“Thanks. I like it.” I did.
In fact, my home was not something I wanted to change in my life. I liked it a lot. There were just times I felt lonely in it, but that wasn’t the home’s fault. It was mine. Maybe I should get a cat.
“What were you thinking just now? You smiled slightly.” His eyes held amusement in them, as he was curious as to what had made me smile.
“I was thinking about getting a cat. It can be lonely here, but then again, I don’t have much time for an animal. So, maybe that was a lame idea.”
The more I thought about it, the more I started to turn toward the negative side of having a cat or animal in the hotel. I didn’t even let animals in the establishment unless they were service animals, so that would hardly be fair if I had one, but the guests couldn’t bring Fido with them. Then, there was the cleaning and feeding and taking care of it. I was tired already, thinking about it. No time and no energy for a cat. Guess it really was my fault that I was alone in this place.
“That was quick,” Logan stated flatly.
I looked up from the coffee table that I hadn’t known I was staring at to see him watching me with concerned features.
Oh, great. The crazy in me is showing.
“Excuse me?”
“I said, that was quick. You were okay one minute, almost smiling, and then your eyes glazed over. You were staring at the coffee table, but you weren’t really seeing it. You were seeing all the negatives in your head, focusing on them, letting them drag you down like an anchor on your foot.”
An observation I was not proud he had seen. This was one of my main problems. Once I stepped into the rabbit hole, it was hard to get out. Negativity took over, and I felt like I was drowning.
“Get up.” He stood and motioned for me to come over to him.
I did, unsure of what was happening, but I’d said I’d do as he said. He was the professional, so I got up and walked over.
“Come here.” He opened his arms and held them out for me to enter.
He wanted me to hug him? Um, okay …
“I won’t bite you. It’s a hug.” He rolled his eyes.
I stepped closer to him, my arms staying at my sides while his warm arms surrounded me. Holding me against his muscled torso.
“You’re okay, you’re safe, and by the looks of the pictures on your wall, I know you are loved. You are strong, Mia, and this will pass. It’s going to be okay.”
I might have cried. My arms might have lifted to wrap themselves around his back, holding on to him like he was my only grasp above water.
Whatever magic he was weaving, I was feeling it because, in that moment, in his arms, I felt okay. My mind settled, and thoughts stopped dragging me down into the dark. All I could feel was his body around me and the movement of his breaths beneath my head on his chest.
