“I’m so happy to have my kids here today,” I said to see if Bella could hear me.
She couldn’t.
I shook my head and chuckled to myself. “I can’t believe all this snow and it’s not even December.”
Nothing.
“I’m having meaningless sex with Kael Hendricks. I hope you find a man who can give you multiple orgasms.”
Nothing.
Then, as if I brought it to being with just the mention of his name, I heard something out front. Kael’s truck turned into our driveway, blade down removing the snow. I watched from far enough back that I didn’t think he’d be able to see me if he glanced at the window. It looked like he had someone in the truck with him. I couldn’t make out details; they had hats on, and snow still swirled in the air.
“Wow!”
I jumped at Bella’s voice.
“How nice of him to clear our driveway. Doesn’t he know all the boys are home today?”
I shrugged. “How would he?”
“True. I should take him some coffee to say thank you.”
“We don’t have coffee.”
Bella retreated to the kitchen. “We do. Linc brought some because he knew you wouldn’t have any.”
“I’m sure he’s already had coffee.” I followed her. “Besides, by the time you get it brewed, he’ll be gone.”
As soon as she started the coffee maker, she turned and grinned. “I’ll run out and tell him to come in for a cup of coffee.”
“It’s Thanksgiving. I’m sure he’s busy and wants to get home to his family.”
She chuckled, brushing past me to the front door, where she shoved her feet into her boots and donned her coat over her T-shirt and pajama pants. “What family? Amber said he doesn’t have family in Epperly, and his mom died.”
“When did you talk to Amber?”
“Few days ago. Apparently Kael fixed a frozen pipe at their house. Then he kissed her. I think he was at her house last night too.”
It had been a week since I’d seen or talked to him. It was the day he left after shower sex without a goodbye. The day I used my saliva to wipe Amber’s kiss from his lips.
The front door closed behind Bella before I had a chance to say or ask anything else. A few minutes later, the door opened, and she emerged with Kael and an older gentleman behind him.
I slapped a smile on my face, for the older gentleman. My gaze did its best to not make eye contact with Kael.
“I hope we’re not intruding,” Kael said.
“You’re not. I’ll check the coffee. Make yourselves at home.” Bella played my role, said the things I should have said.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Mrs. Smith.”
Mrs. Smith …
Asshole.
“Happy Thanksgiving. Who’s your friend?”
“This is my dad, Dan.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Smith.” Dan pulled off his glove and held out his hand.
“Elsie. Please.” I shook his hand. “It’s a pleasure. You really didn’t have to clear my driveway. I have three boys home today.”
“We have nothing better to do.” Dan grinned.
“Well, come in.” I stepped aside and nodded toward the kitchen.
Kael took his dad’s jacket and hung it on the coat-tree next to his. Both men left their stocking caps on. Dan headed to the kitchen first.
“After you, Mrs. Smith.” Kael smirked.
I glared at him for a few seconds before following Dan. My body stiffened with a tiny jerk when Kael’s hand slid under the back of my sweater, teasing my lower back with his cold fingertips.
Without turning around, I reached behind me and yanked it away.
“God … you’re feisty,” he whispered.
“Cream? Sugar?” Bella set two mugs of coffee on the kitchen table and then grabbed herself a cup of coffee as well.
I returned to my food prep.
“Are you in college, young lady?” Dan asked Bella.
“No. Senior in high school. I’m hoping to get accepted to a college next year in a place a little warmer. SoCal … Texas … Florida.”
Dan and Kael laughed.
“Where did you go to college?” Bella asked Kael.
“I didn’t.”
“Why not?”
With my back to the kitchen table, I continued stuffing the turkey and grinned at my daughter’s question, as if college was a forgone conclusion for every person. Some people made millions of dollars with no college degree. Some people started college and got pregnant with twins only to spend twenty-two years being a full-time mom.
Kael laughed a little. “I had no clue what I wanted to be when I grew up. Still don’t.” That made Dan laugh too.
“So I traveled like a nomad. Odd jobs. Hiked across Europe. Slept on any sofa someone was willing to offer me. Made wine and olive oil in Tuscany and learned to captain a sailboat on the Mediterranean.”
“That’s so cool. So then … why are you in Epperly?”
I snorted a laugh and glanced over my shoulder. Kael snagged my gaze for a few seconds with that Captain America grin of his. Bella’s sour voice, when she said Epperly, made it impossible to imagine she’d stay in such a small, Midwest town her whole life.