Page 69 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

He sighed. “I just wanted to show you how sorry I am and how much I want you, since you aren’t listening to me.”

“I’m listening. I’m just not believing you. There is a difference.”

Someone knocked on the door. “Hello?”

“Oh my God,” Kaylee hissed, her hands flying to her cheeks. “We’re gonna walk out of here, and they’re gonna think we were doing things.”

Rick chuckled. “We were doing things.”

“No, they’re gonna think that we were doing other things.”

“Well, we could walk out and set them straight.”

“No, I don’t wanna talk to any of them. I just want to get out of here with my dignity intact.”

“I can help with that,” he said, lifting her up over his shoulder and opening the door.

Kaylee almost screamed, but she heard him say, “Sorry, my friend had a little too much to drink and isn’t feeling well. I’m gonna take her home right now.”

Kaylee glanced up in time to see the reverend’s wife staring after them with her mouth hanging open and her eyes taking up half her face, they were so wide.

“Kill me,” Kaylee muttered, banging her head against the center of his back. “Put me down now.”

“Almost out of sight, and then I’ll let you down.”

“Actually, you probably shouldn’t do that,” she said, her voice tight and dark.

“Why not?”

“Because the minute you do, I am going to kill you.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Rick

Rick resisted the urge to spank her ass as he carried her out to the street. What a little brat. He’d been trying to make things right between them, and instead of giving him a chance to show her, she acted petulant.

“Put me down,” she snarled, hitting him in the back with her fists.

“Nope, I don’t think I will. I think I’m going to carry you all the way home like this.”

“Rick, please, I’m going to be sick.” Her soft voice sounded desperate, and he stopped, slowly easing her to her feet. The moment they hit the ground, she tried to flee.

Rick caught her arm in his hand, stopping her escape. “Kaylee, we aren’t done talking.”

“What else do you want to say, Rick? You gave me a laundry list of reasons and excuses, and I told you that none of them helped, so—”

“I am sorry I hurt you.”

Her eyes widened, and he thought they started to shimmer, like she was about to cry. “Thank you.”

“Don’t cry,” he said, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her. “I didn’t want to make you cry. I’m sorry.”

She sniffled against his chest. “It’s just been a lot.”

“I know.”

“My life wasn’t supposed to be like this. I was going to graduate and then get my master’s so I could help kids.”