Page 18 of Beauty and the Beard

He replaces the phone back in the cradle and steps towards me.

His dark eyes are unreadable, and his hand reaches up to my face. A thumb wipes across my cheek and his lip twitches just a tiny bit into a smile.

“You have a lot of dirt on your face. It’s cute.”

“I, uh, was about to go wash up and I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I was…” I motion toward the washroom. “Perry told me to clean up over here.”

Leaf’s gaze roams over me and for the first time since meeting him, I’m very self conscious of my appearance. Wrapping my arms around myself, I glance towards the doorway and he notices.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” With a tentative hand, he reaches out and grazes his fingertips down my arm, and I shiver. “I just… you’re… you look nice. I just wanted to tell you that.”

“Thank you.”

Our gazes meet and I’m overwhelmed. “I’m, ah, I’ll clean up and see you at dinner?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

Nodding, at a loss for words for the first time ever, I turn and flee to the washroom. Once inside, I lean against the door and puff out a breath.

What the fuck just happened?

My shaking hands turn the faucet on, and I grab some paper towels. After wetting them and wringing them out, I wipe the dirt from my face and stare at the reflection looking back at me.

The helmet only flattened my hair a little and I run my fingers through it to puff it back up. My eye make-up is still on point, but there’s a flush to my cheeks that wasn’t there before. From the wind or the sun today, possibly, but I like it. It’s not fake. A sign I lived today and did something to create a physical reminder.

And the memories that go with the photos are something I hope never fade.

“Sasha? You okay?”

A light tap on the door followed by Leaf’s voice breaks me out of whatever dream land I drifted off to.

Opening the door, I peer up into concerned eyes.

“Sorry. I’m okay. I was just… I’m fine.”

Again, he reaches out and gently squeezes my arm. It’s tentative, like he’s unsure how I’ll respond. Or maybe even how he will. His chin trembles and he forces a smile on his lips.

“You didn’t come out, and I was worried you… I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

The slight tremble in his voice has me rush to reassure him. Although I’m not sure why. But I do, and I step closer, placing a hand on his firm chest.

“I was only looking at myself in the mirror and noticing how different I looked after one full day here. Perspective, I guess.”

His hand closes over mine with a gentle squeeze.

“And did you like what you see?”

Nodding, I swallow and meet his eyes.

“Very much.” I whisper.

“Me too.”

A moment passes. Two. And I can’t tear my eyes away from this gentle giant with a broken heart and tender soul.

“Excuse me?”

Millie clears her throat, and Leaf drops my hand, spinning to address her.

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