Season of Redemption. Jenna Mindel

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      Fighting against the quaking going on inside of him only made it worse. His eyes filled with tears, but he vowed he’d choke before he cried. “I—ah...”

      He felt a hand briefly touch his shoulder. The woman with the tattoos. Jess was her name, and he’d been blown away by the harsh story of her life. Humbled.

      If she could do this, so could he. “I need help.”

      * * *

      Kellie left the elementary school where she worked part-time as a teacher’s aide in her niece’s class. She slipped behind the wheel of her recently repaired but ancient car and smiled when it started right up.

      The repair bill was not as steep as she expected. That had been a huge blessing. Someday, she’d buy a new car. If she got the school counselor job in Traverse City it might even be sooner than someday.

      It took less than ten minutes to reach LightHouse Center across town. She’d left a book in her office that she needed to study for her looming certification test.

      Kellie pulled into the parking lot and her stomach dropped like a stone thrown in water when she spotted Ryan’s pickup. She’d forgotten that he had group on Tuesdays. One of the two days that Kellie did not intern.

      She checked her watch. They might not be done for a bit yet, so the coast was clear if she moved quickly. If she grabbed her book and ran.

      Slipping into the lobby, Kellie gave the receptionist a wave. Marci, on the phone, waved back. Kellie made her way down the hall and into her tiny office. The book she needed lay open on her desk, right where she’d left it.

      Snatching it up, she cradled the weighty text against her chest and headed for the door of her office. The telltale sounds of a group session breaking up made her move faster, but she wasn’t fast enough. Clients spilled out of the group session room down the hall and Ryan was one of them.

      Too late. He noticed her and nodded.

      One look at Ryan and Kellie couldn’t make her feet move. He’d been through the emotional wringer if his messy hair and red eyes were any indication. Trapped by the troubled look in his dark gaze, she backed against the wall to let people by. He seemed like he might want to talk to her.

      She was floored by how badly she wanted to talk to him.

      “Hey.” His voice sounded raw and scratchy.

      “You okay?” It slipped out before Kellie could catch it.

      He stepped closer to let others pass them, and she inhaled sharply. Ryan smelled warm and spicy and distinctly male.

      He cleared his throat, but his voice remained low and soft. “Step one. I’m powerless against this grief.”

      Kellie almost reached out to touch him. Almost. She clutched her book tighter instead. “That’s good.”

      He hadn’t said alcohol, but then that wasn’t the only issue. Kellie believed Ryan had tried to numb his pain instead of dealing with it. He’d finally admitted defeat, and that was the starting point toward healing. The first step in recovery. She felt proud. For him.

      “Yeah. We’ll see.” Ryan’s gaze dropped to her hands. “You’ve got your car back.”

      Kellie realized her keys dangled from her fingers. “Yep.”

      “No more riding in the rain.” Was that disappointment she heard in his voice?

      “No more riding in the rain.” Kellie shook her head. No more rides needed from Ryan. Then she laughed. “I thank God for the good weather we had after that day.”

      He shifted his stance. “So, uh, would you be up for a cup of coffee somewhere?”

      Kellie’s stomach flipped. He wasn’t really asking her out. Ryan wanted to process what he’d just gone through in group. He’d said she was easy to talk to. That’s all it was. That’s all it could be.

      But that was enough to get her in trouble if she accepted. She shook her head. “I can’t.”

      “Yeah, I know.” He pulled a white envelope out of his pocket. “Look, I don’t want this.”

      Her eyes widened in panic. It was the fifty bucks she’d put in his mailbox. “Don’t even think about it,” she hissed. “Don’t you dare.”

      He cocked his head like she’d gone crazy.

      Kellie glanced down the hallway toward the group session room. Folks still mingled. She looked the other way and spotted Ginny watching them. Her breathing hitched.

      Great. Kellie inched away from the wall. “Okay then, nice to see you, Ryan.”

      His eyes narrowed, but then he nodded like he’d gotten the message. “You, too.”

      Kellie’s heart beat madly in her ears as she watched Ryan walk away. She couldn’t breathe right. Not yet. Not with Ginny coming toward her.

      “Hey, Ginny.”

      The woman’s eyebrows lifted. “What was that?”

      Kellie ignored the question and raised the text in her arms. “I forgot my book.”

      “Come in a minute.” Ginny nodded toward her office.

      Kellie’s stomach sank to the soles of her boots, but she followed her mentor. Ignoring the itchy feeling that skittered up her spine when Ginny closed the door, Kellie asked, “What’s up?”

      “Be careful there, Kellie. Be very careful.”

      Kellie couldn’t play dumb. Her mentor would see right through it and think less of her for doing so. She rubbed her temples. “I know.”

      “So, what’s the deal with you and this guy?”

      “Nothing. He was telling me how group went for him tonight. That’s all.”

      Kellie didn’t dare admit to the rides Ryan had given her or that he’d asked her out for coffee. If Ginny blew her in to John, she could be fired. And that would be the end of her internship, and the chance for the Traverse City school counselor job.

      “Keep it professional.”

      “Absolutely.” Kellie breathed a little easier, but not much.

      Ginny watched her too closely for comfort.

      She knew.

      Kellie had to get out of there fast before she admitted to the attraction she felt for Ryan. Ginny had that kind of influence on people. She got them to reveal their inner most feelings with one look, but Kellie was in no mood for confessions. “I gotta run. See you tomorrow.”

      “Remember what I said.” Ginny used her motherly tone, the one that brooked no argument.

      “I will. Thanks.” Kellie stuffed her nervousness down deep with a roll of her shoulders and hightailed it out of there.

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