“Rustic charm, got it.” She winked, diving back into her task. “Just the way you like it.”
Hours flew by as they worked side by side, with the angle of the sun moving from sunrise to sunset, letting her know that the day had passed away. Kiri’s fingers flew across the keyboard,efficiently navigating through setup screens while explaining every step. Monte watched intently, occasionally offering suggestions, or asking questions that revealed a surprisingly sharp eye for detail.
They’d carefully staged and photographed each piece, adjusting the lighting to highlight the unique grain patterns and elegant curves of his handiwork. She worked with him crafting compelling descriptions, price points, and any interesting information that Monte had about each piece.
As they huddled together over the laptop, sorting through his inventory and deciding on the pieces to feature, Kiri felt a growing sense of partnership, of connection that she hadn’t felt in a long time.
She missed working alongside someone else and hadn’t done it ever since…
The accidental brush of Monte’s hand against hers, the rumble of his voice in her ear as he described the backstory of a particular carving… every moment seemed charged with an underlying intimacy between them.
And she was able to learn more about him, and how he saw the world around him through his passion—how he pictured what a piece of wood would become just by peering at it.
It was becoming harder to focus on the task at hand… but she forced herself to remain vigilant, afraid of ruining whatever was blossoming between them.
She wanted to help him the best way she could, as repayment for all the aid and hospitality he’d shown her.
“How about this for a homepage banner?” Kiri asked, displaying a template featuring a stunning photo of Monte’s finest dining table, bathed in warm, natural sunlight with the mountain lake behind it.
“Perfect,” Monte said quietly, admiration evident in his gaze. “You’ve got an eye for this.”
“Thanks, I’ve been doing this for years,” she murmured, feeling a blush creep up her neck. “It’s easy when the products are so beautiful and have the potential to practically sell themselves.”
“Beautiful, huh?” His voice dropped, rough yet tender.
“Yeah,” she breathed, meeting his intense gaze. “I’m thinking we call your online shop something like ‘Mountain Monte’s Woodworking Wonders’—emphasizing the artisanal, handmade quality. What do you think?”
“I like it. It has a nice ring to it.” A slow smile spread across Monte’s face, revealing a hint of his sharp teeth. “But don’t you think it’s too long of a name?”
Kiri grinned up at him, a flutter in her stomach at his approval. “You can make fun logos with M²W² on them, which would help with promotion.”
“I never needed a logo.”
“Well, you do now.”
She knew Monte was trusting her with his livelihood, and his life passion. Putting themselves out there for the world to see for the first time was frightening to many, especially those who didn’t spend that much time online.
But by doing this, she could shape his life for the better, and set himself up for a more successful future.
Every day, the world got smaller thanks to technology and the internet. By having Monte as the first—or one of the first—monsters to have an eCommerce, he could carve a market for himself, and lead the way for other monsters on the island.
She was determined not to let him down in this venture. If there was one thing she could do for him, before she left, it was to set him up so he wouldn’t fail alone.
Kiri’s fingers danced across the keyboard, the glow of her laptop screen illuminating her focused expression. Monte stoodbehind her, his large frame casting a comforting shadow over her shoulder.
“Done,” she announced, her voice barely above a whisper. “We did it, Monte. Your eCommerce is ready to launch.”
“Thanks to you,” Monte replied, his voice low and sincere. His dark eyes filled with gratitude and something more—an unspoken longing that mirrored Kiri’s own desires. “None of this would have been possible without you.”
“I only want to repay you for the hospitality you’ve given me,” she confessed, setting up the tripod for her vidphone. “If I’m able to allow you to reach a larger audience, then I can rest happily knowing that your future would be secure.”
“But what about your future?”
“I don’t know about my future yet,” Kiri admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “It’s something that is undetermined at the moment. I kinda feel like a plastic bag in the wind, floating wherever the breeze takes me.” Her gaze dropped to the floor. “I’m thankful that my job allows me to travel and have the freedom to try and discover myself.”
His large hand covered hers, cradling it gently as he gave a comforting squeeze. The reassuring touch sent a jolt of warmth spreading through her body as she looked up at him. Their eyes met, filled with concern and something unspoken, their faces drawing closer until they were mere inches apart.
“I never thought I’d find myself building an online store for a Minotaur on an island filled with monsters.” She chuckled lightly, trying to defuse the sudden tension between them. “But being here,” Kiri continued, pulling her gaze away reluctantly from him to focus on setting up their first live video on the newly established online store. “It makes me want to take one day at a time.”
