Page 101 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

Rick wrapped his arm around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head. “Well, I’m happy for you, but let’s make sure we’re not missing any before you go taunting the animals.”

“Way to spoil my fun,” she said, leaning into his body and looping her arm around his waist. That simple display of affection from any other woman would have sent him into a full-blown panic, but with Kaylee, it felt natural and right. Like they were meant to fit together.

“I’m glad the two of you worked things out,” Paulette said, smirking. “For a while there, I thought I was going to get a call about having to put Rick in a body bag.”

Kaylee released a devious chuckle. “Believe me, it came close.”

“Hey!”

Kaylee quirked a brow. “Am I wrong?”

“No,” he grumbled, giving her waist a squeeze.

When they walked onto the lawn in front of the church, the chief came over, grinning broadly.

“Including the two who went after Kaylee, we got thirty-three bad guys.”

“See, you hear that?” Kaylee said, hugging him hard, and he returned the embrace as relief spread through him, a weight on his shoulders dropping.

“Yeah, I do.” As he scanned the mass of tethered bodies, he sighed. “Now we just gotta wait for my team to get here so we can start processing them and get them out of here.”

The rest of the townspeople gathered around except for a few police officers who were keeping their eyes on the prisoners. Rick pulled out his phone to check the time, but there were no new text messages from Finn or Scott.

“Dana, Gill, and I can make some hot chocolate at the shop and bring it out for you guys,” Kaylee said, her boss and coworker nodding in agreement.

“That sounds great,” Rick said, spinning her around so she was looking at the Razor. “Or, you and Josie could let Paulette drive you home, and you guys can hole up there until we’re done.”

Kaylee glared at him over her shoulder, her lips compressed in a thin line of irritation. “And why would I wanna do that?”

“In case something happens while we wait, like one of these animals gets loose, I want you as far away from danger as possible.”

“And maybe I don’t wanna leave you.”

The words were warm and soft, melting him slightly, but no, he wasn’t going to let her con him into staying.

“Kaylee, I let you be bait. Can you please give me this peace of mind?”

She let loose a heavy sigh and nodded. “Fine,” she said, turning in his arms and circling hers around his neck, “ but if anything happens to you, I’m gonna be really pissed off.”

“Same here,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose.

Kaylee dropped her arms and stepped back, her brow furrowed. “Before I go, I need to see him.”

Rick scowled at her. “No way!”

“Yes,” she protested, placing her hands on her hips. “I need to look him in the eye, or else I’m never gonna get a good night’s sleep.”

“Kaylee—”

“Please,” she cut him off, her eyes luminous pools of gold with flecks of green, and he knew it was futile to resist. “I just need him to know that I’m not afraid anymore.”

“Fine.” They started walking through the bound men until they spotted Ansel, his hands behind his back, layered between two of his men.

When Kaylee tried to get closer, Rick kept her by his side.

“Go ahead, say what you need to say,” Rick said, watching Ansel closely.

Kaylee stared him down and said, without her voice shaking, “You killed my best friend. You took away my safety, my happiness, and my security, but I got everything back, except for Elasia.” Kaylee swallowed, and Rick held her tight, listening as she continued, “She will never be able to smile, laugh, or have a future because of you, and I’m going to be there to make sure that you never hurt anyone ever again.”