His thoughts exposed, Hayes Hughes was embarrassed for a second. Then, afraid she would misunderstand, he rushed to explain:
"I didn't mean anything by it, it's just… I haven't seen you in a long time, and I wanted to look at you a little longer."
"…"
If Ian Sinclair or someone like him had said something like that, Mia Grant's first reaction would have been to laugh sarcastically, then coo a sickeningly sweet comeback.
Empty flattery had no effect on her whatsoever.
But Hayes Hughes was different. He was always the exception.
He didn't know how to use such insincere sweet talk. In his role as her brother, he was also not good at sharing his emotions with her.
So, when he said he wanted to see her, it meant he really, really, *really* wanted to.
The longing must have been overflowing from his heart, so much so that he couldn't help but say it out loud.
After saying he missed her, he apologized again for his abrupt words.
