29

Short Notice

Drew stood outside Kelly’s front door, collar turned up against the wind sniffing around him. The air wasn’t cold, but the drizzle that breeze blew against his skin was. He was shivering by the time Kelly answered her door.

“Drew.” Her olive eyes widened. “What are you—? Come in. You must be freezing out there.”

She reached for him, drew him inside, closed the door behind him. Drew huddled into his coat for a moment before slipping out of it and hanging it on her coat rack.

“Coffee?”

“Please.” He followed her into her kitchen.

The cookies had been packed away. Three boxes of them had been set neatly against a cupboard deeper inside her kitchen. She glanced at him over her shoulder, giving him a warm smile as she set out two coffee mugs.

“How’ve you been?”

“As well as can be expected.”

Kelly paused, coffee decanter in hand. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“It’s not.” He shrugged, stared at the mugs. “But what’s done is done.”

Kelly’s face lit up. Probably, because she thought he’d told Angel to get lost. He barely managed to suppress a sarcastic smile.

She brought him his coffee, cocked her head at the boxes of cookies. “I still have some. You want?”

“Already had more than my recommended daily allowance of sugar today, thanks.” He smiled at her, turned to the living room. “Can we sit?”

“Sure.” Her eyebrows twitched in surprise before she brought them under control. “Sure.”

She led him into the TV room. The set was off, but the curtains were drawn as if she planned to resume watching. She put her coffee cup down and opened the curtains as he took a seat on the pale leather sofa.

“So…” Kelly came to sit beside him, giving him a small smile as she took up her coffee cup. She slid her legs under her and twisted to face him, propping her elbow on the armrest.

She wore pale green leggings — thick and ribbed — and a pair of fluffy white socks that almost came to her knees. A long, pale pink sweater that ended mid-thigh completed whatever the hell look she’d been going for.

“So.” Drew shifted and set his coffee cup down on the table. “Are you busy this weekend?”

Her eyebrows perked up again. “No. I mean…” she blushed faintly, glancing away. “I might be going out with some friends on Saturday. But I haven’t confirmed anything yet.” She took a sip of coffee, her eyes darting back to him. “Why?”

“I’m selling my lakehouse.”

“Oh. Okay.” Kelly’s eyes widened slightly. “That’s… good. I guess?”

He shook his head, let out a small laugh. “I’m heading over there this weekend. Saying goodbye, I guess you could say. There’s more than enough room — four beds — if you’d like to come with?”

Now those dark green eyes of hers were round and uncertain. “That… that sounds amazing.”

“So you’ll come?”

“It’s a bit short notice,” she murmured into her coffee, her breath stirring the surface.

“Live a little.” He grinned at her, reached over and grabbed her thigh.

She didn’t flinch at the touch, but she also didn’t look down at his hand. “I guess… it’s just for the weekend?”

“I’m leaving tonight. It’s a long drive.”

“How long?”

“Six hours.”

“That is long.” Her eyes darted to the black television screen, to the rain outside. Down to her coffee. “Who else is going?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

Kelly’s mouth twisted to the side. “Is she going?”

He shrugged. “She hasn’t decided.”

“Well…” Kelly pushed back her shoulders and set her mug down. “I’ll go if she doesn’t.”

Drew laughed. He squeezed her thigh again, but this time she drew her leg out from under his leg. “Kelly—”

“We spoke about this.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her chin out at him. “And I was serious. I don’t like that girl.”

“I heard you.” He sighed then, rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, and took up his cup again. Turning from her so he could look out the window, Drew took a few slow sips of coffee.

Kelly shifted on the couch, uncrossing her arms, crossing them again. Taking up her coffee, putting it down.

He waited.

“I mean, why don’t you let her stay at your house?” Kelly asked. “Then I would love to come with. It could be… romantic.”

He looked across at her. “I know you probably won’t get this, but I’m going to try and explain anyway.”

Kelly bristled at that like he knew she would, pursing her lips and gripping both her arms in a white-knuckled grip. “Oh, go ahead,” she said in a tight voice. “And please, use small words.”

He shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut again. “She came here because she has nowhere else to go. And I mean nowhere else.”

“Doesn’t she stay in a dorm?”

“My daughter dropped her, Kelly. They were supposed to spending the break together, and then she bailed.” He sighed, ran his hand down his face. “I feel responsible for her.”

“Surely her own parents can—”

“They’re dead.”

It was a long shot, and one he wasn’t sure Angel would corroborate if pressed, but it was all he had. And, from what he’d figured out about that raven-haired girl who waited for him next door, at least one of her parents had to be out of the picture.

“Oh my God… That’s…” Kelly’s face softened only for a moment before she pressed her lips into a thin line again. “That’s not your problem. And you shouldn’t make it yours, either.”

“I find it hard to turn away people in need, Kelly.”

And if the stiffness in his voice hadn’t been the deciding factor, maybe the way he rose jerkily to his feet and refused to look at Kelly when she made a small sound of protest.

“I really wish you could have come with. It’s beautiful out there. So peaceful. No traffic. No noise. Just nature. A goddamn abundance of it.”

He was in the hallway, putting on his coat, when Kelly padded up behind him. She caught hold of his sleeve and tugged at him until he turned back to her.

“You broke it off with her?”

Searching her face, he said. “There was nothing to break off. I told you, it was a one-time thing.”

“Okay.” Kelly licked her lips, inhaled hard enough that her breasts pushed against the thick wool of her sweater. “I’ll come.”

He smiled widely at her. “I can’t wait.”

“Let me know what time. What I have to bring.” She let out a small laugh. “Where it is.”

“I’ll text you.” He turned to the door, paused, and then swung back to her.

In two steps, he was in front of her. Her eyes were still going wide when he scooped her up against him and smoothed back her hair from her face with both hands. He searched her eyes, glanced down at her mouth.

“Thank you, Kelly.”

“For what?” she asked, a touch breathlessly.

“Giving me a second chance.” He pressed his lips to hers, waiting until she responded before deepening the kiss.

She squirmed, pressing her body against his and going to tiptoes so she could press her lips harder against his. Wrapping his fingers around the back of her neck, Drew turned, pushing her gently against the wall. She made a soft sound at that, both her hands going to his shoulders. His hand slid down to caress her breast. This earned him a moan, long and sensual, that vibrated against his lips.

He stepped away, holding her at arm’s length, blinking at her.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I just…”

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. He brushed his thumb over her lips, gave her an unsteady smile, and let himself out of the house.

Outside, rain pattered onto his face as he hurried down Kelly’s lawn to her gate. He glanced back to close it and hesitated when he saw that her door was still open.

Kelly stood at the threshold, one hand over her heart, the other clutching the door frame like she needed the support. When he looked at her, she gave him a small, uncertain wave. He smiled at her, nodded, and trudged home through the puddles of rain that had collected on his drive.

He could feel her watching him until he’d stepped through his front door.