Page 19 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

“Sure. Hey, what’s this I hear about you getting arrested today?”

Rick chuckled, indicating he’d heard Elonzo’s loud question, and she muttered, “I didn’t get arrested.”

“Someone said they saw you riding around in Paulette’s Razor.”

Kaylee closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The last thing she wanted was for rumors to fly all over town about her legal issues. Lord knows, Gill was already stirring stuff up, talking about Rick being a cop.

“It was just a misunderstanding. My friend parked in a no-parking zone and got booted.”

“Your cop friend? He’s not pressing charges against Gill, is he? That’s not why you went to the police station, right?”

She huffed. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s not polite to gossip?”

“I’m not gossiping! I’m talking to you about it, instead of whispering behind your back, right?”

“Elonzo, it has been a really long day, and I assure you, no one is pressing charges or getting arrested. Can you deliver the food, please?”

“All right, no need to get upset with me. Benny will bring it over when it’s ready. Anything else?”

Kaylee could have banged her head against something. How could she forget Benny told her he was working at the restaurant tonight? If he saw Rick, he would definitely have questions. Not to mention, he’d probably head back to the restaurant and tell his uncle, feeding the already churning rumor mill.

“Ella isn’t delivering?” At least she knew how to keep her mouth shut.

“No, she’s got a science test to study for. What’s wrong with Benny?” Elonzo asked, his voice thick with suspicion. “Was the food spilled last time?”

“Benny is great, really, I just had a question for Ella about—” What the heck would she want to ask a sixteen-year-old? “Empanadas!”

“Empanadas?” he repeated.

Rick seemed to be smothering his laughter because a muffled snort escaped him, but Kaylee simply scowled at him. His hand covered his mouth, but his eyes twinkled merrily.

“Yes, she told me that she would teach me how to make them for my book club to go along with one of the books I picked.”

“Okay, I will tell her. Anything else?”

“How about chips, salsa, queso, and flan?” So, she might be stress-eating a bit, but having the whole town talking about you and speculating about your unwanted houseguest would be enough to make even a Navy SEAL sweat.

“Sure, sure, be about twenty to thirty minutes.”

“Thanks.”

She ended the call, and Rick, seemingly over his mirth at her expense, was watching her with folded arms and a raised eyebrow. “You weren’t going to ask what I wanted?”

“Absolutely not. You can order your own.”

He shrugged. “Fine by me. I’ll give them your address. I’m sure they’ll have all kinds of questions about what kind of friend I am.”

The headline Fugitive Witness Bashes Federal Agent with Frying Pan; On Death Row flashed through her head.

“I hate you,” she hissed, redialing the number.

“Nacho, this is Elonzo!”

“Hi, it’s Kaylee again. I needed something else.” She waited for Rick to speak, and he whispered, “Six street tacos and a Coke.”

“Kaylee?” Elonzo prodded.

“Sorry, I need six street tacos and a Coke.”