The sun had risen and Ashton had made doubly sure that he was poised on his porch with coffee in hand when it finally did made it's appearance. He loved the sunrise, the colors of the sky coming to life in shades of yellow, orange, and pink. It was a beautiful sight and Ashton often wondered why God had not granted him the skill of drawing or painting. This scene before him would have made a beautiful canvas in someone's living room.

His day had started much earlier than most. He had awoken, emptied his bladder, and then changed into a modest pair of running shorts and muscle shirt. He tried not to show too much skin, wanting to maintain his modesty. Even wearing swim trunks at the beach made him uneasy.

Once he was properly dressed, Ashton took to the streets of Sacrosanct, wanting to explore the city while still getting in his daily run. He never ran fast, but he did maintain his stamina. After all, he was training for a marathon. It was a surprise he was even doing a marathon, considering he would much rather sit on the couch all day and watch TV. Something told him that was more what his Great Dane side wanted him to do. Unfortunately, Ashton would not give in. He needed to maintain his health.

After his run before dawn, Ashton returned home, showered, and dressed in a pair of blue jeans, cowboy boots, and graphic tee. It was a modest outfit, but it was comfortable. Some may find it odd to find a cowboy in the city, but Ashton didn't mind. While he wished he could be back on his family's farm raising cattle, he had to ensure that his family was taken care of financially. His parents were getting older and soon, they would not be able to care for the farm and he would have to return home. Until then, he worked hard to afford a ranch hand for the time being. It kept him busy, but he still missed his family.

By the time afternoon rolled around, Ashton needed to get out of the house. The apartment was bare and the cupboards needing stocking. Grocery shopping was a chore for Ashton, so he put it off as long as necessary. But even now, there wasn't any more peanut butter, jelly, and bread to sustain him. He would have to venture his way to the store.

The trip to whole foods had been productive. He now had fresh artisan bread, local made organic peanut butter, and some fresh grape jelly made by a local grape farmer. He also picked up some staples like cereal, yogurt, and some fruit to tide him over.

Ashton had thought the trip home would be uneventful, but as he rounded the corner, he was met full force with the body of a young woman. At first he let out an "oof" as he felt the wind being knocked out of him. It took him a moment to adjust as the woman began apologizing for not paying attention to where she was walking. Truth be told, he wasn't either.

As they both came to a halt, a little shaken from the abrupt meeting, she was quick to tell him just why she hadn't been paying any attention. He shook his head lightly, not wanting her to take all the blame herself. "It's quite alright, ma'am. I was not watching where I was walking either. I am also to blame." His voice was soft, sweet, and altogether charming. The deep southern drawl was evident and it was met with a tender smile that seemed to always come so easily to the were.

Eyes scanned the woman up and down, not in a sexual way, but merely to make sure that she was not injured. He noted the iced coffee in her hand and he hoped he had not been the cause of her spilling that delicious drink. "I do hope your coffee faired the collision. If not, I can certainly buy you another." He also noted that his own groceries were still safe in the reusable bags. The bread that was settled on top was completely intact, not even one indication of being squished.