Page 20 of Beauty and the Beard

“Thank you. Apology accepted.”

“You’re not the first person to put me in my place. I tend to just say what’s on my mind and it gets me in trouble. But… I know Leaf likes you. I’m just looking out for him.”

“He likes me?”

“Yeah, like… wait, are you not interested in him?”

“Perry, with all due respect, I don’t think it’s any of your business. Brother or not, I barely know either of you.”

“Is everything okay here?”

Leaf joins us and it doesn’t escape me that he sits next to me and not Perry.

“I think we’re good.” Perry answers and his eyes plead with me to agree.

“Just peachy. Another amazing meal. I really must have Millie teach me some of this.”

Leaf’s smile could light up the dark side of the moon. Good lord my heart wants more than it came here for.

“She’d love to teach you. If you’re serious, tomorrow might be a good day. But only if you want to. You’re here for a vacation not to work.”

“It’s not work if I can get a cooking lesson or two thrown in.”

“I’ll leave you two to talk cooking. I’m heading home and I’ll be back tomorrow. Unless you need me for anything else now, Leaf?”

The two brothers share a silent exchange before Leaf answers.

“Thank you for today. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

They fist bump and Perry clears his plate before stopping to talk with other tables of lodge patrons before leaving.

“I hope he wasn’t mean to you. He’s a nice guy, I promise. But since Connor died, he’s like a mother bear sometimes. He means well.”

Leaf’s soft voice implies he knows exactly what Perry was grilling me on before he came to sit with us. His hopeful expression also sets me at ease.

“He wasn’t very polite, but I think we have an understanding.”

He nods as he eats, his shoulders relaxing.

“Good. He’s my brother, and it’s important to me that you like him.”

“I guess I can understand that. I don’t have any siblings, but if it’s important to you, I’ll respect that, and I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

He sets his fork down and turns to me.

“Do you have plans for tonight?” he blurts out like he’s afraid he might change his mind if he doesn’t talk fast. Laughing, I shake my head.

“A book and some tea unless you have wine stashed in these cabins I haven’t found yet.”

He inhales deeply before brushing his pinky finger over mine on the table.

“Would you like company? I’ll bring wine.”

Capturing his pinky with mine, I smile when his eyes light up.

“Make it a white one and it’s a yes.”

“I’ll meet you at your cabin in an hour?”

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