Palisha is busy checking a guest into the hotel when she looks up to see Mick standing off to the side. Her heart quickens and she squashes the tiny gasp in her throat as she takes in the half smile on his face. But his shoulders are drooped and his dark eyes have a faraway look, as if he’s lost in thought. The sober, long expression on his large round face doesn’t surprise her, though. The last time she saw him was a week before he left for the mountains to attend the funeral of a good friend he’s known for many years. She runs the guest’s credit card through the card reader and waits for the acceptance reply. When it comes through, she pushes the invoice with the room key card to the guest and has him sign in. Once the guest is on his way, Mick steps up to the desk, and for a moment he j
