Page 13 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

Her initial expression was skeptical, but it quickly morphed to a shy smile. “You know, I think I believe you.” She moved to the edge of the mattress and led him through to the stairs.

Various groups still cuddled, and now he got a good look at the puppy pile where Geoff was, in fact, clearly enjoying himself.

Could I ever do that?

Doubtful. The amount of trust involved was pretty amazing. To let five strangers be able to lay hands on him. That being said, he’d quite enjoyed being the outside of a Loriana sandwich. Even if things’d gone sideways, he’d have wonderful memories to cling to. When she left his life, and he went back to his solitary existence.

He followed behind her as she walked up the three sets of stairs before getting to the bedroom. She snagged a cloth bag and stepped into the bathroom.

Am I supposed to wait?

Well, he would. He grabbed his winter jacket and pulled it on.

Loriana returned and nabbed a navy-blue coat that went almost to her ankles while his jacket barely covered his ass. Hardly surprising his neighbor’d looked at him funny.

“You have a purse?” Several were strewn about. A trusting group of people.

She shook her head. From an inside pocket of her coat, she pulled out a set of keys. “I tend to travel light.”

He could see that about her. Not making a snap judgement—but she didn’t wear make-up, and didn’t seem the type to fuss over things. The last woman he’d dated seriously had carried everything possible in her purse and could’ve used the thing as a lethal weapon if anyone ever tried to get fresh with her. One bop to the head, and the guy’d be out cold.

After palming his own keys, he met her gaze. “May I walk you to your car? I’d offer to drive you home—”

“No, I’m good.”

As he’d suspected. Whatever she’d endured had passed, and she was back on an even keel. “Fair enough.” He followed her as she left the room.

Vance and Patsy were at the front door to greet them.

Mitch and Loriana put on their boots, then Loriana tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m so sorry.”

Patsy clucked. “Don’t you be worrying about that, my dear. I’m just hoping you’ll come back. Next party is on December 31st. A New Year’s Eve celebration.”

“I’ll have to, um, think about it.”

Not an outright refusal, but not an enthusiastic yes.

“May I hug you?”

To Mitch’s surprise, Loriana asked this of Patsy.

The older woman held out her arms and Loriana stepped into the embrace.

Vance held out his hand to Mitch. “Or we can hug it out.”

Normally it would’ve been a hardnobut Mitch took a moment to consider before offering his hand for a shake. By the time Loriana was finished with Patsy’s hug, the men had shook.

Loriana stepped over to him, and Mitch instinctively put his arm around her. Not something he’d ever consider doing, even with someone he was dating, but it felt right. Like she needed to know she had his full support. Like he was staking that little claim on her, if only in the moment.

Vance opened the door and a wall of cold air hit them.

The temperature had dropped precipitously.

Mitch glanced at Loriana’s boots, glad to see they looked sturdy. Nothing drove him crazier than women wearing high heels at inappropriate moments. On a frigid night like tonight, no sense doing anything but sensible.

With one last wave to the older couple, Loriana headed down the walkway, him at her side. When they got to the street, she pointed to a mid-size sedan.

Practical. And, yep, a hybrid. So good for the environment.

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