Page 38 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

Red is definitely her color.

When she spotted the grocery bags, Kaylee tilted her head to the side. “What’s all this?”

“You told me to get my own groceries, so I did.”

She peeked in the closest bag, frowning. “This is a lot of groceries for just a few days’ stay.”

“I’m not only staying a few days. I’m in this for the long haul.”

She huffed. “You are so difficult.”

He pulled out a carton of Darigold, and her eyes flared wide. “You got more eggnog?”

“I felt bad drinking all yours, so I got you four containers.”

“Four containers?” she squealed. “They let you buy four containers? They’re gonna think you’re a reseller!”

Rick laughed, shaking his head. “What is it with people and reselling? I do not understand how you resell eggnog. Who the heck buys it from a secondary source? That’s just gross.”

“You’d be surprised how desperate people get over this eggnog.” She took one of the cartons from him, holding it against her chest. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Rick said, removing the other three from the bags. “I would appreciate it if I got at least a glass out of one of these four jugs. It really was very good.”

“I might consider sharing.” Kaylee put it inside the fridge, then closed the door. Before he could blink, she’d crossed the room, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed the underside of his jawline, which was the only thing she could reach. “It was sweet of you to replace it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said gruffly, his jaw still warm where her lips were.

Kaylee started for the door, and he asked, “Where are you off to?”

“Book club,” she said.

“A book club on a Sunday?” Is that devil-red dress giving me impure thoughts? “Is this a Bible book club?”

“No, why would you think that?” she said, her hand on her cocked hip.

“Because I always thought people went to church in small towns.”

Kaylee shrugged. “Most of us attend the early service, and then the husbands take the kids to the ten o’clock service so we can be alone.”

“Wait, you went to the early service?”

“No, I didn’t wake up in time.” She grabbed her coat and tote bag off the hook by the door and gave him a little wave. “Enjoy your groceries.”

“Wait!” He removed all the refrigerated items when she hesitated and put them in the fridge haphazardly.

“Yes?” she asked, her feet still scooting toward the door.

“What is the book you’re reading for this month’s club?”

“We meet every week, and we each pick a theme. We choose different books to read that correlate with that theme, and then we share our thoughts, and sometimes, we trade books when we’re done.”

Rick took a few steps closer. “And what is the theme this week?”

“Santa Claus.”

He chuckled. “What book did you pick?”

“I’m not telling you!”