Before she could stop herself, she let her mind wander to what could be if she stayed in Wintervale. She could live the life she wanted with the job she wanted. Every day, she could see Miles and Emma. Happiness consumed her, but when she blinked the vision away and realized she was just visiting, the hope inside her was crushed.
Stop it, Kelly. You don’t even know if things would work out between the two of you even if you stayed.
She took another steadying breath before grabbing the bottle only to realize she needed a corkscrew. She looked aroundMiles’s kitchen and at the many drawers and cabinets. Nope. She would not go digging around in his kitchen.
Kelly turned to walk outside and slammed straight into the glass door. A thud came with it as she bounced back.
“Ouch,” she said, putting a hand on her throbbing nose. Heat flooded her as she realized she had just walked straight into his back door.
Of all the things…She could only pray no one noticed.
Miles rushed over from the grill and pulled the door open. He stared at her with concern on his face, reaching his hand forward and brushing her hair back to see her face better. His hand cupped her cheek, and she leaned into his touch. “Are you okay?”
For a moment, she was lost in his touch—in his eyes. But Ava’s cackle quickly interrupted the moment, telling her everyone saw… or heard.
Embarrassment flooded through her. “That’s some really clean glass.”
He bit back a smile and dropped his hand. “I’m sorry?”
She giggled, and then he laughed. “I was coming out to ask where your corkscrew is.”
He came inside and pulled open a drawer before handing it to her. Then he pulled down several wine glasses as well. “Would you like some help?”
She waved him off. “No. I’ve got it.”
Miles pointed outside. “I need to tend to the barbecue.” He paused at the sliding glass door. “I’m leaving it open this time.”
She snorted. “Okay. Thanks.”
Kelly poured three glasses of wine and carried them to the door. Before stepping through, she tested the space with her foot to confirm it was, in fact, open before walking through. Ava laughed harder, and Kelly only shrugged. She handed a glass to Ava and one to Mia.
Emma walked up to Kelly. “Is your nose okay? I did that last week, and it hurt really bad.”
Kelly squatted down to Emma’s level. “You did? So I’m not the only one who has walked into a glass door?”
Emma shook her head. “Nope.” Then she leaned in closer to Kelly as if she were telling a secret and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I always put a handprint on the glass, so I know when it’s closed.”
Kelly laughed. “Oh yeah? Maybe I should do that.”
Emma nodded wide-eyed. “Daddy makes things too clean.”
Kelly bit her lip and looked over to where Miles was watching them curiously. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
