Page 21 of Mine For The Winter

Weird how much he liked that kid.

“Thank you for all your help earlier. I owe you one,” Kelly said as he reached the bar.

“You’re not going to thank me when you hear what Charlie has to say.”

She laughed but there was no humor in it. “I already called him. He told me it’s time for the junk yard.”

“I’m sorry,” Kris said, because he hated this. “Repairs would cost way more than it’s worth.”

“Yeah, I get that.” Kelly nodded. “I guess I’ll just have to get myself another car.” She didn’t meet his eye. He had to push down the urge to reach out and touch her chin. He wanted to look into her eyes. Read her emotions.

But it wasn’t his place to do it.

“Can you use your dad’s?” he asked her.

She shook her head. “He sold it last month.”

Kris wanted to ask why, but she’d already picked up a couple of dirty glasses from the bar, trying to end the conversation.

“You can have my car.” The words escaped his lips before he could think them through.

She stopped what she was doing, holding the glasses in mid air. “What?” Her brows pulled together.

“You need a car to get to work. To drive Cole around. You can have mine.”

“It’s a rental,” she pointed out.

“I’ll put you on as an additional driver.”

Kelly put the glasses back down on the counter and turned to look at him. “It’s okay. I can figure it out on my own.”

“Or you can take my help.”

She blinked, her lips parting and he had the strangest urge to reach out and touch them. “I can’t afford a car like that.”

“I didn’t ask you to pay.”

“And I can’t take your generosity either. You’ve already done too much. It’s fine, I’ll work something out.”

She wasfineagain. And he still couldn’t tease her.

“Can I have two beers?” a man called out over Kris’s shoulder, interrupting them.

“What time do you finish?” Kris asked her.

“One, two in the morning.”

“Okay.”

Kelly glanced over his shoulder at the customer, then back at Kris. “What does that mean?”

“It means if you won’t take my car I’ll give you a ride home.”

“No.” Her voice was firm. “That’s not happening.”

He shrugged. “That’s funny. Because I think you’ll find it is.”

7

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