Page 57 of Beauty and the Beard

Fear had kept him silent.

When he could, he broke free at eighteen, only to sign with another sleazy agent who used him for himself. Sasha thought he cared about him as a person. That he truly loved him. The physical affection from the new agent was just another lie. It’s no wonder he has a hard time trusting people. Meanwhile, Sasha was once again tied to a contract with Moe through a third party. And then, when he broke his arm, all his problems with Moe came to a head.

“So, yeah. It has something to do with his past. It’s been ten years since the worst of it, but I’m sure those scars don’t fade easily.”

“No, I imagine they wouldn’t.”

“And that’s why I can’t step in and beg him to stay, Perry. I don’t want him to think I’m just like the rest.”

“But you’re not. You love him.” He pauses. “Don’t you?”

“I don’t know if I’d call it love just yet, but I care. Far more than I should, probably. I could definitely see myself loving him if he’d let me.”

“What can I do?”

Perry’s tone pleads for something, but there’s nothing he can do.

“Nothing Perry. You said your piece, and now it’s up to him. I hope he’ll talk to me before he leaves, at least.”

I force a smile, but my eyes well at the thought of him leaving without a word.

Clearing my throat, I motion to the door. “I should probably get some work done. Checkouts and new arrivals need to be taken care of and I should make sure all my cleaning crew are on the board still.”

Perry nods, striding to the door along with me, and he squeezes my shoulder.

“It will work out. It always does.”

If it did, I wouldn’t be a widower. But I’ll keep that to myself for now and just hope this time things are different.

Hours have passed and I’m still in the office at the registration desk. I should really look at getting this stuff computerized. Piles of ledgers and receipts sit stacked all over the desk with rocks holding each pile down. An oversized box of paperclips and a heavy duty stapler sit nearby.

It’s mind-numbing, but work that needs to be done. I’d much rather be on the lake or, hell, mowing the lawn. But not everything in business is glamorous.

“You know if you had a computer your life would have less paper cuts.”

Startled by his voice, I whack my head off the side of the filing cabinet when I sit up.

“Ow, dammit.”

Sasha’s hand on my arm stops more expletives as I rub at my head. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I’m okay. Not the first time I’ve done it.”

The main door bangs behind him and Pete carries in a box to the kitchen. He nods with a sad smile towards Sasha.

“I’ll be here for dinner tonight. Millie said she…” He trails off with a shake of his head. “I miss you. I’m sorry I didn’t answer last night.” His voice fades away as he steps back.

“I understand.”

Please step closer.

“I don’t think you do. And I… can we talk tonight?”

Will you tell me you’ll stay?

“Of course.”

My replies are very robotic, but he seems unsettled. Like a rabbit in the woods about to careen off into the bushes before he gets his wits about him.

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