Page 105 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

“We’ll find a creative way to dry off.” Loriana winked.

Mitch felt his cheeks heat.

Vance chuckled. “I bet you will. Now, you’ll have to come back in February and tell us how it all goes. And if there’s a wedding, we expect an invitation.”

Mitch nearly tripped over his feet.

Loriana chuckled. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’ve got lots to discuss first.” She gazed up at Mitch. “And some truths to share.”

Was she referring to herself or to him? He couldn’t think of anything he hadn’t shared, but he’d wrack his brain during the drive to her place. Whatever she wanted to know, he was willing to share.

“Well, off you kids go. I’d say this party’s one for the record books.”

Loriana followed Vance’s suggestion and stepped out into the rain. Mitch was hard on her heels as she sprinted to the car. She disarmed the alarm when she drew close, and he was there to hold the door open for her. She flashed him a smile as he shut the door. Then she waited until he hustled over to his van and hopped in.

He turned the van on and sent the vents to full as the windshield fogged up. After a good minute, it’d cleared. He waved to her, and she pulled out. He followed, staying a close distance. He really hated being out on New Year’s Eve. Drunk driving wasn’t as much of a thing as when he’d been a kid, but people still did stupid things. He also didn’t want to come across a group of cops doing sobriety checks. No, he’d had his fill of cops for quite some time.

As Loriana pulled into her driveway, he pulled a couple of houses ahead. He used someone’s driveway so he could pull in, back up, and drive forward, neatly parking in the spot in front of Loriana’s house.

Predictably, Nosy Norma’s nose stuck out between her drapes.

He waved.

She shut them with a violent movement.

Old bat.

The thought made him an uncharitable asshole. The woman was alone in the world. And she kept a close eye out for Loriana. Nosy was one perspective. Concerned would be another.

No, he wasn’t feeling charitable. Interfering nosy old woman was as far as he was willing to go.

Loriana held the door open for him as he scooted inside.

She’d barely shut the door before Plato wound his way around Mitch’s legs.

He bent over to scratch the feline. “Yeah, buddy, I’ve missed you too.”

Plato headbutted him.

“Let me take your coat.”

Loriana’s husky voice hit him low in the gut. God, how he’d missed her. The last seven days felt like an eternity. “Sure.”

She hung up their coats and turned to him. She looked adorable in her pale-lavender-and-white snowflake pajamas.

And somehow he wasn’t embarrassed to be in his flannel ones. That being said, the legs were damp. “Uh, not to be presumptuous, but is it okay if I take my pants off?”

“Well, that’s blunt.” Her eyes sparkled. “You can take everything off, if you want.”

A tempting offer.

“Will you reciprocate?”Please.They had so much to talk about, and yet he wanted action even more than he wanted words.

She twirled a lock of her hair in her hands, and he noticed how damp it was. “How about a shower to warm up?”

He wasn’t particularly cold, but he’d take that kind of intimacy over sitting around chatting any day. “That sounds great.”

“Cool.” She extended her hand.

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