Page 1 of Seducing Sasquatch

CHAPTER 1

ARDEN

My pen taps against the clipboard as I count each carabiner. Fifteen in total. I check the list and, sure enough, all are accounted for. With today being the last day of the hiking season, I have less than four hours before I close the shop for good until next year.

It’s a fantastic little store located right on the edge of town with hiking trails starting at the end of the parking lot. Plenty of fresh faces come by for equipment, along with many regulars who love the Windrest mountains and lakes to explore. So I spend most days chatting with fascinating people from all over the world.

But on this day, my shop is empty. That’s usually how it goes when it’s the end of the season. People find different spots to explore, while others go home to their families. Which works perfectly for me when I’m itching to go to my cabin for the winter and let out my inner Sasquatch.

For the past nine months, my claustrophobic human body has confined me, and my eyes seek the clock above the counter every twenty minutes. Being the owner, I could leave and call it a day but today feels different. Like I need to be here for something important.

Just as I note down the number of carabiners into my stock take, the bell above the front door chimes. Lifting my head, I peer over the rack of climbing rope and harnesses to find a mop of dirty blond hair and flushed cheeks.

I freeze momentarily, my pen slipping from between my fingers before clattering at my feet. That’s when he looks at me. Gorgeous, glistening eyes meet mine, and I forget what breathing is.

Mine. My inner beast growls through my mind.

“Do you sell tents?” The young man standing at the front of my shop calls over to me, completely unaware of my beast’s remark. His gaze darts around the various shelves before returning ‌to where I stand motionlessly. With my pen long forgotten, I slide the clipboard onto the counter and shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans.

Stay cool. Stay calm. I berate my beast.

I count each step as I walk towards my customer. He’s young. Much younger than me, maybe ‌in his mid-twenties. Jesus, definitely far too young for me. What the hell is my beast thinking, calling him mine?

“Hi.” I give him a smile, noting the cute freckles bridging his button nose. “Welcome to Cryptid Climbs. What kind of tent are you after?”

The man’s gaze sweeps down from my face and darts across my chest. He visibly swallows, sucking on his lower lip. The movement has me pinching my fingers together in my pockets. Damn, this guy’s cute.

“I-I,” he stutters, before looking up at me, craning his neck at our height difference. “Jesus, you’re tall.”

I chuckle, nodding my head in agreement. I get that a lot. Being six foot seven, most people say the same thing the first time they see me.

“The weather’s great up here, by the way.” I joke, watching how the young man’s eyes light up as he giggles behind the back of his hand.

It’s a fluttery laugh that has my eyes squinting as I grin widely. He’s contagious. I like it.

“That‌’s good to know. I’m heading up there later today.” The young man responds before holding out his dainty hand towards me. “I’m Blake.”

His fingers are soft and warm as I shake his hand politely. “Arden. It’s nice to meet you.”

His fingers rest against mine, and neither of us pull away. I can feel his pulse beneath his wrist, as his cheeks grow a deeper shade of pink. But when I feel the rumble of an approving growl fill my chest, I shut my lips and pull away, sucking in a breath.

Don’t scare him! I internally yell at myself and my beast. He doesn’t know what we are.

For now my beast stays quiet as it lurks beneath my skin. Blake looks a little disappointed as I step away and shove my hand back into my pocket, but it’s for the best. Sasquatch shifters are rare. I highly doubt he’s aware of our existence.

“So tents?” I begin. Turning to the back of the shop, Blake follows me through the aisles until we reach the wall housing all the various tents and tarps one could wish for.

“If you’re going hiking today and you’re looking to stay overnight, you’ll probably need a hot tent.” I point to the bundle closest to us. “A snowstorm is due tonight and temperatures will plummet.”

“Oh?” Blake hums, picking up the hot tent bag. He fiddles with the price tag before carefully placing it back on the shelf. “What about this one instead?”

Picking a different tent from the shelf, I know it’s the wrong one for tonight’s weather. A simple dome tent with no insulation or hole for a chimney. He’ll freeze.

“I don’t recommend that one. It won’t withstand the snow.” I carefully speak around the growl filling my words.

My beast simmers far too close to the surface as I feel the familiar tingle of fur sprouting from my forearms. Unwinding my sleeves, I hide my fur beneath my shirt and swallow audibly. I don’t like the idea of Blake in a dome tent as much as my beast does; at least in a hot tent he can have a fire stove.

So much for staying cool and collected.