This body of work is available exclusively on Wattpad. If you're viewing it on a different website or under a different username, it has been illegally stolen and you may be at risk of malware. Please do not support these sites as it takes long hours of hard work and effort to write a book. Head over to Wattpad and let me, the original author, know if you come across this situation by finding me @greenwitchwrites.

Skylar

I had offered Dmitri some coffee last night, but he declined and left abruptly. I had questions I wanted to ask him. It made little sense that there was a bear in the woods, especially at this time of year. At all, actually. The last sighting of a bear in these parts was over three years ago. So, while not unfathomable, it was highly unusual. I had checked before I moved to the property, obviously not wanting to move to a place infested with creatures that could crush my skull with their mouths. And since when were there hunters in this part of the world? No hunting has been permitted here since the law was passed over 8 years ago.

And what had he been doing for an entire hour before he found me sleeping in the sunroom? I checked the clock on the wall when entering my place last night. I checked it again when he woke me up.

The story didn't make sense, and I just wanted to straighten it out for peace of mind.

Waking up the next morning, I could tell the day ahead was going to be long. I had slept poorly, waking up many times during the night. I didn't have the recurring dream, but it wouldn't have had a chance given how little I had slept.

It was evident, thanks to the dark half-moons under my eyes and my dull, listless skin. Joy.

"Let's scare the customer half to death today," I say out loud as I make my way to the front door. I had to leave earlier as I was walking into town. My bike was still outside my shop. At the time, I hadn't thought about the walk I would have to make this morning when agreeing to Dmitri's offer to escort me home last night.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. As I open my front door, I'm met with a very fresh, gorgeous-looking Dmitri. He is dressed in a pair of jeans and a dark blue collared shirt. His white hair is loose but pushed back off his face, which is sporting two-day-old stubble, just the way I like it. He looks delicious, and I swear my brain malfunctions, sending my manners out the window as it does.

"What are you doing here?" It sounds like an accusation.

"Good morning to you, too," he says sarcastically.

I didn't know he could do sarcasm. I thought he could only do silent or stern.

"I remembered you left your bike at the shop." Green eyes scan my face, lingering on the dark marks before dipping to my lips briefly before meeting my gaze again. "So I thought I'd keep you company on your walk to work."

"Thank you, but you didn't have to," I say, flustered that I will be in his company so soon again. I need time to prepare. I turn and lock the door, silently praying I don't make a fool of myself.

Okay, calm down, bitch. You got this. Just be cool.

I turn slowly and smile, thinking how glad I am that I had worn a dress today. The morning was already hot, and coupled with the fire this man was igniting in me, I was a furnace. The last thing I needed was to be a sweaty mess next to this gorgeous specimen.

He hands me a coffee, a Fred's Diner coffee, just the way I like it. My eyes flare, and my smile widens. Fucking godsend. Can this man get any better?

"Thank you. How did you know what I like?" I ask, removing the lid, hoping to speed up the cooling process. I desperately need the caffeine.

"Rene is a wealth of information when it comes to you," he says nonchalantly, falling in step beside me as we walk down my driveway. I'm surprised and a little giddy that he went to the trouble of finding out what I like.

"Thank you again for walking me and for the coffee, but you really didn't have to." I take a sip of the deliciousness in my hand. Mmmmm. I almost moan out loud.

"I wanted to, Skylar."

It's the first time he has said my full name, and while I usually hate it, coming from him, it sounds rather lovely.

I can feel his gaze on me, watching my every move. But I mustn't read too much into this impromptu visit. He is beyond good-looking. Not someone who is single. A glance at him, allowing my gaze to travel his form, reinforcing my assumption that Mr. Cool next to me definitely couldn't be single. I'm sure he has a string of pretty women lining up to warm his bed. Besides, even if I were interested, nothing could happen. It was impossible. That thought sours my mood, and I almost sigh at the depressing thought.

"What's wrong?" he asks, his question catching me off guard. Had I been that obvious?

"Fine. I just didn't sleep much last night." The half-truth leaves my lips as the coffee enters them.

"About last night, what exactly happened? It doesn't make sense for a bear to be in this area this time of year, and hunting is illegal. The locals would never do something like that." I watch his face, hoping to see something there. The truth. A lie. I'm not sure what I am expecting.

Perhaps I shouldn't push this. But the more I think about it, the more important the answers become. Everything he said could be possible, but at the same time, my intuition was telling me something wasn't right. That there was something missing. Perhaps it was the thought of him hiding something from me that bothered me most. For some very bizarre and unexplainable reason, I wanted this man to trust me, to confide in me. He didn't seem like the kind of guy who was close to anyone. Perhaps that was why I wanted it to be different with me, as if I were special. An absurd thought.

"Look, Skylar, there are some things I need to tell you, but we need more time than this walk to your shop." There is a little frustration coating his tone. "How about I come over to your place after work? I'll even bring dinner."

Okay. I was not expecting this. I'm sure my face displays the shock at his suggestion. What does he have to tell me that could possibly need a whole evening? Or was that just an excuse to spend time with me? Surely not.

"Sure, I usually get home at around half five," I eventually say as we round the corner where the diner is.

"You're vegan?" His brows lift as he asks, and I wonder if there is a wrong answer to his question.

"Vegetarian, actually, but I do enjoy vegan food. I just couldn't give up cheese. My nemesis." I try to lighten the mood with a smile, which seems to work.

"Perfect, I'll get pizza then. I know a place that does a killer vegetarian with a thick crust." We stop just in front of the diner.

"I'm meeting Ivan here, so... I'll see you later?" His gaze holds mine as I nod and then smile, a blush creeping up my neck and sitting on my cheeks.

"Yes, see you later."

I spin on my heel, but feel his eyes on my back as I make my way across the park and to my shop, where Rene is waiting by the door, a massive, knowing grin on her face.

I roll my eyes as I enter, speed walking to the front counter with her hot on my heels.

"So, you and Dmitri, hey?" I turn to face her, a blush coloring my cheeks and making her even more suspicious, no doubt. "Tell me all about it!"

Unfortunately, there wasn't much to tell. Part of me wished I could tell Rene that we had kissed, and it was love at first sight, just like her and Ivan. But no. I wasn't deluded enough to imagine that Mr. Sex God over there was interested in me. I would find out tonight what was going on, I think, waving my hand dismissively in the air as I brush Rene's question off. There was nothing to tell. And there would never be anything to tell. With that depressing thought, I open my computer, ready to lose myself in work. The only comfort I have.

Please don't forget to comment and vote!