Page 19 of Mine For The Winter

She took a deep breath, the action lifting her chest. “How would you know? You haven’t been here.”

She said it softly, but he felt the accusation deep in his gut. And it twisted because she was right. Hehadn’tbeen there. Hadn’t wanted to. He’d walked away and she’d paid the price.

He was supposed to be making amends, not causing more problems.

“Please get in the car,” he said, his voice quieter now. “I’m driving back anyway.”

She paused for a moment. Then nodded, not looking at him as she finally climbed back into the passenger seat. He closed the door behind her and walked around the car, pressing his lips together because dealing with Kelly was like dealing with a wild cat.

She bit, she scratched, but deep down she had a heart of soft wool.

Even if she never admitted it.

“I’m sorry for snapping. Thank you for the ride,” she said, her voice tight. “And for getting Cole to his game. I think you have a new fan.”

Well that was something at least. If only the mom was as easy to make happy as the kid.

Ah well. He never shied away from a challenge.

* * *

Her phone rang right as Kris joined the traffic heading into the main square. Seeing her dad’s name on the screen she accepted it and lifted the phone to her ear, glad to have a distraction from the man sitting next to her in the driver’s seat.

“Hi Dad.”

“I just heard your message. Sorry I missed you. Are you still with the car? Have you called Charlie? Is Cole okay?”

Her lips twitched. “It’s all good. Cole’s at his game and Charlie is gonna get there as soon as he can. I’m heading to the Tavern now.”

“How’d you get Cole to the rink?”

She glanced at Kris from the corner of her eye. They’d barely spoken since she’d gotten into the car. He’d asked her if she was warm enough and she had said she was. Then the space between them filled with silence she wasn’t sure how to break.

She felt exhausted and she hadn’t even dealt with the lunchtime rush yet, let alone the Saturday night one.

And she was more than a little annoyed with herself because Kris had come to the rescue and she had bitten his head off. She knew better than to behave like that.

“I wish I could help,” her dad said, breaking the silence. “I hate that I can’t even drive a damn car.”

“You’ll be able to soon. Just gotta get you that new knee.” They’d made it into the town square but of course there was nowhere to park. “Dad, I gotta go. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay, sweetheart. Take care.”

She ended the call and looked at Kris. “I’m sorry about all the traffic.”

He shrugged. “What are you apologizing for? It’s my family’s fault.”

The ghost of a smile pulled at her lips. “And I’m sorry for being a pain earlier. I’m really grateful for your help.”

Kris turned to look at her. Up this close she noticed a scar right above his lip. That was new. Or at least it had happened in the last twelve years. She wanted to ask him about it, but she thought better of it.

“I’ll drop you off and go back to your car. If you give me the key I’ll wait for Charlie up there.”

“It’s okay. I can—”

“Kelly.” It wasn’t a question. Not a command either. Just her name and enough to make her realize she was doing it again.

Trying to find a way not to be a burden. Trying to make her needs small because everybody else’s were bigger. She’d always done that. “Sorry.”

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