Page 21 of Beards and Broken Hearts

A wide smile breaks across his face. Those gorgeous white teeth sparkle inside the frame of his dark beard. The beard I marked as mine last night.

When I woke up in his arms this morning with his reassuring presence, I was filled with hope and giddy excitement. It’s a funny thing to feel both like my younger self and my current self at the same time. My world has finally come full circle, and I am finally happy. No longer empty, like I’m missing something…or someone. Because he’s right here with me. Forever.

“It makes me incredibly happy to hear you say that,” Layton says. The truth shining bright in his eyes.

I nod. “But I do need to get home. I need a shower, a change of clothes, and to feed my bird. Plus, my sister will give me the third degree after not coming home last night.”

“What did you tell her?” He asks, a bit of concern on the edge of his smile.

“I sent a quick text letting her know I was staying here because she had called a dozen times. Didn’t want her to worry.”

“Well, I hope she doesn’t give you too hard of a time, because I’d really like it if you stayed again tonight. If you want.”

It’s my turn to smile widely, and I nod. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

I can tell he likes my answer because he comes around the island and leans down to kiss me. A gesture I happily reciprocate. His soft, comforting kiss is a reassuring reminder of our future. His actions all tell me we’re going to make this work. My beating heart feels wild and free, and there is that constant need for him to flutter back.

I break the kiss before it deepens.

“See you tonight? Say six o’clock? I’ll make dinner,” he says, rubbing his nose against mine.

“Sounds delicious,” I say, then bite my lip as I reach for his pants. As I expect, his cock is already hard for me. The fact that we work each other up so easily excites me, and I’m already counting down the hours until I can have him again.

He groans and takes several steps back, out of my reach.

“You better get out of here, or I won’t let you leave again until tomorrow.”

His promise is dark and sexy, and I leave him with a smile and wave, not daring to step too close to him. I know it will be hard for me to go once he touches me again.

I head to my car and make my way home.

As expected, Holly meets me on the porch with a million questions.

“I can’t believe you stayed the night with Layton. How did that happen? Did you sleep with him? I’m assuming yes, but as your little sister, I need details.”

She stops herself short and slaps her hand over her mouth. This is the moment I would usually snap at her and get defensive. I’d say something rude to deflect from myself. The realization hits me hard, and I’m filled with regret. My sister is my best friend, and I haven’t been nearly as nice to her as she has to me. She’s always so patient, and I know she’s only asking because she cares. So, I do the last thing she expects and decide to tell her everything. I want to share how I’m feeling with her and hope this will be the beginning of the new, less defensive me. Someone that she’s more comfortable talking to because her love life has been rough, whereas mine has been nonexistent. Maybe this will help us grow closer.

“Come on, sis, I’ll tell you everything.”

My words surprise her, but she smiles widely and follows me inside. I head to my room, and she follows.

“Yes, I stayed with him. It was supposed to be a dinner with Elenore, but that woman is a master matchmaker. Can you believe she locked us in her wine cellar for hours last night?”

Holly sits on my bed, pulling my teal throw pillow to her lap while her jaw drops.

“No way? That sweet old lady?”

“Yeah, she might be sweet, but she’s also vicious. I think she called the fire department and created a fake emergency to get him here the first night I saw him again.”

“Oh my gosh, that was her?”

“It certainly wasn’t our detectors going off, and Layton said that dispatch reported a call from an older woman whose husband seemed to tell her not to do it in the background,” I tell her with a laugh and air quotes.

She laughs with me, and again, I feel like my younger self. The one that was a better sister.

“I’m sorry for not sharing more with you over the years. For snapping at you sometimes. I promise to do better.”

Holly looks at me with a genuine smile.

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