Page 8 of Beauty and the Beard

Chapter 3

Sasha

“How is it possible to not have a single bar of cell service here?”

After a fitful sleep filled with thoughts of the handsome lumberjack owner of this place, I thought I’d research what’s involved with fishing. It might be a good idea to not appear like a complete moron and throw some slang around. Or at least understand the proper terminology.

With no internet or cell service, I woke up early and unpacked instead. I read the welcome manual in the cottage and learned I need to get my own food for the cabin if I didn’t want to join them for meals in the lodge. The town is nearby and it wouldn’t hurt to stock up on snacks just in case. I’m not sure if I’m confident enough to cook on the stove without Leaf here, but prepackaged food sounds like a great idea. If Leaf can’t take me fishing today, I’ll inquire how to get to town and maybe even explore a little once I get there.

But really, how come my phone can’t get service? It worked at the gas station when Pete picked me up. Looking up things aboutfishing isn’t the only thing I need internet for. I really want to talk to Roman about Leaf.

When I first arrived, he was intimidating, but not in a power trip way. He was a man in control. He was confident. He was also breathtakingly handsome. I could tell he had a sharp, cut jaw-even under his short beard-and his deep brown eyes shone with both a sadness and a profound longing. In his faded jeans and tight Henley, he was the picture of every woodsman fantasy. All he needed was a plaid shirt and an axe.

But I kept my usual flirt game under wraps. Here I wasn’t Sasha the former model and people pleaser. I was just Sasha. A man trying to use the quiet of nature to think about life and find my purpose. Just a man trying to figure out how to blend in so that I could start over.

And my plan didn’t include the loss of cell service and the internet. Nobody told me the woods were an internet-free zone. Sure, I said I wanted to unplug, but not completely.

With that thought in mind, I exit my cabin and walk the short path up to the lodge. The haunting call of a bird, a loon I’m pretty sure, carries across the water and I stop to listen. When I do, I notice it’s not all I hear. A faint rustle of leaves in the intermittent breeze, the gentle lap of water on the shore, and the loon.

There are no sirens or horns honking. No drunk people shouting and no music competing to be heard over the horns and voices.

It’s simple and quiet. The lack of barked orders in my direction and commands to turn this way, turn that way or get under the desk are silent. For the first time since I was forced into my life as a model, a blanket of ease settles over my soul. The only thing that would make this perfect is a coffee. Preferably a Starbucks café mocha, but I’ll take whatever caffeine is in the lodge.

“It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?”

Slapping a hand to my chest, I whirl and find Pete smiling at me.

“It’s gorgeous. And you scared the hell out of me. I didn’t hear you.”

“Sorry. I move lightly so as not to startle any critters.”

“What sort of critters?”

Dear god, have I unknowingly put myself in danger?

Pete chuckles, clearly knowing what’s running through my mind.

“Rabbits mostly. Sometimes a fox. Nothing that will attack you or to be afraid of.”

“Are there bears around?” I whisper, in case one is nearby, and decides to appear.

“Sometimes. Usually in the spring, they wander through and again in the fall. If we see them, we put up signs to advise people to just be aware.”

“Isn’t it still spring now?”

My peaceful morning has now switched to an itchy anxiety with the knowledge that sometimes bears come here. Now I want to yell at Roman for planting this stupid fear in my head while simultaneously asking for information about the resident lumberjack.

Pete claps me on the back, steering me to the lodge.

“You’re fine. Come on. You look like you could use some caffeine. How did you sleep last night?”

“After you left, I crashed until after 7 P.M.. Leaf brought dinner over to me since I missed it. I slept great, but I was awake far too early.”

Pete glances at me as we climb the steps to the main lodge.

“Leaf brought you food to the cabin?”

“He did. And showed me how to use the stove. I’ve, uh, never used one like that before.”

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