15
Kelly packed up her belongings and looked around the hotel room. This place had felt like home, and she would miss it. She had felt more in her element working briefly at the resort than she did working in her family business. While she loved being around her family and helping at the bookstore, her heart wasn’t in it. Ava had been pushing her to reach for her dreams, and now she understood why. There was nothing quite like enjoying the work you do.
She had always enjoyed event planning, and this little taste of it was exactly what she needed to decide. She would talk to her family when she got back to Colorado.
A knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. She walked over and opened the door to find Miles standing on the other side in jeans and a T-shirt.
“Hey,” she said with a smile.
“Hey. I thought I’d give you a lift to the airport,” he said.
“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”
He motioned toward her bag, so she stepped aside. He walked into her room and took the bag before walking out into the hallway. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
They stepped into the elevator and rode it down to the first floor in silence. It wasn’t so much that she would miss Wintervale. She would. But it was more that she would miss Miles. In the last week, she had become closer to him. And their close proximity while planning the wedding had her liking him even more.
The elevator arrived, and they walked through the lobby past the front desk. Emma sat in a chair behind the desk with Karen. When Emma saw Kelly, she ran out and straight to Kelly, wrapping her small arms around her.
“Bye, Kelly. I’m going to miss you,” Emma said.
Tears sprang to Kelly’s eyes. She squatted down to Emma’s level and pulled her into a hug. She would miss the little girl something fierce. “Bye, sweetie. I’m going to miss you too.”
Kelly stood and then hugged Karen, who came around the counter.
“Thank you for all you did for us,” Karen said. “We truly appreciate it.”
Kelly hugged her a little tighter. “It was my pleasure. Thank you for trusting me. I learned a lot.”
They pulled apart, and Karen kept her hands on Kelly’s arms. “Please come visit again. We’d love to see you.”
“I would like that,” Kelly said, her voice choked.
Kelly gave Emma one last hug and waved before walking out with Miles. He loaded her bag into his trunk before slipping into the driver’s seat. Kelly was trying her hardest to hold it together as she stared at the entrance to the resort.
This won’t be the last time I’m here. I’ll be back.
Driving away felt like her heart was being left behind. She couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but something about that place was magical.
“Emma asked to stay home from school this morning so she could say goodbye,” Miles said.
Kelly swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m glad I got to see her one last time.”
Miles pulled into the airport parking lot and got out. Kelly stepped out as well and frowned at him. “You can drop me at the entrance. I don’t want you to have to pay for parking.”
He smiled. “I wouldn’t dream of dropping you at the entrance and driving away.”
Her heart fluttered. He rolled her suitcase behind him, and her stomach flipped when his fingers threaded through hers. Finally, they were holding hands. Her throat clogged with emotion.
Once she got her bag checked, she stood outside the security line with Miles. Her hand was still linked with his and when she turned to face him, he took her other hand. She was trying everything in her power to keep her tears at bay, but they threatened to spill, and she knew he could tell. His eyes bounced between hers, and she forced a wobbly smile.
“I’m going to miss you,” she whispered.
He pulled her into his arms and wrapped her tightly in a hug. She pressed her face into the crook of his neck and breathed deeply.
“I already miss you,” he said softly before pressing a kiss to the side of her head.
