approached their room and stepped on the paw-shaped floor plate, activating the scanner which opened the door with a soft hum as it slid aside.
Gruff immediately went poking through the unit to see what was what.
The low-ceilinged main room was softly lit, dotted with real plants, and featured natural wood and stone accents.
To Dustin’s surprise, it even boasted a section of tree trunk for marking or back scratching.
Soft, authentic-looking artificial turf had replaced traditional carpet flooring, and a gentle breeze wafted through, smelling fresh and outdoorsy.
Lounging and sleeping places were scattered throughout, with comfy nooks and crannies for ursine guests to curl up or stretch without impediment.