The words hung in the air, a delicate, fragile thing. My heart, already so full, did a strange flip. I immediately looked up, my gaze locking with Luca's across the room. His smile had softened even further, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes.
I felt a sudden, sharp pang of uncertainty. I wasn't Leon's mother. I didn't want to cross any boundaries, to imply anything that wasn't true, or to make him think I had been saying anything to put that idea in his head. My cheeks flushed with an uncomfortable heat. I wasn't trying to replace anyone. I was simply trying to survive a holiday in a stranger's cabin.
Luca, sensing my discomfort, cleared his throat gently.
"Alright, buddy," he said brightly, "how about we all get cleaned up? Santa's pretty sure the storm is getting much better
