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In Sheep's Clothing	By : ParisWriter Category: +G through L > Harvest Moon Views: 2169 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter Three

Raeger couldn't help but smirk. He was busying himself with cleaning glasses, but he kept an eye on Klaus as he sat at the far end of the counter, eating a late lunch. The perfumer had been coming in nearly every day for the past few weeks, save for the days when he was out of town tending to his business in the city. Each time he came in he sat on that same stool and kept stealing glances in the direction of the door.

He knew why Klaus was there. Marian had told him how he'd informed the other man of Avery's fondness for dining at his establishment, as well as how he'd hinted that there might be something more than just friendship between them. Raeger had gotten a good laugh out of that. He admitted he'd been interested, at first, but she'd been a bit oblivious to his initial, more subtle advances and he realized he actually liked having a woman around who just wanted to be friends. He was happy to play along with Marian's schemes, however, and agreed to turn up the charm toward Avery whenever Klaus was dining at the same time she was.

So far, the plan hadn't worked as they hoped. Marian had been banking on Klaus getting jealous and finally owning up to his own feelings toward Avery, but so far the only reactions Raeger had gotten were icy glares from the older man and him leaving with half his food unfinished. He was beginning to think their plan was going to backfire badly. Sooner or later, Klaus would end up resigned to the – albeit fake – fact that Avery was with him. Which was why Raeger had decided that today, he would change things up a bit. Instead of him simply flirting with Avery, he was going to lead her into doing something that Klaus would have no choice but to take notice of.

Oh yes... The old man was in for a big surprise once she finally arrived for her afternoon treat.

Avery sighed heavily as she tied Pinot to the hitching post in the center of town. The summer season was half over, which meant they were getting the hottest weather of the year. It had been oppressive in the city, so she'd been hopeful that country summers would be a little easier to handle. It wasn't as hot in the mountains, that was certain, but instead they had humidity – which was probably worse. At least in the city, she'd only had to deal with a dry heat that made her feel like she could never drink enough water. Now, she was dealing with a stickiness that clung to her skin and made her feel so horribly covered in sweat that she had started taking a second shower every afternoon once she was done making her rounds to the various fields she was renting.

Raeger knew all about her plight. She'd complained to him so much about it that he offered to add an entirely new menu item just for her: ice cream. The frozen treat had been a hit with her and many of the other villagers, especially the children, and it gave him a new medium to experiment with. As thanks for giving him the idea, he let her have as much ice cream as she wanted – on the house – and she stopped by every afternoon to sample whatever new flavors he'd come up with. Her stomach let out an audible sound of anticipation as she closed in on the restaurant's front stoop, and she took the steps two at a time.

"Raeger," she whined as she opened the front door, "I'm hot and my tummy is rumbly."

As soon as her eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting of the restaurant, she blushed. Sitting at the far end of the counter, looking straight at her with the tiniest smile on his face, was Klaus. He quickly averted his gaze from her and back to the meal before him, but the damage had already been done. He'd seen her acting like a child and she wished she'd had the foresight to not choose today of all days to complain about the heat.

"You certainly are hot," Raeger remarked in his usual, playful tone, pulling her out of her self-deprecating thoughts. She turned to him and gave him a look as if to say, 'Do you really need to act like this right now?' Her eyes briefly moved to Klaus, who was still content to keep his attention on his food, then she shook her head at the chef and took up her usual place at the counter.

"What do you have for me today?" she wondered, her eyes once more fixing upon the perfumer.

She should have known he would be there. He'd been coming by more and more frequently to have his meals, and though she never really spoke to him while he was eating – she'd learned that people got a bit testy in Oak Tree Town when their meals were disturbed, so she always let him eat in peace – they always exchanged pleasantries as he was on his way out the door. Occasionally they would make small talk, him asking about how her farm was doing while she inquired about his search for a distributor for his newest fragrance. He always seemed rather awkward while talking to her there, which was quite unlike the more laid-back attitude he'd had when she visited him at home. Perhaps he was uncomfortable around Raeger, for some reason.

"I'm afraid you don't get to have your usual sundae," the chef informed her, and Avery turned to him with large, sad eyes. She had been so looking forward to some ice cream drenched in chocolate sauce and topped with toasted walnuts. He chuckled at her dismayed expression and poked her on the tip of her nose.

"Relax, you still get your ice cream," he assured her with a wink. "I just thought I'd try something different today."

"Oh?"

Raeger grinned at her and began messing around behind the counter, preparing whatever he had for her. Avery looked over to Klaus and gave him a small wave, and he gave a single nod of his head in acknowledgment before returning his attention to his meal. She would have been upset at the apparent brush-off, but she noticed that he was currently working on a bowl of bouillabaisse – which she assumed to be his favorite food, as often as she had seen him order it.

"Here you are, miss," Raeger announced. "Blueberry ice cream, churned fresh this morning and served on a hand-made waffle cone."

Avery blinked in surprise at what was being offered to her. She had off-handedly commented about how Raeger should consider making cones and edible bowls for his ice cream when she told him about her favorite cafe back home. The fact he not only remembered but also went to the trouble to learn how to make them for her was touching... and a bit suspicious.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked as she took the treat from him, narrowing her eyes.

"You've got a birthday coming up," he replied with a shrug. "We're friends. I wanted to do something nice for you. Besides, you're right – I think with the cones people will be even more eager to purchase ice cream because they won't be required to sit here while they eat it. Instead, they can take it with them outside and enjoy the beautiful weather."

Avery groaned. "Beautiful? It makes me feel all hot and sweaty."

"I'll make you hot and sweaty, princess," Raeger said, and Avery heard Klaus beginning to cough at the other end of the counter. She looked over to where he was sitting, blushing furiously, then turned back to the chef and lowered her voice.

"I am not going to sleep with you," she reminded him through clenched teeth.

"Sorry. Just slipped out," Raeger apologized, genuinely looking guilty. "Automatic response sort of thing. Anyway, you better eat that before it melts."

He watched her expectantly and Avery took a lick of the cold, sweet ice cream. As soon as it hit her tongue she let out a small moan of appreciation. She loved blueberries – a fact Raeger was well aware of – and she felt no shame in making her enjoyment of the dessert in her hand known. Wanting to make it last as long as possible, she took her time in eating the ice cream, slowly licking all the way around the large scoop. Unfortunately, she had taken too long to start eating and with her slower pace it began to melt and dripped onto her hand and the counter top.

"Oops," she said with a pout, looking at the mess she'd made. Raeger simply chuckled and mopped up the spill with a rag.

"You dirty girl," he teased her, his tone suggestive. Avery switched the cone to her opposite hand and raised the one covered in ice cream to her mouth to lick it clean, but he intercepted it and brought it to his lips. He kissed her sticky knuckles, then licked his lips and wiped away the rest with the rag.

"You better watch yourself," he said, lowering his voice. "I think you're making the old man horny."

Avery gave him a confused look and he turned to look back over his shoulder and smirk at Klaus, who was staring at them with flushed cheeks. Avery blushed again and bit her bottom lip, and Klaus finally looked away and wiped his mouth with a napkin before standing from his seat.

"It was wonderful, as always, Raeger," he said, pulling some money from the pocket of his long, green coat and placing it upon the counter next to his unfinished meal.

"Thanks, Klaus!" Raeger called to the older man, who was already quickly heading for the door. "Come by again!"

Avery didn't move a muscle as Klaus swept by her and left the restaurant, and it wasn't until the door closed behind him that she realized she had been holding her breath. She let it out with a heavy sigh, then leveled an angry glare at her best friend.

"What?" Raeger said, standing up to his full height and looking at her with wide, innocent blue eyes. "I didn't do anything."

"I'm sure he heard you, Raeger!" she reprimanded him. "You probably embarrassed him!"

Raeger scoffed. "I doubt that man can be embarrassed."

"He was blushing!"

"Yeah..." Raeger drawled with a smirk. "I bet that he was just getting all hot and bothered from watching the way you were practically pleasuring that ice cream cone with your naughty little tongue."

Avery slammed her open palm down on the counter and stood, thrusting her half-finished ice cream in his face.

"You know, Raeger... You're my friend, and I love you, but sometimes you make me want to just slap the shit out of you.

"Here," she added, pushing her dessert against his chest, crushing the cone and smearing the purplish ice cream all over his clothes. "I don't want any more of this."

"I'm sorry, Avery," he apologized, wincing at the mess. "I really didn't mean to make you angry."

"I know," she told him, her voice a frustrated growl. "It's just how you are. Right now, though, I just... I need to go see Klaus and apologize for what happened, since I know you wouldn't be able to do it without making some sort of smartass comment."

"See you tomorrow?" Raeger called to her as she was leaving, a hopeful note to his voice. Avery stopped with her hand on the doorknob and nodded her head, then set off after Klaus.

Klaus paced back and forth next to his work station, angrily cursing Raeger's name under his breath. Marian had been right: he really was trying to get into Avery's pants. Eventually, he'd have his way and then that poor girl would end up getting tossed aside once he got bored of her. Part of him had been hopeful that maybe – just maybe – there was an actual love blossoming between them. He could have gracefully stepped aside and let things happen, in that case. However, that little display he'd just witnessed at the restaurant proved to him that the younger man was just as bad as he had been at his age.

He'd tried his best to ignore the two of them, even though seeing her so excited about something as simple as an ice cream cone had been so endearing he'd wanted nothing more than to watch her enjoy the treat. The quick little glances he'd stolen while pretending to eat his soup had more of an effect on him than he wanted to admit, though. She'd been savoring it in a way that made him ache with a long-unfulfilled need. The worst part was, he was sure she had no idea what she was doing. To her, she was simply eating ice cream. Then she'd made that mess and Raeger called her a 'dirty girl' in such a way that Klaus knew it was meant to be sexual. He hadn't been able to hear much of their exchange after that, but one word had reached his ears loud and clear: horny.

Klaus stopped pacing and punched the wall between the lounge area of his home and where he worked and slept, leaving a slight indentation. He was beyond frustrated with the situation. For all he knew, Raeger could have shut down the restaurant early after he left and might very well be seducing Avery into his bed at that moment. He certainly hoped that wasn't the case, though even if it wasn't he had no idea how he would ever prevent it from happening. He couldn't very well just walk up to her and tell her what was on his mind. What would he say?

'That cocky little shit is just going to use you and then drop you once he's found another pretty girl he wants to bang.'

'You're making a mistake if you think Raeger actually cares about you and wants you for anything other than your body.'

'He could never treat you as well as you deserve. You should be with me.'

He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, attempting to calm his anger, then jumped when he heard a knock at his door. It was quiet, almost apprehensive, and a glance out the front window revealed a nervous-looking Avery waiting upon his stoop.

"Coming," he called out, then closed his eyes and took several more calming breaths. By the time he opened the door for her, he was back to his usual, collected demeanor.

"May I come in?" she asked, wringing her hands in front of her. She was barely able to meet his eyes, and he found he couldn't speak. He simply nodded and stepped aside to let her in, then closed the door behind her. The two of them stood together in his parlor, an awkward silence filling the air around them for a long while before Klaus finally decided to break the tension.

"What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he asked her, ever the proper gentleman.

"I... I wanted to apologize for what happened back there. Raeger can be... very forward at times, and he doesn't really think before he speaks. And, well, I..."

Her voice trailed off and she rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. Klaus took a slow breath as he watched her, but kept his eyes focused upon her rather than turning away. If she had something else to say, he didn't want her to think he was ignoring her.

"I just wanted to see you," she told him, raising her shy gaze to his.

"You really shouldn't say things like that," he admonished her, his voice barely audible. She cocked her head to one side, a confused look on her face, and Klaus finally looked away from her. He briefly weighed his options, then decided that this would be the perfect time to issue a warning to her about the dangerous game she was playing with Raeger.

"You see," he said, moving closer to her. "Saying such things can give certain men... ideas."

He continued to advance upon her, giving her a dark look, and she slowly backed away from him until she was pressed against the edge of his dining table.

"Blithely stating those sort of things to every man you meet... you're going to end up getting yourself into trouble," he told her, closing in on her and stopping directly in front of her. He placed his hands on either side of her body, trapping her between him and the table, then leaned in close until his lips were mere inches from hers. He heard her breath hitch slightly, but he didn't pull away. This was a point she needed to fully understand.

"One of these days, you're going to end up being devoured by a big... bad... wolf," he whispered, his eyes falling closed as he slowly drew out the last three words, and he further closed the distance between them.

"Klaus."

Avery softly gasped his name and his eyes flew open. Realizing what he was doing, he immediately pulled away from her, putting as much space between them as he could without leaving the room.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, running a hand back through his hair. "Sometimes my tongue gets far more loose than is proper. Fortunately, though, I still have some scruples left. A less honorable man, however, would not have stopped."

He was talking to himself as much as he was to her, reminding himself of his place with her and that he wasn't the man he used to be when he lived in the city.

"My point is that you shouldn't string people along," he told her, his back still turned to her.

"I'm not stringing anyone along," she replied, and he looked down to find her small hand upon his arm.

"You should go," he said, still staring at her hand. "I have some work I need to finish up."

"Oh... Okay."

She sounded so crestfallen that Klaus wanted to turn to her and ask her to stay, but he knew she needed to go. It would be for the best. She hesitated, gently squeezing his arm for a bit before finally releasing him and heading for the door.

"Avery," he called after her.

"Yes?"

"Be careful going home."

He waited until he heard the door close behind her, then slumped against the nearest wall and slid to the floor to sit. He had wanted to kiss her. He'd come so very close to doing it, and if it hadn't been for her saying his name he would have. He was thankful she had stopped him, because he would have had a hard time controlling himself. It had been so long and he wanted her so badly that things very likely would not have stopped with a simple kiss. Closing his eyes, he could just imagine how he would have carried her to his bed, or perhaps he would have simply taken her right there on the table. Then he would have immediately regretted it.

She deserved better. She deserved a charming prince on a white steed.

And he was nothing but a big, bad wolf.
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In Sheep's Clothing