Why ā was he like this. Sheād never be able to figure it out. She didnāt see the world like he did. They were both the same, straight to the point kind of individual, and she thought she was pretty logical ā
despite being 100% sure there was a monster in her closet until she was nine years old, and still find the fisheries to be the stuff of nightmares.Ā Ā
But Cianās logic was ⦠kind. Focusing on what the town had already and what she brought to the town now changed the narrative. She was prepared for put-down humor, an acknowledgment of her lack of trades ā and what she received was ⦠kind⦠and here she was insulting him.Ā In her mind, Cian was handsome, but she could see why someone wouldnāt think so if they thought only of his physical appearance. āSomebody called you ugly?ā she asked, raising her brows, stopping to make sure she didnāt get off track with her work due to her indignation. Youāre not ugly ā unless youāre grumpy⦠was it Miss Arslan? Sheās always saying things wrong.āĀ
Sometimes, like with Miss Arslan, her life had a whole in it, and she tried to fill it by making trouble.Ā
She looked up at him, serious-faced, and studied him. She didnāt know, or care to know, why the size of a manās package would make up for a face with a nose a little too large, a jaw leaning towards weak and a heavy brow.Ā āYouāre Cian and thatās all that matters.āĀ
Back to work, her own sort of rambling, saying whatever was on her mind, as she filled the space when another was nearby, as if there needed her words. Another brief glance up, and she quirked her head to the side. Now, when she studied him, it was for the look in his eyes.Ā āAh ā too Lorraine, not enough Ilaydas,ā she decided. Now she knew what she thought was normal was yet another deviation. Parenting books only said what to do; they didnāt provide many bad case examples. She had to find them on her own.Ā
āSorry⦠it was more a joke and less aā¦ā she shrugged finally, finishing her last stitch. She snorted and shook her head.Ā āYour job is more dangerous - go to the doctors before you find me. The worst that happens to me is pinpricks⦠and poison ivy. Donāt ask. Did you hear that thereās puppies? I had nothing to trade for one, but theyāre cute.ā An easy change of subject, as she set to look over her work and test the stitches.Ā
Out of all that, that was what she heard? He started to protest,Ā āItās just a turn ofā ā but she was off like a shot. He didnāt really think himself ugly. Or rather, if he was, he didnāt think it was such a big deal. He knew his own face, the strange planes of it. He knew it wasnāt his primary selling point when courting. But that was fine. He had other things to offer: The charming lilt of his voice that pleased most. A deceptive strength that allowed him to haul lumber and lift girls off their feet. His sparkling wit, of course.Ā
If it was nearly anyone else, it would be discomfiting for her to be so focused on that one word. Embarrassing. The lady doth protest too much. But Devyn, he had learned, meant what she said and said what she meant. So instead, he held his tongue and studiously kept his face serious and receptive, nodding graciously when she concluded.Ā āThanks, Dev. Donāt worry, Iām very clear on how incredibly dashing you find me.ā
But then it was his turn to be cowed.Ā āRight. Of course. Sorry, I justā ā Know what a monster your mom was, heard it whispered through a chain of townspeople like a childrenās game of telephone.Ā āI guess we both take each other a little too seriously.ā
He shrugged off the dangers of his job. She wasnāt wrong, the forest was unpredictable. He thought briefly of showing her the scar on his thigh from his first week out. Heād sewn that one up himself, not wanting to bother Matilde with something he could handle. But then she was changing the subject, and maybe that was for the best. He didnāt want to start a game of compare-the-wounds. His fingers found it though, subconsciously rubbing at the raised line of flesh between the hem of his shorts and swell of his knee.
āPuppies, huh? You really think you could handle that? I think any hound you raised would be an absolute terror.ā