Autumn Moon

Chapter Two

     Corisa got up early enough that Elsa wouldn't have to bang on the door again and got herself ready for the day. She tended to open a bit later on Sundays and closed up early. The town was so small that nobody got out until around eleven in the morning. That gave her time to stay in the shower just a little longer for the hot water to relax her muscles.

     She didn't sleep well last night. Alec's face would dart into her dreams and she'd startle awake. He continued to plague her. Even in sleep there was no escape from the vision of his chiseled jaw and bright green eyes.

    She heard a heavy rapping on the outside door and ran to answer. Below the stairs of her apartment were two doors. One led to the shop and the other to the rear parking lot. Elsa usually received orders through this door, but one wasn't scheduled today.

     When she opened the door, Alec stood on the other side. She nearly slammed the door in his face, too shocked to speak. "Cat got your tongue, sweetheart, or are you just that happy I'm here?" He winked and flashed a toothy white smile.

    Corisa blinked hard. Remember your words, Cori! The voice inside her head shouted. "Um...what are you doing here? Did Elsa forget to give you something?"

     There's that lovely tinkling, again. Alec smiled brighter. He wanted her to keep talking. He needed to hear that voice, see those cheeks tinged pink. And those eyes! The way they looked at him. She had his wolf itching to get out. "No, Elsa didn't forget anything. She never forgets anything. That woman has a mind like an elephant." He chuckled.

     Corisa blushed at the sound of that laugh. He had the kind that could wrap around you and make you tingle. "Then why are you here?"

     "Well," he leaned against the door frame, "I have this truck, you see," he gestured to the parking lot where a moving truck sat idle and a couple of burly men were walking to the rear, "it has some furniture in the back. Thought I'd bring it up to the apartment. I was in the process of furnishing it for Elsa before I had to take my trip." He wasn't, really. When Elsa told him Corisa didn't have anything in the apartment he felt the need to take care of it. Give her something to sit on. A television to watch.

     "I...I guess you can come in." She moved to open the door. How nice of him to do this for Elsa, for her. She could use something to make the apartment more homey. It was so empty and drab. "You know where it is. I have to open the store. Just let me know when you're done so I can relock the doors."  Alec nodded and she went to work.

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     Alec directed the men to the apartment as they carried a heavy purple settee up the stairs. He opened the door and noticed how bare the front room was. There were no curtains, no rug on the floor. He was in absolute shock. "You guys have to bring the whole load in. I didn't know it was this empty." He shook his head as Eric and Darrin put down the settee and made their way back down to the truck.

     He pushed it to the middle of the room and began to inspect the apartment. At least she had a microwave and the necessary appliances to cook a proper meal. He searched the pantry and all of the cabinets, the refrigerator, and found barely anything. A couple of bowls, plates, cups, and silverware. Hardly any food at all. There's no way she could continue to live like this.

     The bedroom and bathroom weren't any better. That sweet strawberry scent was all over those two rooms. He inhaled deeply before walking back to the living room and finding that the guys worked fast, leaving the boxes scattered among the furniture. He nodded to Eric, "Thanks, man. Anything else left in the truck?"

     "It's all in here, Alpha." Eric wiped his sweaty brow and ran his hand through his short blonde locks. "Need us to stay and help?" He looked around the apartment and inhaled deeply, smelling the fruity essence that was the doe eyed girl downstairs.