Page 18 of Mine For The Winter

Kelly opened the door and climbed out, pulling him in for a hug. From the corner of her eye she could see that Kris had climbed out of the driver’s side and was watching them both.

“I gotta go, Mom.”

She nodded and let him go. “Good luck!” she told him. “Don’t break a leg.”

“Mom…” Cole shook his head.

“And Riley’s mom’s bringing you home after the game. Come straight to the Tavern.”

“I will. Now can I go?”

“Yes. What do you say to Mr. Winter?”

Cole looked up at him. He had the same eyes as Kelly. Wide, expressive, brown with those damn flecks. “Thank you, Mr. Winter.”

“It’s Kris. And you’re welcome. Good luck with the game.”

“Thank you.” Cole grinned and turned on his heel, running across the parking lot.

Kris brought his attention to Kelly. She was wearing a thin jacket, her hair pulled into a messy bun. She had hardly any make up on but she’d never needed it. Kelly had always been naturally pretty.

“Don’t you want to go in and watch him?” Kris asked.

“I can’t.” She shook her head. “I have to go to work.” She glanced at her watch, her jacket rising up her arm with the movement, revealing her slender wrist. “Damn, I should already be there.”

“Then get back in. I’ll give you a ride.”

Kelly didn’t move. Just looked at the car and then her mouth did that little twist he could remember she always did when she was undecided about something. It was coming back to him now. The memories of how she’d waver between an egg salad or cheese sandwich on the days she bought lunch in the school cafeteria.

He opened the passenger door. “Get in, Kelly.”

“It’s fine. I can get a ride back to the car. I have to wait until Charlie gets there anyhow. The Tavern will have to wait.”

Fine.He opened his mouth to tease her about the word then shut it again, because now wasn’t the time.

But she wasn’t fine. He knew her better than that. Or at least once he had. She’d want to get to the tavern as soon as possible. The place was everything to her, the same way it was to her dad.

“Will you just get in?” he asked.

“No.”

Kris sighed. Long and loud enough for her to hear and give him a dirty look. “Are we going to do this again?”

“Do what? I haven’t seen you in years.” God, she was cute when she was frustrated.

“Do the whole‘you don’t need any help because you’re a kick ass independent woman’and then we’ll fight until you finally let me do something?”

She folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t want any help from you because I know what happens if I get it.”

“What happens?” His voice was tight.

“You take off and leave me to mop up the pieces.”

He ran his hand through his hair. “Jesus, Kelly.”

“Jesus, Kelly what?” she asked, her brows pinching.

“Jesus, Kelly can you get in the car and we’ll have this argument as I drive you back to town?” He shook his head. “You haven’t changed a damn bit, have you?”

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