Page 59 of Beauty and the Beard

Oof. That’s a direct hit to my feels.

“What exactly did you like? I sound like a hyena on helium.”

Leaf shakes his head with a soft smile.

“I liked that it was all you. For ten seconds, you were one hundred percent lost in what was around you and your eyes lit up while your lips kinda twitched.” He steps up on the porch and hesitates before sitting on the other half of the porch swing with me. “You were, for one stolen moment, the real Sasha. Open and without worry or burden. And…” he dips his head with a small puff of air. “You’re beautiful.”

He casts a sideways glance and my heart melts.

“I just wanted to come by to see you.” He brushes his hand on my thigh. “Take a break from all the paper cuts.”

Biting my lip, I look away from his handsome face. His candidness is hard for me to manage right now. His words drip with sincerity and a longing I crave, but no idea how to accept.

“You have a lovely town here.” Deflection is my best defence. “I met some great people at the bookstore.”

“They’re amazing people. It’s a nice town. Winters are long, but it’s a slice of paradise here.”

Again, a smile twitches on my lips. He seems to make that happen to me more.

“Indeed. There’s the best maple syrup I’ve ever tasted here.”

Leaf huffs a small laugh and allows the silence to bind us together. I know he wants to say more, as do I, but I don’t have the confidence to ask the questions. And I don’t know how to handle the words he might say.

Leaf must sense my turmoil. He stands, lightly squeezing my leg before he does.

“I won’t keep you from your book. I just wanted to see you.” With a sigh, he walks the steps to the trail back to the lodge. Before he disappears, I call out.

“Leaf! I’ll be there for dinner.”

His shoulders relax, and a happy smile fills his face.

“I’ll see you then.”

And he leaves me on the porch staring at the blurry pages of a book I hoped to find the answers in. But even I know a book won’t help.

Dinner is loud with all the chatter of the lodge guests. Groups of men and women talk about the fish they caught today. Somebody named Jack caught a record-setting pike! I don’t know what that means, but it’s hard not to feel the excitement in the air.

I slide into a corner by myself at the end of a bench with a large group. They may as well be speaking a different language with all the fishing terms and slang they’re throwing around. I smile and laugh when they do, and they include me in their conversations.

The entire time, my gaze keeps landing on Leaf as he floats around the tables, mingling with the groups that are due to checkout tomorrow along with me. He’s very popular. People flag him down at every step and there’s a few I notice he touches more. Friendly, like he genuinely cares about them, and I wonder if those are people who return every year.

“Do you leave tomorrow, too?”

It’s the man next to me, and I notice the group I’m sitting with is starting to disperse.

“I do.”

“Me too. Our group does. We’ve been coming here every year since it opened. Leaf is amazing. Have you met him?”

I almost laugh out loud at his question, but keep it in.

“I have. He’s a great guy.”

“One of the best men I’ve ever met. I’m pleased he kept the place open after his husband died. I think it’s good for him to see everyone, you know? We’re not his family, but coming back here always feels like visiting family.”

“Monty! I didn’t get to spend much time with you this week.” Leaf seats himself across from the man. “I’ve been busy meeting new people.” He winks at me and my cheeks flame.

Monty laughs a hearty laugh. “I should hope so, Leaf. We love coming to see you, but we know how it works. How have you been? You seem happier.” He reaches over and squeezes Leaf’s hand. “It looks good on you, son.”

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