She lifted her brows. “I don’t think there’s a better place to see curious people than Las Vegas.”
He grinned. “You’re right about that. It’s an odd town, isn’t it? There’s so much to do, so much to see. All the shows and music and entertainment. Everything you look at is competing for your attention. And yet, there are people who come here and never leave the casino.”
“It’s a very odd town. Great food and great shopping, though.”
“Maybe we could come back here sometime for a long weekend. Under happier circumstances.”
She smiled. “Take a trip together? That doesn’t involve work?”
He nodded tentatively. “Yes. What do you think?”
“I think…” Should she tell him the truth? That she really did love him? That what had slipped out at the airport was really what she was feeling? Or was grief making her reckless? “I think we should talk about it later.”
“Right.” He sat back and concentrated on his coffee, eyes down, brow furrowed.
That hadn’t been the reaction she’d expected. Or wanted. Inwardly, she cringed. “Mitch, I really do care about you.”
He frowned. “But?”
“No but. Other than I don’t know if I can trust my emotions right now in light of what I’m feeling because of my mom. I don’t want to say anything to you that’s simply a reaction. I like you too much.”
He stared at her a moment. “I respect that.” He sighed. “After Jeanie died, I said a lot of things to people that I came to regret.” He looked out the window. “I might still owe an apology to a couple of them.”
“What I said in the airport last night—”
“Don’t.” He shook his head. “There’s nothing to explain. I don’t care if you meant it or not. I understand what you’re going through. You don’t need to worry about a few words.”
She smiled. Their breakfast arrived. She waited until they were alone again to speak. She picked up her fork. “I know I keep saying it, but thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
She hoped he really knew how much his presence meant to her. If she’d had to do this alone, she’d have been a mess. Not that she couldn’t have done it. She was capable. But he was doing the heavy lifting, meaning she didn’t have to shoulder the burden of grief along with the additional weight of logistics and travel and everything else.
It was one of the best gifts she’d ever been given. How could she not love a man like that?
Chapter Fifty
By noon, Joyce had made breakfast for Kyle, cleaned up after breakfast, taken Bunny out, got a batch of cinnamon pecan muffins baked, dusted, hoovered, and done two loads of laundry. After she made lunch for Kyle, her next big task involved taking advantage of Mitch’s absence to give his office a thorough and much needed deep cleaning.
She even planned on taking down his curtains and washing them. Goodness knew when she’d done that last. While he’d been grieving, he hadn’t wanted to be disturbed, even though most days he wasn’t writing.
He’d just sit in there, staring at his laptop. Or sometimes he sit on the couch with a notebook, to look busy, she imagined. He never wanted her to clean in there. Like she might dust away a memory.
She’d told him last night before he’d gone to pick up Harper that a deep cleaning was on the books. He’d just nodded. Things like that didn’t bother him these days. What a blessing.
What wasn’t a blessing was the recent introduction of dog hair to the house. Bunny was a sweet animal, well-behaved, and loyal to her new family. She was especially protective of Ruthie, something Joyce couldn’t fault.
But the hair.
Beryl warmed up a bottle for Ruthie. “What are you making for lunch?”
“Grilled ham and cheese with crisps. Kyle asked for it. Might cut up an apple or add a few carrot sticks. Hardly seems healthy otherwise.” Joyce opened the refrigerator to get the ingredients out. “You want one?”
Beryl took the bottle out when the machine gave its little beep. “That’d be all right. Don’t need it grilled, though. I’d rather have it not, actually. All that extra grease.” She shook her head. “Don’t need that.”
“You know, neither do I. We’ll have ours just as sandwiches then. You want crisps?”
“I shouldn’t, but maybe just a few. Apples or carrots are fine, too.”
