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Bad on one hand and yet perfect on another. She could purely enjoy her time here and the people she met, regardless of the circumstances that had gotten her here. Hope truly liked meeting new people and traveling the world, but she also didn’t mind being by herself as she had been the majority of her childhood.
She didn’t push her knowledge on people. A lot of people had a hard time wrapping their head around her doctorates and degrees. Everyone had assumptions and she found that a person’s true self was revealed when they put you in a box and overlooked you. Again, fine with her. She had nothing to prove. She knew her worth, like she’d told Mitchell.
“Are you okay, Hope?”
She glanced up from the bowl of eggs she was whisking to find Naomi’s concerned gaze on her as she stood at the large wood stove, cooking breakfast.
“I will be.”
The woman wiped her hands off on a towel and approached.
“You know you’re a guest and don’t have to help.”
“It helps keep my mind occupied. Plus, you weren’t expecting me as a guest, so it doesn’t feel right to take advantage.”
Naomi flattened her lips but merely reached for the brioche and began slicing thick slabs to dip in the egg batter for the morning French toast. “You are far too young to have to keep your mind occupied. Everything okay?”
“I was returning from burying a friend when I got in that accident, and I guess I haven’t taken the time to process everything.” She willed back tears she wasn’t ready to allow freedom.
“Honey,” Naomi said, reaching out to cover one of Hope’s hands. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Were the two of you close?”
Tears burned and she furiously blinked them away. “He was the closest thing I had to a father. I’m going to miss him.”
“Of course you are, baby.” Naomi wrapped her arms around her and gave her a hug. She smelled of cinnamon and warmth. Comforting. “It’s never easy to lose family.”
“I don’t suppose it is.” She forced a smile. “I don’t mean to be maudlin. Apologies.”
Naomi backed up to her spot and wagged the knife in her direction. “You have nothing to apologize for. You’re allowed to grieve.”
It didn’t help that the final gift he’d given her had slid down the mountain in her rental car.
Hope stayed in the kitchen and helped, opting to eat in there with Naomi. She wanted to go up to her room and cry but didn’t want to do that in front of Mitchell.
“He’s eating, if that’s what you’re wondering. He’s looking for you and my guess is he’ll come in here when he’s finished.” Naomi plucked her dishes from her. “If you’re looking for some time to yourself, I would go now.”
She took Naomi at her word, gave the woman a hug in thanks, and headed for the stairs. The room was empty and Hope headed directly for the bed and crawled beneath the blankets. Mitchell’s earthy scent filled her nose as she snuggled into the pillows.
Then she allowed the tears to come.
When she woke, she knew she wasn’t alone. The sound of keys clacking reached her and she could feel Mitchell in the room with her. Doing a mental confirmation that she hadn’t stripped down to nothing, she sat and pushed off the bedding.
He sat facing the bed, working on his computer. A steaming mug of what smelled like coffee was at his left. Those brown eyes lifted over the lid of his device to find her.
“Feeling better?”
“Sure.” She wanted to yell no and see if he would hold her. God, she could cry for a few days.
He ran his gaze over her before grunting and looking back at the screen.
She didn’t have it in her to try and play nice. Better to leave the room. After making the bed, she took a deep breath and walked to the door. At least her leg was feeling better.
The moment her fingers curved around the handle, he spoke. “Do you know computer games?”
She paused, frowned, and glanced to where he sat watching her, his gaze sharp and intense. Also, hot.
“No. Why do you ask?”
“Wondered if you would be able to give me your opinion of one.”
God help her, she longed to. Anything to be closer to him, even though it wasn’t smart and she needed to remember they weren’t a couple. They were barely friends.
“I’m sorry, I’ve never played one in my life.”
She turned the handle.
“Not even a version of solitaire?”
“I’ve used real cards.” She forced a small smile. “I’ll let you get back to your work. Sorry if I disturbed you.”
Something flashed in his gaze, but she dipped out of the room and headed downstairs before she could overanalyze what she thought she’d seen or give in and sit close to him, allowing herself to be surrounded by his scent.
