Chapter 2

Several months later

Cian had settled in nicely. His apartment was completely furnished and very comfortable and he enjoyed his work at the original Walters Antiques.

He was just coming back from the closest town to Moonlight Gorge from getting a few supplies when he came upon a broken down vehicle right outside the town limits. The vehicle was an ugly brown color that looked like mud and also looked really old with rust spots in several places.

Cian stopped his car on the side of the road and got out to see if he could help the driver.

Cian approached and knocked on the driver's window and the woman behind the wheel looked at him.

"Can I help you ma'am? Do you need help getting somewhere?" Cian asked the driver.

Cian sensed the woman's emotions and she was a little scared and he couldn't blame her. His family had discovered that he was an empath and had turned out to be quite powerful once he had passed puberty. However, since his talent had started to emerge as a six-year-old child it meant that he was more powerful than most empaths, as usually such talents didn't appear until puberty came upon them. He had somehow known that his Aunt Shonda could help him for instance and he knew now that he had been sensing her emotions from over block away.

"I'm going to call a tow truck and also 911," Cian told the woman in a loud enough voice the she could him though the material of the window. Most car windows were no longer made of glass in fact it was a substance that wasn't as easy to break, but still allowed the driver to see when they were operating the vehicle. If this woman had been in a crash for instance it was unlikely the window would have shattered, but on the other hand, it made it harder to get somebody out of the car if they were trying to help them.

Luckily, there were tools that could cut through the material that the windows were made of if necessary to extract someone.

Cian took out his phone and started to dial 911.

The woman finally rolled down her window a little bit and said, "There's no reason to call 911 I am not hurt."

"Still, you should be taken to the hospital to be checked out to make sure of that as you could have internal injuries," Cian said.

"I didn't crash my car simply broke down," the woman told him.

"I'm Cian Hotchner by the way. What's your name?"

"Jennifer Jareau," JJ answered. "I go by JJ though."

"Well, at least let me call a tow truck for you and I'll take you into Moonlight Gorge," Cian offered. "You can get a hotel room until your car is fixed."

"That's very nice of you to offer Mr. Hotchner," JJ said.

"You can call me Cian," Cian said. "Do you know why your car broke down?"

"Because it's ancient for one thing," JJ said really beginning to like this Cian Hotchner. Cian seemed nice, was courteous and polite unlike so many people. "I've had it for quite a few years as I can't really afford a new one."

"I understand," Cian said. "I hope your car can be fixed since you can't afford something new."

"Stand back," JJ requested and Cian did so.

JJ finally opened her door and got out of her vehicle.

"I'll call the closest automotive shop if you want?" Cian offered.

"That would be very nice of you," JJ said gazing at the handsome man with his brown hair and eyes.

Cian quickly looked up the number for the closest auto shop on the internet and then called them to tell them that they needed a car towed.

"It'll be at least 20 minutes they said," Cian said.

"Do you know of somewhere I can stay once they come to tow my car," JJ asked Cian.

"We have quite a few places you can stay in Moonlight Gorge," Cian said. "It depends on how much you want to spend."

"Somewhere relatively cheap," JJ said. "A motel would probably be best."

"We have the Moonlight Inn. It's pretty nice and also cheap," Cian offered, finally looking into JJ's face for the very first time.

Cian tried not to react as he knew instantly that Jennifer Jareau was his mate.

"What's the matter?" JJ merely asked when she saw Cian eyes widened for no apparent reason.

"Sorry," Cian said quickly getting control of himself. "You just remind me of someone."

"I must resemble this person quite closely if you were so surprised when you looked directly into my face," JJ noted.

"Something like that," Cian said wanting to get off the subject as quickly as possible. He didn't want to have to explain, at least right now, why he had acted so astonished when he had looked directly at her.

"So you live in Moonlight Gorge then?" JJ asked.

"Yeah, I do," Cian answered honestly. "Moved here a few months ago."

"So where are you originally from?" JJ asked.

"I'm originally from Detroit, but I'd been living in New York for a few years," Cian answered.

"If you were living in New York why move to somewhere with far fewer people?" JJ asked. "I mean I passed the sign for Moonlight Gorge about a mile back and it said there's only about 50,000 people compared to New York who has about 20 million people."

"For one thing, I have family in the area," Cian said truthfully. "For another I took over my aunt's antique business as none of the Hotchners that lived in town were interested in running it. I wanted to live somewhere quieter, with not as many people. I just got tired of the rat race that's all."

Part of the reason he had was because of his empathic talent. "My aunt asked me if I was willing to run Walter Antiques in Moonlight Gorge and since I needed a change I agreed."

Cian didn't bother to tell his mate that it had been time for him to move on, as he had been in New York for quite awhile, well over 60 years, so like Amelia Hotchner, who had had to move on it was time for him to do so as well.

"That was really nice of you to agree to move to take over your aunt's business," JJ said really liking Cian Hotchner.

"Oh, she has a store in Philadelphia right now and this one was being run by one of her children who had just decided it was time to retire. The one here, in Moonlight Gorge, is the original one, that has been open for generations."

"So it's been around awhile," JJ said and Cian nodded.

"Yes quite a few centuries actually and that it's still in business after so long really says something," Cian agreed.

"Especially since this is hardly somewhere like New York or Chicago or even Philadelphia where your aunt opened another store," JJ commented.

The two talked until finally a tow truck pulled up right behind JJ's car.

"Somebody call for a tow?" the guy in the driver seat asked.

"Give you a lift into town?" Cian asked once all the details were worked out with the tow truck driver.

"That sounds good," JJ accepted while turning down the tow truck driver offer to drive her into town.

"I can drop you off at the Moonlight Inn, if you like once you're done with Ellsworth's auto shop," Cian offered.

"I hope this auto place has a car they could loan me until mine is fixed," JJ said.

"I'm sure they do," Cian said.

"I only hope my car can be fixed," JJ said after she told the tow truck driver that she'd meet him at his shop.

"I hope it can be too. If not, I'll take you to the used car dealership, that's a couple of towns over," Cian offered.

"Let's hope that's not necessary," JJ sighed, even as she got into the passenger seat of Cian's very nice sedan.

"So where were you headed when your car broke down?" Cian inquired curiously.

"To Kentucky to see a friend," JJ said. "I need to call my friend and tell her I'll be late getting there because my car broke down.

"Yeah, I'm sure you don't want her to worry when you don't arrive when she expects you to," Cian said

"No, I don't," JJ agreed, as she began to see signs of life as they began to enter Moonlight Gorge.

The two chatted, as Cian drove to to the auto shop where JJ's car had been towed.

~~~Cian and JJ~~~

"What about dinner?" Cian asked JJ once they were done at the auto shop.

"Well, I should get a hotel room first," JJ said.

"We can do that first," Cian offered. "You have to eat."

"True," JJ agreed.

"It's on me," Cian said.

"Is this like a date?" JJ asked Cian.

"If you wanted to be or if not I can just be as friends," Cian said quickly. "I'm not reluctant to admit I really like you JJ, a lot."

"I like you to," JJ told him. "I mean you stopped to help a stranger just because my car broke down. You helped me out and I appreciate it."

"You should've called 911 and told them you had broken down outside of Moonlight Gorge," Cian said. "They could've found the closest auto shop to where you were that would have towed your car to their shop."

"I was just about to do that actually, since I just didn't want to walk into town especially since I didn't know how far it was going to be," JJ said.

"Yeah, you broke down, only about a mile outside of town," Cian said. "Maybe a mile and a half.

"That's not too far, but it was starting to get late in the day and it would've been completely dark pretty soon so I'm glad you came by to rescue me. I wouldn't have wanted to spend all night in my car. By the time, I found anyone to help me out it probably would have been fully dark."

"That's a good point," Cian admitted. "That particular road isn't that busy so you might have been waiting for rescuer much longer if I hadn't happened to come along. Especially not so late in the day."

"You were using it though," JJ pointed out.

"True, but I've learned the little used back roads in the few months I've been here," Cian said. "Using that was the quickest way back to town especially since there was an accident on the highway, which is why I diverted before I could be stuck in a traffic jam. Besides, most traffic would've been in the sky lanes and very few cars use the roads anymore at least here, unless you don't have a flying feature on your car or it is malfunctioning."

"Like my car. When I said it was old, I meant that it and it doesn't have a flying feature I'm afraid. I bought it used not new and used cars often don't have such a feature or it doesn't work," JJ said

"Which is another reason that there was no traffic on the road your car broke down on," Cian said.

"I'm really grateful you came along and you didn't decide to join the sky traffic," JJ said.

"I like driving on the ground sometimes," Cian said simply. "Less traffic just means you don't have to be as careful as you do when there's a lot of traffic to worry about. Sometimes I don't feel like fighting my way through traffic."

"You could have let the autopilot take control," JJ pointed out, "and it would've driven your car for you."

"I could've done that," Cian admitted easily. "Who trusts the autopilot to get you to your destination? I prefer to control the car myself."

"So many men think like you do," JJ laughed. "They like to be in control at all times and don't trust the auto pilot. That is such a male trait."

"And you're telling me that a lot of women don't like to be in control?" Cian shot back.

"Some do," JJ admitted easily.

"So the Moonlight Inn first before I take you to dinner?" Cian asked JJ.

"You don't need to buy me dinner Cian, though it's nice of you to offer," JJ said. "I'll be fine once we check in to the inn."

"You don't know a thing about Moonlight Gorge and where the best and cheapest places to eat are," Cian pointed out. "Why settle for room service, which is often overpriced and not very good to boot for what you get when you could have a real meal?"

"That's a good, point," JJ admitted. "I could get some recommendations about eating places, but without a car I'd have to call a cab which would be expensive, which would force me to order room service."

"Well, at least they said they would have a loaner ready for you tomorrow," Cian said. "At least that's something."

"True, if I didn't have you offering to give me a ride I would've had to call a cab," JJ said. "It's going to be expensive enough when I have to get a cab to the auto shop in order to pick up my loaner tomorrow."

"Oh no, you call me and I'll take you to pick up your car," Cian immediately offered.

"You have your shop to run though," JJ protested.

"Me, closing early or not opening at all for one day isn't going to do my business any harm JJ," Cian told her with a wink and a smile. "While Moonlight Gorge is considerably larger than it used to be, it's still a relatively small town, which means that the people who want to come in and buy something or just browse will understand that I'm helping you out because you don't have a car right now. They can always come back the next day and if they don't then they weren't serious customers to begin with. Helping you out won't hurt my business in the slightest, I promise."

"But your aunt depends on you to be open for business everyday," JJ mildly protested. "I wouldn't want her to be upset with me, because you kept the store closed when you should be open."

"That won't happen JJ," Cian promised. "It's not like she needs the money that the antique shop here in town brings in for a few days as the store Philadelphia is very successful. My aunt will understand that you needed my assistance, because your car broke down and she's not going to chastise me for staying closed for a few days.

"She has plenty of money and so does my Uncle Aaron. The only reason this location hasn't been closed down is because it's an institution it has been in the same location since it was first opened in the 16th century. Well, that and because this shop is the first one that started the business and it has since been turned into a chain over the years."

"Two shops is hardly a chain," JJ said.

"Maybe not, but there's also one in New York that I was running before I moved here and in multiple other cities. Walters Antiques are all over the United States, run by various family members. Every single one of them makes a healthy profit," Cian explained.

"So somebody else is running the one in New York now," JJ said and Cian nodded.

"My cousin Alton," Cian explained simply. "He's all of 26 and has only been done with college for a couple years. My Aunt Shonda thought he was ready to take over the business, as he's been my assistant for a few years, even while he was in college."

"So he worked with you, even while he was going to college," JJ said and Cian nodded.

"That's right and it's not even that my aunt and uncle aren't generous when it comes to money for expenses. One of their stipulations was that he could go to college and work part time in the store so long as he didn't let his grades drop. If he proved he couldn't handle the part time job then college would come first and he could move into the dorm."

"That's sensible if you ask me," JJ approved. "College is important, so you can get the job you want or if you're working for your family you still need the grades to be good at whatever the job is like one in your aunt's antique business."

"You also have to have a knack for the antique business," Cian added. "You have to know what people place value in and also keep your eye on the market because it changes all the time and Alton has that instinct. It runs in the family."

"Yes, I can see that," JJ agreed. "I would imagine you also have to have a passion for it, as passion tends to make you really good at whatever job you do."

"That's true too," Cian agreed.

"So where did your cousin live if he wasn't living in the dorm?" JJ asked.

"He was living with me actually, as I had an extra bedroom that he used," Cian said. "That way he didn't have to worry about where he was going to live. He didn't even need to pay his part for room and board as I have plenty of money and he was just starting out."

"So basically he was living with you for free," JJ said.

"He did more than his share of the work at the antique shop as well as kept his grades up, so that was more than enough," Cian said. "He had a safe place to study, money to buy food when he wanted to eat out instead of cooking and put fuel in his car. He also cooked a lot for both of us so we didn't have to eat out as much and I appreciated him chipping in with cooking duties. Also, he paid for both of us when we got takeout about half the time, so it's not like he didn't do his part."

"Wow! A man that can cook! Two men," JJ joked in amazement.

"That might be pretty surprising to most people since a lot of men still can't cook and eat out all the time, even in this century bar ones who are professional chefs, but that's not true in my family," Cian said. "My aunt is a great cook and also my Aunt Jazz bakes professionally. In fact, Jazz's Stupendous Delights here in town, is owned by Rossi family. It was started by the first Jazzlyn whose last name was Lincoln by the way and has been in the family for quite a few centuries."

"Jazzlyn now there is an unusual name," JJ said.

"Yeah it is," Cian chuckled aware of the irony, as JJ probably assumed that the Jazz that owned the original bakery here in Moonlight Gorge was long dead and the current Jazz was a descendent of the original Jazzlyn when nothing could be farther from the truth.

The original Jazzlyn was still around and had been for a very long time.

"So I'm assuming Jazzlyn Rossi is related to the original owner of Jazz's Stupendous Delights, or am I assuming too much?" JJ asked.

"Nope you're spot on," Cian said. "The original bakery is still owned by the same family that started it and is operated by one of her descendants. Of course, the story goes that when Jazzlyn Lincoln first opened her bakery she wasn't married and didn't meet her husband for a few years."

"So eventually the original Jazzlyn died and passed her bakery onto her descendants," JJ said insane nodded.

"Hmm," Cian not agreeing or disagreeing with JJ's statement, not bothering to tell his mate that the original Jazzlyn had never died, even though the bakery here in Moonlight Gorge had been open for centuries. It had been started in the late 20th century.

"That it's still open, even after all this time really says something about the brilliance of the family that owns it, as many businesses close after a few years," JJ said.

"That's true to," Cian agreed "I'll be happy to take you by sometime in the next few days if you like. I've become quite fond of the place myself."

"Sounds good to me. I love chocolate, as I am a red blooded American girl after all," JJ agreed trying not to sound too eager. Spending time with Cian was no hardship.

"Everybody loves chocolate," Cian answered smiling.

"That is so true," JJ said fervently. "I know of no one that doesn't like something sweet delicious every once in awhile."

"My Aunt Jazz would agree with you, as her whole family just loves everything she makes when it comes to dessert type items. I was so lucky to be part of a family that has so many excellent bakers in it that I get to enjoy dessert on a regular basis."

"You are so lucky," JJ said enviously.

And for more than one reason, Cian thought, but didn't say.

"I know I am," Cian admitted smiling.

~~~Cian and JJ~~~