Page 16 of The Sasquatch and the Hairdresser

I clear my throat. “Er… how are things coming along with your class?” I ask Jayden.

He beams at me. “My students are so thrilled to be performing in the festival! I’m glad you were able to coordinate this with Laurelis at the apple orchard.”

“The twins have been talking about nothing else lately,” Max says, setting down a cookie and clasping one hand against his chest. “I’ve been helping them practice their routine at home. They’ll be the stars of the show for sure.” He practically radiates pride.

“Laurelis was ecstatic when Jayden and I told her our idea. I think it will make for a fun and memorable experience for everyone who attends.”

Jayden nods and leans into Emrys’s side. “That it will. The students have had so much fun preparing for it that they’ve got performance fever. Emrys and I are going to be celebrating our first anniversary soon, and my entire class wants to put on a show for us to mark the occasion. They’re so precious.”

Emrys leans down and plants a gentle kiss on his cheek. “You’re their favorite teacher. Of course they do. I’m not surprised, darling.”

My heart twinges, and in that moment I’m forced to admit that I’m envious. Love really is in the air in Mystic Hollow—for everyone, it seems, but me.

But I quickly rally. Even if I haven’t found love, I want to celebrate those who have. “Congratulations. I hope you have a wonderful anniversary. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help with your plans.”

“Good day, my honorable fellow committee members. I do hope you don’t mind me being fashionably late,” Kassiel Blackburn announces in his posh British accent as he strolls into the room with leisurely grace, his ornate walking stick in hand.

Emrys has more of that prim and proper boarding school accent, and while Kassiel’s is similarly aristocratic, there’s always a bit of an amused drawl to it. Having them both at a meeting makes me think this may be what the heroes in my favorite Regency romances would sound like.

The utterly dandified demon is wearing a tailored black velvet jacket over a gold and black brocade vest and black dress shirt. Rather than a cravat, he’s sporting a large topaz and gold brooch at his neck today, one that sparkles in the room’s light. His black trousers are pressed so neatly that even I’m jealous of his ironing skills. When he moved to Mystic Hollow to be with his mate, Yuki, who’s a librarian in town, it surprised no one when Kassiel opened his own clothing boutique—Kassiel’s Couture and Consignment Shop—that specializes in bespoke fashion, but most particularly men’s suits.

While I don’t wear clothing, apart from aprons, I can’t help but admire his work. Every piece is exquisitely made and so unique. I recommend his shop to everyone. And who knows, maybe I’ll have him design a super classy and couture apron for me some day. I might need one for special occasions.

Hot on Kassiel’s heels, Baxter squeezes through the doorframe that’s almost too narrow for his wide, muscular body. “Sorry, folks. Got held up on the way here. Let’s get down to business.”

I hastily get to my feet. “Before that, I wanted to make a small request.” I clasp my hands together over my heart. “My new boarder, Skylar Wright, would like to help us with festival planning. I know we’re so close to the event that it’s mostly small stuff and ticking off boxes on our list, but I think it would be a good thing for him to feel involved and connected with the community since he’s starting a business here. Plus, I know we are all feeling a bit drained right now.”

Max immediately gasps with delight and wiggles in his seat. “I say yes! I, for one, can’t wait to get to know him better. After all, I’ve been desperately in need of a stylist since moving here, and I’m probably going to be a regular client. This is a perfect chance for me to get in good with him.”

Princess Peach gives a yip of seeming agreement, kisses Max’s chin, then curls back up in the crook of his arm.

“Anyone have any problems with Hal’s proposal?” Baxter asks.

Everyone shakes their heads.

Kassiel’s eyes glow with interest. “Another small business owner, and one who helps others to look their best? We’re already birds of a feather. I can’t wait to meet him.”

Baxter nods. “Seems like we have a consensus. You can bring him to our next meeting. If nothing else, we can recruit him as a last-minute volunteer for some of the events on the festival schedule.”

I sit back down, unable to keep the enormous smile off my face. My heart flutters just thinking about getting to work with Skylar on something so important. Maybe it will even create some opportune moment for me to try wooing the handsome human…

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

For the next forty-five minutes, we go through all the meeting agenda items, and I’m relieved to note that everything appears on track and ready to go. We’ve put so much time and work into the festival, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. This year is going to be the best Harvest Festival yet!

In my heart of hearts, I want it to be extra special just for Skylar. I want him to love Mystic Hollow and our community so much that he’ll stay and be happy here.

By the time we wrap things up, it’s almost noon, so I make hasty goodbyes and hurry to the retro downtown diner where I’m scheduled to meet up with Ryder.

When I enter the diner, I quickly spy Ryder sitting in a booth, his tongue sticking out between his lips while he scribbles away at his ever-present notebook.

I carefully scoot into the bench opposite him and wait patiently for my friend to finish whatever brilliant idea he’s working on at present. As a writer and a deeply inquisitive soul by nature, Ryder’s brain never seems to turn off entirely. Everything and everyone around him provide inspiration for his stories.

Not that I have any complaints about that. I’m one of his most earnest fans, and I’ve read every romance novel he’s ever written. In fact, I have a copy of every title back home on my bookshelves—and now I can boast that they’ve all been signed by the author himself.

I do feel a little sad that Ryder’s no longer staying at the B&B because now I don’t get to see him quite as often, but he’s settling in with Vash and truly happy, and I’m thrilled for him. He got his real-life HEA. And he got his creepy stalker put behind bars, much to my relief.

My mind wanders back to Skylar. How long will he stay with me? It’s probably only a matter of time before his business is bringing in money and he finds a permanent home. My gut twists painfully at the thought. Part of me genuinely believes staying at the B&B might be the best for Skylar. Even if we only stay friends, I will happily take care of him, just like I did for Ryder before he and Vash got together. Everyone deserves someone to look after them a bit, and I think Skylar needs it more than he might be able to admit to himself.