I turned off the hose with a dramatic flourish. “Only on days ending in ‘Y.’”
He didn’t laugh, didn’t smile, and didn’t even twitch.
Alright. Challenge accepted.
I took a few soggy steps toward him, brushing damp hair from my face.
“Don’t worry, Gerald didn’t mean to headbutt the water spigot. He just has strong feelings about hydration.”
Still nothing.
If anything, his frown deepened.
“I know I look like I lost a fight with a garden hose and a goat, but you should see the other guy,” I said brightly.
His eyebrow ticked up, but his mouth remained a firm, horizontal line of stoicism and emotional repression.
Was this man immune to charm?
I turned toward the barn where Sienna had vanished. “And my sister’s a coward, in case you were wondering. She set me up for this and then fled like she was avoiding jury duty.”
Ben crossed his arms. “That’s the second time you’ve blamed her for something today.”
“Second thishour,probably.”
He exhaled through his nose with not quite a sigh and not quite amusement.
“Look,” I said, placing my hands on my hips. “I know you didn’t come back to the lodge hoping to see your hostess drenched in hose water and goat hair, but this isme.Real, chaotic, occasionally muddy. And you keep showing up, so either you’re a masochist or you secretly find me adorable.”
Still stone-faced.
And yet, I could feel something shift, not in his expression, but in the air between us.
He hadn’t walked away, and that counted for something.
I gave him a quick once-over, then squinted at his face. “You know you’re allowed to smile, right? The muscles won’t break.”
“I don’t smile on command.”
“Oh, so you’re arebel.” I tapped my chin. “Or a secret agent. Wait—no. A misunderstood poet. That’s it. You’ve been secretly composing dramatic free verse about pine trees.”
Ben stared at me like I’d grown antlers.
A goat bleated somewhere behind me, like it agreed with Ben.
I lifted my hands in mock surrender. “Fine. You win. Remain frowny. I’ll just be over here, plotting ways to turn your scowl upside down before your checkout date.”
His brow furrowed deeper. “Why do you care?”
It wasn’t accusing. Just… honest. Cautious.
I blinked.
He really didn’t get it.
“Because,” I said softly, “you look like you’ve forgotten how.”
His jaw flexed.
