Page 58 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

Todd.

Why did her mind keep going back to him? Twenty years was a long time. He wasn’t just her past—he was her long-distant past. Another lifetime. Yet his face kept flashing in her mind. Why, goddammit? Todd and Mitch were as opposite as two men could be. And not just in looks. Todd had been a free spirit. Never tethered to the earth. He claimed he’d change his ways to be with her—that she made him want to settle down. And he’d done it.

Until the day he’d disappeared.

He left you.

God.

She blinked several times. After flushing the toilet, she washed her hands, studiously avoiding the mirror.

Get your head in the game.

Except was this a game? One of those things men and women did when they were attracted to each other? She didn’t want to look at it like that. Mitch said he was making Mission City his new home. She still saw red flags in all kinds of places, but wasn’t she the same? She had things she didn’t share with anyone.

Everyone has secrets.

Her favorite employee was proof of that.

Crap. Did Marnie know Mitch was coming here? Would Loriana owe her friend a phone call when he left? Oh, and what if he didn’t leave? Was she okay with that?

After drying her hands on a towel, she headed back down the hall and halted at the entryway to the kitchen.

Mitch sat on the floor with Plato on his lap. The cat purred while Mitch stroked his fur in long strokes.

The food dish was empty.

Likely catching her movement, Mitch glanced up. He offered a half-shrug. “He tried crawling up my leg. In a move of self-preservation, I sat on the ground. Those claws are sharp.”

She moved fully into the room. “Did he hurt you? Did he damage your jeans?”

He waved her off. “All good. I think we’ve reached an understanding. Right?”

Plato gazed up at him with unblinking yellow eyes.

Loriana laughed. “Well, okay, then. Can I offer you something to drink? Or a snack?”

Mitch’s eyes went wide. “After all that food? I don’t think I’ll be able to eat for a week. Fifties have…generous portions.”

That they did.

“I’d love water.”

“Ice?”

“Sure.” He continued to pet Plato.

“You’re going to spoil him.”

“Sometimes a little spoiling is good.” He accepted the water she handed him. “Everyone deserves to be spoiled once in a while.”

Oh, what the hell.

Loriana plopped down onto the kitchen floor.

Mitch arched an eyebrow.

“I did a thorough cleaning yesterday. I mean, I did like a spring cleaning. Probably the fall cleaning I should’ve done months ago.” She eyed the floor under the fridge, pleased not to see any dust bunnies. She’d pulled it out, cleaned behind it, cleaned under it, and then cleaned in it. It shone. Too bad it wouldn’t stay that way. It never did.

---