Page 42 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

She’d either kiss or kill him.

Horror ripped through her when that thought sank in. As annoying and persistent as he’d been, she wanted him. She’d been in survival mode for so long that the thought of getting involved with anyone hadn’t even crossed her mind.

Not that anything could happen. He had a job to do, and he was determined to see it through to completion. Rick wouldn’t let something like lust distract him.

“Well, we’d love to have you at our next book club,” Marianne said, her smile edging on flirtatious, and Kaylee’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t wait to see what you pick.”

Kaylee almost gagged. What a Pick Me.

“Hold on,” Patty Franklin protested. “You said no husbands or boyfriends, to give us a break. Why is he getting an exception?” Patty nodded toward Kaylee. “No offense, Kaylee.”

“None taken,” she said.

Marianne turned, and her icy blue gaze lasered in on Patty, although her smile was saccharin sweet. “I made that rule to protect us from judgmental people. I also banned Abigail and Tory when they mocked the monster romance you picked last Halloween. Would you like me to invite them back? Or ask your husband to join us?”

The entire room was quiet, and Kaylee almost giggled imagining the look on Reverend Franklin’s face when his wife started talking about tentacle play.

Patty’s lips thinned. “No.”

“Well, then. Thank you all for coming!”

Kaylee was the first one to grab her coat and bag from the side room. She headed for the door, but Rick took his time, saying goodbye to everyone, including Marianne, who gushed over him. Kaylee didn’t wait for Rick to finish his conversation and left the house, silently cursing him for being so charming and for every woman in the room for falling for a pretty face.

She shrugged into her coat, juggling her tote as she put one arm in first and then the other, still scowling when Josie caught up with her and linked her arm through hers. “Why are you so bent out of shape?”

“Everyone thinks he’s a great guy,” Kaylee grumbled, her pace quickening. “But he’s only here because he wants something from me.”

“What does he want from you?” Josie asked, hurrying to keep up with her.

Kaylee kept stomping, her exhales puffing out of her in short bursts. “He wants me to risk my life, and he doesn’t even care.”

Josie grabbed her by the arm, stopping her. “What are you talking about?”

Ice replaced the blood in her veins as she realized what she’d said. Josie watched her with big, confused eyes, and God, Kaylee wanted to tell her everything, to word vomit all the horror and terror and angst, but telling her best friend on the sidewalk all her darkest secrets was the worst idea on the face of the planet.

Kaylee opened her mouth to explain, but she heard footsteps rushing toward them. She jerked her head and saw Rick catching up over her shoulder, the urge to spill her guts curbed by the overwhelming need to get away from him.

“It’s nothing.”

“Kaylee, I know there is something more going on. Reading people’s body language and emotional shifts is my job. I’ve been patient, but I’m getting tired of being in the dark.”

Kaylee stiffened. “I’m not keeping you in the dark!”

“See, you’re lying. You went on the defensive, holding your body away from me. Why can’t you trust me?” Josie asked, her green eyes swimming with hurt.

“I trust you.”

“Come on, you’ve been hiding things from me since we met, and I figured you’d tell me when you were ready. Now this guy is here, and he’s making you on edge.”

Rick finally caught up to them, slowing down his approach. He must have picked up on the tension, because his gaze shifted from Josie to Kaylee before he asked, “Everything okay?”

“No, can you please give us some privacy?” Kaylee snarled.

Her temper didn’t seem to faze him. “I can step a few feet away, if you like.”

“Farther,” she ground out.

“No, I’m not heading back to the house without you, since I’m a guest.”