Tomorrow she’d be home in the comfort of her own house. If she could have left without being rude to her hosts, she would have skedaddled out of there the day after Christmas. Also known as the day after she’d made a fool of herself and kissed Evan. Or let him kiss her. Did semantics even matter at this point?

The kiss, as wonderful as it had been, was a mistake. Neither of them was ready for the aftermath nor prepared to handle the seismic shift in their relationship. And so, they ignored it, refused to acknowledge it had ever happened.

She was fine with that most of the time. Too confused to know what she wanted or how she felt, she’d rather delay a discussion until she could sort out her feelings. Then, at other times, a part of her needed to know what had happened. Had the kiss meant anything or had they been wrapped up in the moment?

She knew one thing: she wanted the elephant out of the room.

What she needed more than anything was space from Evan. His constant presence overwhelmed her, but where could she go? Until tomorrow, her home was his home. The space of two bedrooms didn’t put enough distance between them.

At least today she’d have a short break. One of Kate’s presents to her had been a gift certificate to a local spa, and they’d scheduled manicures for today, just the two of them. How long had it been since she’d had girl time? Not since before Mike died.

It had been even longer since she’d had a manicure, and her nails told on her. Chipped polish continued to peel from the quick paint job she’d done two weeks ago. Her cuticles hadn’t been tended to in who knew how long, and her nails were uneven from a biting habit she’d developed when Mike deployed.

Checking her watch, she kicked into gear. Kate would be there in ten minutes, and she hadn’t even put on makeup yet. She’d packed the cosmetics on a whim and thanked herself for the impulse. A little mascara, blush, and lipstick instilled a new confidence in her. When she looked in the mirror, she didn’t see the hollow-cheeked woman who’d been reflected several months ago.

Her face had filled out, and her clothes didn’t hang on her anymore. She was fairly certain she’d gained five pounds just during her Louisiana visit, but the food tasted unlike anything she’d ever had. It had been the best kind of culture shock to her taste buds. King cake topped her list of new foods she’d tried. Evan had special-ordered one from a local bakery even though they wouldn’t be in season for another month. Yesterday, she’d indulged in three slices of the cake that tasted more like a sweet bread cinnamon roll with a hint of lemon.

Evan appeared in the doorway. “Kate’s downstairs when you’re ready.”

“Can you tell her I’ll be right there?” She turned her head from the mirror and faced him. “I have to brush my hair, and then I’ll be down.”

“I’ll tell her.” Rather than move to leave, he stared at her. “You’re wearing makeup.”

“Only a little.” Something told her she needn’t have applied the blush.

“It looks good. You look good.”

“Uh…thanks.” She averted her gaze, embarrassed by the attention.

He shoved a hand in his pocket. “I’ll let Kate know.”

Once he’d left, she retrieved her brush from the counter and ran it through her hair. She’d kept it cut to above her shoulders for the last two years, but maybe it was time to change—add in layers or bangs. For today, she pulled a partial section back and fastened it with a barrette to keep it from falling into her eyes while getting her nails done.

She grabbed her purse and left the coat behind. The weather had finally warmed up to where a long-sleeved shirt would suffice. After Evan’s appreciative stare minutes ago, she needed the space more than ever and ran down the stairs to meet Kate.

Kate stood by the door next to Luke but whispered something in Evan’s ear.

He laughed then pulled on his ball cap. “Have fun. We’ll see you in a few hours.”

Luke kissed Kate, then he and Evan left out the door.

“Where are they headed?” Evan hadn’t mentioned going anywhere.

“Picking up food and decorations for tonight’s party.” Kate grimaced. “I was supposed to do it yesterday, but all the smells in the grocery store made me sick, and I had to leave.”

“Morning sickness?”

Kate nodded. “That was my first experience with it, and hopefully the last.”

“I had a friend who claimed Kool-Aid and toaster pastries helped her.”

“In all I’ve read, I’ve not seen that mentioned, but I’d be willing to try if it hits again.” Kate rubbed her stomach.

Was she conscious of the gesture? All the pregnant women she’d ever known rubbed their bellies that way. Would she ever have that opportunity?

“Uh-oh.” Kate frowned. “I’ve not been a good friend, have I?”

“You’ve been wonderful.”

“I saw your look just now.” Kate’s expression clouded over. “My talk of the baby isn’t easy, is it?”

“Don’t ever try to hide your joy over concern for me.” Janie gave her a sideways hug. “I’m excited for you. It almost feels as though my own sister is pregnant.”

A light flashed in Kate’s eyes. “You could be my sister if you and Evan married.”

“Let’s not go there.” Her warning didn’t sound as fierce as she’d meant it.

In a futile effort to avoid further questioning, she hurried outside and stood by the passenger door of Kate’s car, a sporty model she’d probably have to trade in before the baby came.

“You’re not getting off that easy.” Kate grinned and slid into the driver’s seat.

Janie got in, praying Kate wouldn’t say anything else.

No such luck.

“If you absolutely don’t want to say anything, you can tell me to shut up, but I’m curious about you and my brother.” With the car in reverse, Kate backed out of the driveway. “I bought the ‘we’re just friends’ line the first few days, but something changed after Christmas.”

Her heart rate picked up speed faster than an anvil dropped from a hundred-story building. “What do you mean?”

“You steal glances at each other when you think no one is looking, including each other.” Braking for a four-way stop, Kate continued. “But it’s a lost look, like you don’t know what you want, or are afraid to reach for it.”

She’d hit the nail on the head. On both accounts. Perhaps confiding in someone could help her sort out the jumbled nest of emotions lodged in her heart. “The honest answer is, I don’t know what’s going on between us, and something changed on Christmas night.”

“What was it?” The tone of her question implied a desire to help more than curiosity.

It convinced Janie to confide. “Since I met the guys, they’ve been like brothers to me. After Mike’s death, that bond deepened. In the last few months, Evan and I have grown closer, I guess because we both had more spare time than the others.”

“Understandable.”

“Even so, we were only friends. Very good friends, but that was it.” She subconsciously twisted her wedding band. “Christmas night, I don’t know how it happened.”

“How what happened?” Kate pressed gently when she didn’t continue.

“We were in the kitchen, about to take cups of hot chocolate outside and enjoy the remnants of Christmas, when we kissed.”

Kate unsuccessfully tried to hide her glee. “I knew it.”

Janie smiled, amused by Kate’s reaction, then remembered the upheaval the kiss wreaked on her emotions. “Now I’m more confused than ever. Were we just caught up in the moment? Or did it mean something?”

“You haven’t talked about it?”

“No.” She stared out the window, watching the passing homes, then businesses. “We’ve pretended it never happened.”

“My brother’s a knucklehead.” Kate scowled. “Men don’t have a clue sometimes.”

“He can’t take the sole blame. I’ve not exactly been eager to discuss it.”

“May I ask why not?”

“This.” She ran her wedding band up and down her finger. “My heart still grieves for Mike.”

Kate didn’t answer right away. “I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Mike personally, but from the stories Evan has told me, he was a man who embraced life and wouldn’t want you alone for the rest of yours.”

“I don’t know. And with Evan? If it doesn’t work, there goes our friendship, and it means too much to me to—”

Lifting a hand from the steering wheel, Kate interrupted. “Maybe you aren’t meant to be together, but the fact is, the kiss did happen. If you don’t talk about it and figure out what you both want, it will affect your friendship.”

“It’s so awkward.”

Kate’s brow lifted. “Any less awkward than tiptoeing around the subject?”

Despite her inner conflict, Janie laughed. “You have a good point there.”

They approached the spa, and Kate drove into the parking lot, found a spot. A mischievous gleam shone on her face. “Was it a good kiss, at least?”

Janie pressed a hand against her warm cheek and caught a glimpse of the deep red blush on them through the mirror. “Yes.”

“For what it’s worth, I’ve seen the way you look at each other and think there’s something there worth exploring.” Kate put a hand on the door, about to get out. “My advice—enjoy your last day here, but when you get back to North Carolina, don’t waste time having that conversation.”

“I will.” Needing a change of subject, she nodded toward the building. “And I’ll enjoy my last day by getting a manicure and getting these nails back in shape.”