Page 40 of Beauty and the Beard

I didn’t come here hell-bent to eat a chicken wing, but either way, I’m excited to be on a date with Leaf. And it’s a public one. I feel like that might be a bigger step for him than me at this point. But I’ll take it.

I’m not sure what kind of dress is acceptable here so I keep it low-key. A pair of skinny jeans and a gorgeous, pale pink t-shirt in the softest of cottons. Rooting through my jewellery tote, I dress it up with a low-hanging gold chain and my favourite pink coral ring that I bought on a shoot we did in Cuba once. Sure, it’sjust a costume piece, and sometimes the silver tarnishes while I wear it, but it’s just so damn pretty.

Styling my hair in a casual mess, I add the pink lip gloss Leaf liked before and just a hint of mascara. Being outside so much the past few weeks has allowed the sun to colour my face and I look healthy. Gone is the paleness of a sick Elizabethan child. I look invigorated. Alive and ready to take on the world. Perhaps more confident in this version of me than ever before.

A light knock on the door sends the butterflies into a flurry in the pit of my stomach and I run to open it.

Leaf stands there, so handsome it knocks the breath out of me. He’s ditched the plaid and wears a simple red t-shirt with a less-worn pair of jeans. His neatly trimmed beard looks extra soft. His hair still flops over his forehead like a young boy’s and my heart thumps, all wacky.

“Wow, you’re gorgeous.”

He blurts and both of us laugh at his unexpected outburst.

“I think I just said the quiet part loud. That was supposed to stay in my head.”

Still laughing, I step out of the cabin and rest a hand on his chest.

“For what it’s worth, I thought the same thing about you.”

“Thank you.” Under that beard I know he’s blushing, and it makes my heart melt. He takes my hand as we walk to his truck and he explains to me the relationship with his brother.

“I know Perry was harsh with you the first time you met, but he’s a good guy. He’s my little brother, and he moved here when I told him I wasn’t leaving.”

“You’re close then.”

He nods. “Very. He used to join Connor and me at these nights out. I want you to know that these outings mean a lot to him.”

A prickle of unease crosses my skin.

“Is this… I know he invited me, but is this okay? I feel like I’m suddenly in a position that I won’t be able to fill.”

If Perry wants to have what he used to with his brother-in-law, I’m not sure I’ll ever live up to those expectations.

Leaf stops and turns me towards him. The fading sunlight is enough for me to notice the furrow of his brow. His concern that I misunderstood.

“No one is comparing you, Sasha. I don’t want you to feel like that. I just want you to know that Perry cares for my happiness. He’s a bit of a meddler and he’s sometimes ultra annoying, but he’s so full of love. He’ll kill me for telling you that, but he has a lot of layers if you’re patient.”

Nodding, I squeeze his hand. “Thank you. I won’t tell, and that does make me feel better.”

Leaf kisses my cheek and helps me into his truck like a true gentleman. Not that I need help, but he’s treating this like a real date. A new start. Even though I kind of like what we’ve already experienced together, the date is a next level.

“All buckled?”

He beams over at me and my stomach goes all flippy again.

“Yep.”

“Are you ready for chicken wings?”

“As long as I don’t have to pluck feathers off them… yes!”

Leaf booms a laugh and winks.

“Not this time, anyway.”

They don’t really do that. He’s joking. Right?

The Log Jam is a restaurant and bar that is just as adorable as the rest of the town. The sign out front has a man with a giant pole and spiked boots standing on a raft. Or maybe it’s logs? I’ll have to ask later because once we’re inside, it’s like a record scratch in my brain.

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