Ever After

Description

Ever After – Mychael Black

What happens when a witch loves a candymaker? Hans happily lures his pagan lover Georg with promises of sweet chocolate into a life full of love. When Georg proposes, they are swept up in a whirlwind of planning. Surrounded by friends and family, the two of them prove that happily ever after isn’t just for fairy tales.

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EXCERPT:

The sweet smell of chocolate filled Georg with every breath he took. The bell above the shop door jingled when a woman entered, pushing a stroller. Georg looked up and smiled as Hans’ laughter drifted through the room. Hans stooped down and grinned at the little girl in her stroller. With a nod from her mother, Hans handed the girl a chocolate lollipop in the shape of a teddy bear. The girl squealed and giggled as she snatched the candy from Hans’ hand, giving him a huge, chocolaty smile.

A few moments later, Hans stood and pulled a box from under the counter. He rang up the mother’s order and waved at the little girl as they left. Georg just shook his head and went to the counter. After giving the front door a quick glance, he bent over the counter top, meeting his lover in a soft, ever-sweet kiss.

“Mmm, hi there.”

Hans pulled back and smiled. “Hi yourself. What time is it?”

Georg looked at his watch. “Five ‘til six.”

“Thank God,” Hans sighed. “Close enough to closing time.” He typed a few things into the register, hit ‘no sale,’ and pulled out the till. “Lock the door and turn off the sign?”

“Sure.” Georg went to the front door and made a quick glance for lingering customers. Spotting no one, he locked the door, then reached over and flipped a switch, turning off the ‘Open’ sign. Snagging a piece of dark chocolate bark on the way, he headed back to the counter and leaned on it, nibbling on the candy as he waited while Hans counted out the money.

Georg thought back to the first time he’d stepped foot in the shop. Back then, Hans’ grandfather August Goebel owned the candy shop, which had been in the Goebel family for ages. Hans’ father bypassed the shop ownership, leaving Hans to run the place when August passed away. Georg had come in one autumn day, eleven years ago, looking for something for his niece. Never did he expect to find the most wonderful man in the world behind the counter.

“Did fairly good today,” Hans said without looking up. “Kinda slow, but not bad.”

Hans gathered up the bills and slipped them into a dark brown bank bag. The coins were left in the register with a few bills, all amounting to twenty-five dollars. Georg remembered Hans telling him that when he’d had to run the register once. After closing the register drawer, Hans gathered up the receipts in another bag and grabbed his coat from under the counter.

“Ready?”

Georg grinned and nodded. Reaching out with the hand holding the dark chocolate bark, he painted Hans’ lips. Then he leaned forward to lick them clean, finally pressing in for a chocolate-laden kiss.