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“Can I get you anything?”
“No,” she said, turning to walk away.
“Wait.”
She stopped but didn’t turn back.
“What were you looking for?”
“Coffee, but it isn’t a big deal. I can go back to my room.”
I walked over to where she stood and put my hand on her shoulder. “Look at me, beautiful.”
Mila shook her head, and I walked around her so I could see her face. I cupped her cheek, and she looked into my eyes.
“I’m lost,” she whispered. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she bowed her head.
I put one hand around her waist and the other behind her knees, picked her up, carried her over to the sofa, and sat down with her on my lap.
“You had a helluva day yesterday, sweetheart.”
It was as if once I gave her permission to accept how hard the last thirty-six hours had been for her, the floodgates opened. The shock had finally worn off, and Mila let herself cry. I held her as tight as I could, giving her the space and time she needed to sob over the death of her sister.
I soothed her the best I could, and when she apologized for crying, I told her to let it out. “Don’t apologize, Mila. You haven’t let herself do this, and you need to.” That seemed to make her cry harder, but that was okay. I’d meant what I said. This was something she needed to do.
I had no idea how much time had passed when her sobs finally subsided. She took several deep breaths, wrapped her arm around my waist, shifted
the way she sat on my lap, and rested her head against my chest. As far as I was concerned, there wasn’t a better feeling in the world. At least none I could allow myself to think about with her ass firmly planted where my erection was currently coming to life.
“Tell you what. Let’s get out of here today, maybe take a drive somewhere.”
“You don’t have to work?”
I shook my head. “It’s called delegation, and I’m damn good at it.”
“Where would we go?”
“I don’t know. Maybe head down to San Antonio, take a walk along the river.”
Her eyes lit up like she thought it was a good idea. “I have someplace else in mind.”
Oh. Not such a good idea. As long as she didn’t say the fucking airport to meet asshole Adler, I didn’t care where she wanted to go; I’d take her.
“I know you said we couldn’t get into my grandfather’s house, where my sister was living, but I grew up in Bluebell Creek. It’s where my granddaddy and my mama are both buried. I need to make arrangements for Sybil too.”
“You don’t have to do that today.”
“I know, but I love that little town.”
“If that’s where you’d like to go, I may have a place where you can stay.”
“Really? I’d appreciate it.”
“Bluebell Creek it is,” I said, moving her off my lap and then wondering why I’d been so anxious to do so. Seconds after she stood, I wanted her back in my arms and to never let her go. “Do you want some breakfast before we head out?” I asked, standing and quickly adjusting my jeans.
Mila was already halfway down the hallway.
“Just coffee, and a shower if that’s okay.”
