Cherry I hurried off to the cash register to serve the next customer. It was Saturday, so I was doing overtime in my store. It had taken me the last year to find and train Nina and Kendra, my two sales assistants, to my satisfaction. But Kendra was expecting her first baby now and had asked for the weekends off. I was in the process of interviewing for a new sales assistant for the weekends and to cover Kendra’s maternity leave, but until I found someone suitable, I had to cover it. By five o’clock, I’d left Nina to lock up and returned home. With fantasies of stripping out of the tight black dress and heels I wore, ideas about dinner zipped through me. Deciding I was too tired to cook, I pictured the excitement on Fern’s face when I told her we’d order in. As I traipsed up the stairs to my second-floor apartment, a grassy, woody scent filled my nostrils. The aroma tugged at something deep inside me, conjuring up long- buried memories: lush farmlands with hedgerows. I stopped dead on
Cherry Still dazed but obviously feeling flustered about zoning out, my nanny readily agreed. But Fern stomped her feet, point blank, refusing to go to her room. It was only when I suggested they make some chocolate milk and have a tea party with her teddies that she submitted. I also had to agree to her demand that once Bert and I had talked business, I’d let her say goodbye to him. Once again, I scowled at Bert, annoyed that he’d somehow managed to get Fern to like him in one brief meeting. Thoughts about how impossible it had been to get my daughter to warm to any of my past suitors made me even more angry with him. Finally, safely coaxed into her room by Lara, and with the door shut, I was left to confront Bert. Shrugging off my jacket and slipping out of my heels, I padded into the living room. My hands settled on my hips. “You know, it’s rude to barge into someone’s house uninvited.” He shrugged. “Kinda gave up on ever getting invited after the first five years.” My face b
Cherry As Bert and I broke apart, my friend’s easy-going grin triggered a matching one on my face. “What?” I asked. “Sooo, Fern’s a fire-cracker, ain’t she?” I chuckled but reminded myself I still needed to tread carefully. I gestured to the sofa, inviting Bert to sit down and using the moment to get a grip on my anxiety. I thanked my lucky stars that I’d taken the precaution to conceal Fern’s shifter scent. I’d gone to a witch in Berlin’s Mitte district, who’d given me medicine to block my daughter’s scent to others with unnatural abilities. But I knew I mustn’t reveal any nervousness before my friend about my daughter, or he’d get suspicious. “She certainly keeps me on my toes,” I started. Bert’s keen blue eyes took me in, and he didn’t ask, but the silence filled with the unasked question about where Fern’s father was. Knowing it was important for me to broach the subject first before my friend could ask whether she was Dylan’s, I leaped into the topic. “I met Fern’s dad, a hu
Cherry I rolled my eyes at his shifter joke but observed Fern’s disappointment fall over her face. Trying to distract her, I suggested, “Bert heard about your Star of the Week Certificate. Want to go get it for him?” Fern nodded, her dark eyes hovering hopefully on Bert as she smiled and shot off to get her award. My heart lurched in my chest as I contemplated that longing look on my little girl’s face. I realized Bert was watching me closely. “Sorry, it’s tough on her,” I said. “Sometimes, I wish she had more than me.” Bert’s eyes were somber. “She does seem to really want a father figure. Have you…” He hesitated. “Are you seeing anyone?” My stomach twisted uncertainly. I sighed. “I’m seeing someone, but it’s still early days. I’m still not sure how I feel about him, to be honest.” At the thought of Carl, I realized I should probably call him later, to let him know I’d be out of the city for a week. Especially given his declaration the other night. Wanting to deflect the atte
Cherry Before my mom passed away, we’d spent some of the happiest weekends there, enjoying the glass sculptures and lush gardens illuminated by lights in the dusk. Bittersweet memories of my mom and dad’s smiling faces as they wandered around the place occupied me. Feeling nostalgic, I wondered about revisiting those artworks while I was visiting. Maybe my dad or Bert would be up for coming with me. I wondered if I could use the place as inspiration for a new range of designs next summer. The exhibition’s bright color palette amidst the amber lights had always reminded me of summer blending into fall. I mused about coming back to Seattle for photo shoots with my next clothing line, but my stomach somersaulted. I remembered the text from Bert I’d received during my stopover in London while waiting for my connecting flight. I scooped my phone out of my handbag and opened his text: I didn’t want to overwhelm you when I visited you, but I need to give you the heads up before you get to
Cherry “Darling, all my friends are here,” he said. “There are preternatural areas in Berlin, too,” I said brightly. “The Mitte District is the main one with many witches and warlocks trading there. And I’ve met a few shifters hanging out in the area too.” The area was where I’d gone to find the scent blocker for Fern. I knew my dad wouldn’t cope well adjusting to spending too much time in human society, so I wanted him to know that Berlin had a thriving preternatural community too. “I’ve still got my work here with the pack, love,” My dad continued. “And I don’t think another pack would hire an old codger like me,” he said. I kicked myself for not being considerate about how much it would mean relocating. My father had worked for the Starsmoon Pack his whole life. He was in his late fifties now, and I had to admit relocating cities for him meant starting over completely, with friends, home, and work. But the truth was I had to tell my dad about Fern because sitting around with bo
CherryMy gaze tracked over Dylan’s tall, muscular body. Dressed in black trousers and a dark blue shirt, he looked as gorgeous as I remembered. But my memories hadn’t prepared me fully for how arresting his rugged handsomeness was. I noticed his strong jaw and proud forehead were even more evident now that he wore his hair shorter.In danger of staring at him too long, I was pleased I had something I needed to do. My dad had reminded me about the pack custom I’d forgotten: giving a gift to the new Alpha. It was customary on first seeing the new Alpha of the pack to bestow something homemade on him. When I’d arrived at my dad’s house, I’d been flustered at the thought of having nothing homemade other than the dresses I’d packed. None of which were exactly appropriate for Dylan.But my dad had come to the rescue by giving me a bottle of his homemade wine. Something that was in the tote bag on the kitchen counter in front of me.I stepped towards Dylan and gifted him the bottle. “For th
CherryFinally, I said, “That’s you all done, Lucy.” I resolved that I’d happily bear any number of fittings with my high-maintenance celeb clients instead of fittings with Dylan’s mate.With the she-devil done, Lucy slipped her heels back on before ushering Dylan over to me.As she did so, she commented amusedly, “Lord, you two look so funny. You managed to reach me, Cherry, but I don’t know how you’re going to get Dylan’s measurements.”I knew she was making a dig about Dylan and me being an ill-fitting couple, but I simply commented, “Don’t worry, I know all the tricks of the trade. A client like Dylan requires specialist equipment.” Moving a dining chair from the edge of the room, I stood on it so that I could reach Dylan’s neck easily.I felt Lucy’s gaze lingering on me, but as I settled steadily into the rhythm of measuring Dylan’s shoulders, she grew bored. She retreated to the desk where her mate had sat before, and her attention fell to her phone screen.A smile threatened as