Kelsey lets out a breathy laugh. “That’s where I’m going.”
Evie wraps her arms around Winston’s neck, hugging him close. “Ms. Kelsey and Winston should ride with us.” She turns to Kelsey with an enthusiastic grin. “Uncle Ty said we could get grilled cheese after. You should come.”
“I’m sure Ms. Kelsey has other plans today,” I say, looking back at her, hoping she’ll play along and give my niece some reason—any reason—that she can’t spend the day with us.
She shrugs. “I actually don’t have anything on my agenda besides having fun.”
Evie jumps up and wraps her arms around Kelsey’s legs. “We’re having a day of fun! That means youhaveto come.”
Kelsey bends and returns Evie’s embrace. “I’m not sure. I’ve had a long work week.”
Evie’s chin trembles. “Please come. It won’t be the same without you.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
She shrugs. “You’re great and all, but I miss Mama.” Evie sniffles, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “It’s nice having another girl around, even if it’s not the same.”
Kelsey blows out a low breath. I mean, who could say no when this sweet girl puts it like that? Before any of my niece’s tears can fall, Kelsey smooths her hands over Evie’s hair. “I’ll come if it means that much to you.” She peers up at me, a question in her eyes. “As long as it’s okay with Dr. Grey.”
Evie wrinkles her nose. “Who’s Dr. Grey?”
“She’s the main doctor in a show calledGrey’s Anatomy,” Kelsey explains.
I roll my eyes. “Oh, so I’m a girl now?”
“If the shoe fits.”
I motion to my gray tennis shoes. “I mean they are gray, but they’re also a size thirteen. I’d be astounded if you can find a woman who would fit in these.”
“Thirteen?” Kelsey croaks.
“Mm-hmm.” I head toward the car with the girls and Winston following behind. I make sure Evie gets buckled in okay, but once I close her door, I turn to Kelsey with a smirk. “You know what they say about big feet?”
Red blossoms across her cheeks, and my smirk grows at the fact that I’m the reason she’s flustered.
“What?” she says apprehensively.
“It means I’ve got long legs. So, do your best to keep up on the trail.”
Kelsey shakes her head. Her brown curls fall in front of her face and hide her blush. She opens the back door on the passenger side and lets Winston jump in. He quickly lays down beside Evie, resting his head in her lap.
When we’re both in the car, she whispers, “It’s nothing I haven’t worked with before.”
“What?” I sputter.
“Great Danes.” She crosses her arms. “They have the longest legs I’ve ever seen on a dog, and I keep up just fine.”
“Those dogs arehuge,” Evie says from the backseat with wide eyes. “I saw one with Mama that was even taller than me.”
“Wow, that sure is big.” I pull onto the road and try to keep a straight face. Kelsey laughs quietly in the passenger seat.
Evie lifts her hands like she’s on a rollercoaster. “To the waterfalls we go!”
WefinallyarriveatHemlock Cliffs, and I unbuckle my seatbelt before Tyler can put the car in park. I’m more than ready to be out of this confined space with him. As soon as the car rolls to a stop, I open the passenger door and all but jump out. If I thought holding each other for all of a minute in the dance studio was awful, sitting beside TylerfreakingReed for an hour—which felt like four—was puretorture.
I had a front-row seat to his smug face and fresh sandalwood scent, reminiscent of the forest or a hot lumberjack. Not that I’m calling him hot. I’m purely stating a fact. When women smell something woodsy, I bet most of their minds immediately jump to hot lumberjack. It’s a thing.
He also rolled up the sleeves of his quarter zip, showing off his rippling, veiny forearms. As if the thin, athletic material clinging to every contour of his arm muscles wasn’t already enough. Not that I noticed… Again, purely stating the facts here. Tyler can have muscles without me finding him attractive. The two are mutually exclusive. Tyler equals muscular. Tyler doesnotequal attractive.
