Page 89 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

Josie suddenly ducked behind Kaylee. “Oh God, it’s him!”

“Him who?”

“That grouchy asshole who moved across the street.”

Kaylee’s gaze followed hers to where Austin’s sun-kissed brown hair and tall frame towered over Mr. McNally, who was making a large, elaborate gesture with his hands.

Kaylee grinned. “If anyone could turn his frown upside down, it would be you.”

“I don’t want to turn his frown upside down. I just want to avoid him at all costs because he is a very unpleasant individual and I wanna have a good night.”

“Didn’t he just buy the Ferguson farm?” Kaylee asked, wondering how a forest ranger managed to afford two properties on a civil servant’s salary.

“I don’t know, but can we move to the other side of the room, away from the door?”

Rick took Kaylee’s hand, and they did what Josie asked.

They walked Josie over to a chair, and she sat down out of sight. “You guys don’t have to hang around me; you can go dance or eat cake or whatever.”

“Do you want something from the dessert table?” Kaylee asked.

“Yes, please, and some punch.”

Kaylee laughed, and she and Rick rounded the room and headed for the dessert table. While she was dishing up Josie’s plate, she noticed Benny on the dance floor holding a short brunette close to his body. Their eyes met, and she waved with a smile. He returned her smile and then turned his attention back to his date.

“What was that about?” Rick asked.

“I was just saying hi to Benny.”

Rick wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her neck. “Do I need to be jealous?”

“No.”

“Good,” he said.

They brought the desserts back to Josie, and Rick took Kaylee’s hand, pulling her out onto the dance floor. The speakers were playing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and he pulled her in close. Rick surprised her by taking her hand and shuffling her around the dance floor in a flawless two step.

Well, he was flawless. She was so shocked she may have stepped on his toe a time or two.

“When did you learn to do this?”

“I watched a few videos, in case you gave me another chance to help out with your list.” He kissed her cheek, whispering, “How did I do?”

“Amazing. Thank you.”

They slowed down and swayed to the music, his arms looped around her waist and hers settled around his. She laid her face on the front of his black button-down and felt his lips brush the top of her head.

“This is fun,” he said.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Have you been to a lot of dances?”

“No, I went to my senior prom, and that was about it. I was pretty introverted in high school, a little awkward. What about you?”

“I went to most of my school dances, anything to get out of the house and go do something.”

“I liked staying home. I didn’t wanna go anywhere, except to play softball.”