Page 11 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

A vigorous nod.

The older woman took Loriana’s hand in hers. “There’s a reason I give that warning before every party. Intimacy draws on deep emotions. Especially ones we’ve pushed down for days or months or even years. Touch can unleash that pain. What you’re going through is perfectly normal. Healthy even.”

This felt far too precarious and intimate to Mitch, so he tried to pull back.

Loriana gripped him tighter.

Patsy met his gaze and held it for a moment. Conveying a message or just acknowledging his presence? He wasn’t sure.

“Do you want to talk about it or just let it ride? There’s no right answer to that question and you’ve got two wonderful men and myself. We can all listen, or you can choose, or we can let it rest for tonight.”

“I can’t.” A broken whisper. “I just can’t.”

“Perfectly acceptable answer.” Patsy adjusted herself to a more comfortable position. “We’ll just hang here for a bit.”

Loriana shifted to move. “I should get going.”

Patsy tisked. “Your choice, of course. Everyone is always free to leave. But you have three people worried about your safety. They’d prefer to see you calmer before you drive off.”

Thank heavens Patsy was in charge. Mitch would never’ve had the strength to convince Loriana to stay if she wanted to go, but he’d worry about her.

Another hiccup. “I guess I’ll stay. But I don’t need everyone watching over me. I’ll be okay.”

“Yes, I believe you will.” Patsy pressed a palm to the other woman’s cheek. “How do you want to do this?”

A heartbreaking moment later, she whispered, “Just Mitch.”

His gaze shot to Patsy who gave him a reassuring smile. “I think you’ve made an excellent decision. And I think Geoff’s itching to join the puppy pile.”

Geoff smiled and, briefly, met Mitch’s gaze. “Another time.” Then he moved out of sight, and within moments giggles erupted.

Patsy’s smile was wistful. “Such a lovely young man. Always a favorite.”

Mitch could appreciate why. Geoff’d been the first to approach Loriana, greeting her with a hearty but gentle welcome. He’d cuddled with her. Then he’d sought the right help at the right time, never making her feel silly for her emotions. At some point, Mitch would have to thank the young man.

Who was only a handful of years younger than himself, but the difference felt monumental.

Patsy placed the box of tissue beside the mattress and rose. Not gracefully, but with some dignity, given her age. She gave them one last smile and moved away.

He held himself still as his flattened palm still rested on Loriana’s chest.

One of her hands grasped it, while the other handled the tissues. “I’m sorry.” Another broken whisper.

“Please don’t be.” He wanted to do so much more. “Like Patsy said, it’s normal. She said it might happen, and it did. She also warned about laughter, and I think that’s okay as well. I’m grateful you want me to stay…” He wanted to explain he wasn’t sure what to do, but that felt like the wrong approach. She needed assurances, not his self-doubt.

“You barely know me.”

Here he could respond truthfully. “True enough. But I can sense your empathy a mile away. You care about people. I see how you are with Marnie. And I saw you interacting with other people. You deal with the public all day, every day, and yet you never seem to tire of it.”

She snickered. “There are days.”

As he’d suspected there would be. But work felt like a safe topic. “And yet I’ll bet you never lose your proverbial cool. You’ll always be professional. Now, you might scream later—”

“I do not scream—”

“Or take it out on some poor punching bag—”

“I’m not a boxer—”

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