Mr. Handsome I Love You

She didn't even have to say anything. He knew what she wanted and she couldn't have been more thankful because she couldn't find the words to ask him to stay.

She felt safe and protected in his strong arms. This was something she never experienced before, and it was sorely needed. Losing her parents at a young age robbed her of their affections and Joseph tried but he had to work to support both of them so he wasn't always around.

If she skinned her knee, she had to get up on her own and carry on. Somehow, over the years, she'd learned to cope inwardly. It was very rare that she let her emotions show as an adult, but it burst like a damn when he touched her.

However, this wasn't like Owen, not at all. He was always cordial to her, but not affectionate. This went way beyond just comforting for Owen, he was almost cherishing her.

The way he spoke in a soothing voice, the way his hands smoothed over her back as held her on his lap close to his body. She didn't want it to end. Her mind coasted to odd things again while she wept.

Like wrinkling his silk shirt in her fists and feeling bad about ruining the expensive material with her tears. She was even sure she mumbled an apology between sobs causing him to murmur that it wasn't important and was she warm enough, did she need to see a doctor?

Then Miss Bennett brought tea and some sandwiches. He encouraged her to take a few bites then drink down a cup of tea using the sweetest endearments as possible to encourage her. Soon she was asleep again.

She awoke sometime in the night to find that he was still beside her. Stretched out to his full length on the bed and she felt tremendous reassurance in it. He didn't leave her.

Raising her head she looked down the length of his sleeping form until it disappeared under the blankets at his waist.

The same blankets she was under He didn't leave, she thought with complete awe. Then she realized why it had meant so much to her. Everyone had left her.

Her parents and her cousin, but not Owen. She'd asked him to stay and he did. Owen was always there, maybe in the background, but she always knew she could count on him. That's why she phoned him first.

The truth was she never lacked for friends. She was popular in high school too and still maintained those friendships, but Owen was the only one besides Joseph that made her feel safe. Her eyes studied him in the pale light of the moon.

He was asleep from the slow steady breathing he was doing. She didn't realize how long his lashes were but now she could see them shutter the slit in his eyes completely.

They were a darker shade of brown than his hair and it was a very attractive contrast to his eyes. He had discarded his tie and jacket and the top half of his shirt was unbuttoned revealing a mat of dark brown hair. She couldn't imagine how he removed part of his clothing without disturbing her.