Page 63 of The Aster Valley Collection, Vol. 1

Every summer when my parents had snuck me back into Aster Valley to help Aunt Berry on her farm during growing season, I got to escape their severity and learn a different way of life.

Berry was a free spirit who believed in the power of the earth, positive thinking, and loving one another.

She wore bright yellow stripes and dark purple paisley.

Everyone in town came to Berry, not only for home remedies, but also for a kind word, gentle reassurance, and sometimes—if she deemed you special enough—a tarot reading, psychic prophesy, or love potion.

Aunt Berry had shown me that growing up didn’t have to mean a life of drudgery. Was she taken seriously? I wasn’t so sure about that. Plenty of people thought she was weird or quirky. But she was happy and successful.

“Speaking of behaving like a grown-up,” I said, reaching around for the zipper on my costume. “I need to get to work. I have several orders due out today.”

Barney sighed and reached over to yank down the zipper. I mumbled a thanks and made my way to the back room where I had extra clothes stashed. I peeled off the big fuzzy suit and stood there in nothing but yellow tights when I heard Barney’s voice behind me.

“I shouldn’t have complained about the costume,” he murmured.

I gasped and turned around, holding the fuzzy suit in front of me like a shield. Barney’s eyes were hungry in a way that made my stomach hurt. “D-did you need something?”

“I wouldn’t mind a kiss or two,” he said with a smile, stepping closer. “You sure are tempting me this morning, Truman.”

I stepped back until I felt the worktable behind me. “No time,” I swallowed. “I have to get these packages out before the scheduled pickup.”

It was a lie. They were going out in the mail which meant I could drop them off at the post office anytime before closing.

“You keep putting me off, Truman,” he said. “I thought we talked about this. We’ve been dating for months now.”

“No we haven’t,” I said. “I told you in the very beginning I wasn’t ready for a commitment or label, and then I told you I only wanted to be friends. I don’t want a relationship right now.”

He gave me a disappointed look. “And I told you to trust me. I know what’s best for you, don’t I? I can take care of you. Keep you out of trouble and whatnot. All I ask in return is for a little affection.”

I shook my head and tried to remember Greta’s words. “I’m not comfortable with that. I would like for us to be just friends.”

His jaw tightened for a split second before he looked at the floor and sighed before looking up at me.

“What am I going to do with you? You’re scared, sweet pea.

That’s all this is.” He reached out to take my shoulders in his hands.

I tried not to notice how warm and damp they felt against my bare skin.

“You’ve had a really bad day. I think you need a hug.

” He pulled me against him, the thick fur of the bee costume thankfully creating a barricade between his body and mine.

I held my breath as he squeezed me tightly.

The jangle of the shop door broke through the awkward moment like the class bell at the end of a long school day.

“Truman? Are you here?” It was Mikey’s voice, and I heard another masculine murmur as well. Probably his boyfriend, Tiller.

“Yeah,” I said, gently moving away from Barney’s grip. “Back here. Give me a minute.”

I blinked an apology at Barney and scrambled to find my clothes. If Sam was somehow with them, I didn’t want him to see my scrawny self in nothing but a pair of yellow tights.

But when I walked out to the main floor of the shop in jeans and a henley shirt, I didn’t see the big biker.

“Did you talk to Sam?” I asked a little breathlessly.

Mikey came over and gave me a big hug. It felt a million times more reassuring than the one Barney had given me just a few minutes earlier. “Yes, he sent us to check on you while they finish taking his statement.”

I closed my eyes and let Sam’s concern warm me from the inside out. That was thoughtful of him.

Mikey pulled back and searched my face. “Are you okay? He said someone was trying to bully you.”

Barney walked up and stood a little too close to me which made Tiller step closer to Mikey.

Tiller Raine was a towering NFL player, who’d intimidated me when I’d first met him.

But since then, I’d watched how tender and affectionate he was with Mikey.

Not only had it put me at ease, it had helped me realize I needed to end things once and for all with Barney if I was ever going to have a chance at finding something like that.

Barney said, “He’s fine. Everything’s fine. It was all a misunderstanding.”

Except it wasn’t. And I could tell by the look on Mikey’s face, he knew it.

He glanced at Barney before looking back at me and taking my hand.

“I’m making your favorite smoked paprika shrimp tonight.

Will you come for dinner?” He seemed to realize his invitation hadn’t included Barney, so he added, “Because I want to ask you some questions about the chemical effects of introducing bromelian as a pineapple-sourced protease to break down amino acids in?—”

“Of course,” I blurted before he had to come up with any more excuses. I already knew that tonight was Barney’s model railroad club meeting anyway. “What time?”

It wasn’t until thirty minutes later that I realized my mistake in accepting Mikey’s invitation to dinner.

Sam was going to be there.