Page 91 of The Beast's Heart

I wonder about whatlatermight mean all day. To the point of distraction from my lessons. When I return to my room after class, I find a note slipped beneath my door.

Meet me outside at 6 - A

Unbidden, a memory of a lad I fancied in high school fills my mind. He was fit, sporty, and embarrassed to be seen anywhere near me. Except after school when we’d meet behind the bike racks. I’ve received many such notes in my lockers and I taste bitterness at the back of my throat. Is that what Adam was offering? Something purely physical to get us through the next two months?

As in high school, I’m desperate enough to go anyway.

It’s drizzling when I slip out the house. The children are happily settled in the playroom and none the wiser about where I might be. Adam is waiting under an umbrella. He’s in a forest green cashmere jumper and dark jeans with his hair neatly braided. He doesn’t look like a guy sneaking out for a quick blowjob. In fact, he looks so good I feel at once self-conscious in my mismatched brown slacks and maroon cardigan.

He smiles when I approach. “I wasn’t sure you’d get my note.”

“This is very clandestine.” I step into the shade of the umbrella. He’s close enough that I can feel his body heat.

“Could have used a code, but then I’d be worried you’d get stuck decoding it and miss our date.”

Is that what this is?“You have so little faith in my intellect?”

He laughs. “Belle, if there’s one thing I have faith in it’s your smarts. Shall we?” He gestures ahead of us.

Twilight has fallen and he lights the way with a small penlight. We step into the shelter of the trees and the air is full of sound and the trailing scents of a spring day.

“Are you certain this is a date and you’re not taking me into the woods as an offering to the fae?” I say to break the anticipatory silence that’s fallen between us.

Adam chuckles. “What would I request of the fae? I have you here.”

My stomach somersaults. I shoot a look at him.

We step off the path and through the trees, and there’s the greenhouse, glittering with fairy lights, candles flickering within. My breath catches. It’s magical.

Adam opens the door and steps aside for me. “If we were living in normal times, I’d have taken you out somewhere. But we’ll have to play pretend.”

His workbench has been cleared off and set with candles and cutlery. In the center is a large charcuterie board of fresh fruit, cured meats and cheeses and a bottle of wine chilling in a bucket. Adam has gone all out. He really did meandate.

“Let me take your coat.” His fingers brush my neck as helps me out of my jacket.

I watch as he moves to the other end of the greenhouse, hanging our jackets alongside a blanket over the back of a wicker sofa that I never noticed before. Its wooden frame and green cushions make it almost disappear into the backdrop of plants. Does Adam sleep here sometimes?

“What about dinner?” I ask.

“I told Ray we had some very important work to do.”

“They didn’t notice you raiding the pantry?”

“I can be sneaky.”

Adam bends to light a small lantern on a table beside the sofa, giving me a pleasant view. I realize I’m staring and turn to examine the repurposed bookcase filled with pots and seedlings.

Adam comes up beside me and rests his hand at the base of my spine. “Want to meet my other kids?”

I flush with warmth.Other.It’s like he’s claiming the children as his. “Please.”

He lifts a succulent off the shelf. “Say Aloe to my little friend,” he says in a terrible Al Pachino impression.

I laugh. The seedling has long, curved leaves with tiny thorns along the edges. I’m guessing it’s an aloe vera.

“His name’s Spike,” Adam says with a grin.

He sets Spike down and shows me a leafy plant. “Fernie Sanders.”

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