Page 17 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

Kaylee picked up her pink carrier, but before she could grab the duffel, Rick snatched it. Her gaze flicked up to meet his.

“I can carry my bag,” she snapped.

Rick grinned. “Just being chivalrous since we’re going to be roomies for the time being.”

If metaphorical daggers could skewer, he would be a dead man. “Excuse me?”

“While Paulette might believe you, I don’t. So, you’re not leaving my sight for any reason. That means after Paulette takes the boot off my car, you and I are going to retrieve it, come back here, and you get yourself a houseguest.”

“Hell no!”

“Don’t worry,” he said with a wink, “I’ll sleep on your bedroom floor if there’s only one bed.”

Kaylee swirled toward Paulette, who was standing outside her Razor, watching them. “Can’t you do something?”

“Sorry, honey, but if I were in his shoes, I’d do the same thing.” Paulette came around the front of the vehicle and thumped him in the chest hard. “Be a gentleman and sleep on the couch. And y’all better not make me come back here tonight. I got plans when my shift ends, and it doesn’t involve the two of you killing each other.”

Chapter Ten

Kaylee

Still seething that evening, Kaylee lay across her bed, where she’d been hiding for the better part of the day. She’d called Dana earlier to let her know she was okay and would explain everything later. When Dana mentioned that Gill had told her Rick was a cop, Kaylee reassured her it was a misunderstanding. They were just friends from college, and while he was in law enforcement, he was here to catch up. Seeing him had just caught her off guard. Dana tried to push, but Kaylee simply thanked her for being understanding, especially after Dana mentioned that her office smelled like vomit. Kaylee couldn’t believe that she’d forgotten to take that out.

In addition, she’d texted Josie that she couldn’t go with her to the town meeting tonight because her friend from college was here. It beat telling Josie she had a borderline stalker FBI agent crashing on her couch.

Josie only knew the backstory Kaylee had given her when they first met, which was full of half-truths and outright lies, but while she loved Josie, there was no way she could tell her everything and keep her safe. Kaylee didn’t think Josie would betray her, but it was better to just keep things light and fun without dragging Josie into the darkness.

Plus, how did she explain to her first friend since Elasia that she’d gotten her former best friend killed? Or that she’d assaulted an FBI agent in order to go on the lam?

Fine, assaulted him with laxative powder, but still.

Her stomach growled obnoxiously, and Kaylee knew she couldn’t stay in there any longer. Besides, Pumpkin would be demanding dinner soon. Hmm, maybe she should wait and let the guinea pig annoy Rick until he ran for the hills.

She crept out of the bedroom and spotted Rick on the couch, scrolling through his phone. While he’d been on the lankier side two years ago, his shoulders were wider now, his arms filling out his collared shirt sleeves nicely.

Nicely? Knock it off. He is the enemy. Well, one of them.

His earnest assurances that he could keep her safe hadn’t changed from the same tune he’d been singing the night they met, but he was harder now, more unforgiving. Had she done that to him? Or had more happened to him in the last two years that smothered his boyish charm and hero complex?

Pumpkin was in his cage, playing with his stacking cups by picking up each one with his teeth and dropping it onto another cup, making a loud noise each time. Rick practically growled, leaning his head back to glare in the direction of the enclosure.

“You’re a loud little piggy.”

Kaylee bristled at his rough admonishment of her pet and stepped into the hallway, closing her door behind her with a thud. “This is his home. He can do whatever he wants. You are the unwelcome guest.”

He didn’t even look her way when he countered, “And you’re a sore loser who’s just mad I checked you.”

“Checked me,” she said, glaring at him. “This is my life, not a game.”

“You’re right.” He finally met her gaze, grinning mischievously. “But, if it were a game, I won.”

Kaylee wanted to throw something at his smug, stupid face, but the small number of things she owned were special and not worth breaking over an arrogant, pain-in-the-ass prick.

“Whatever. I’m getting food,” she said, marching to the door and grabbing her jacket off the hook on the wall.

“You can order delivery.”

“Are you serious?” she groaned, placing her hands on her hips. “You’re not going to let me leave?”