Chapter Twenty
Kaylee
Kaylee almost texted the group chat to tell them that she couldn’t make it to book club, but she figured there would be more speculation about why she was bailing than if she showed up with her uninvited guest. They stood on the doorstep of Marianne Crutch’s large four-bedroom house with Rick hovering behind her.
“This is a nice house,” he said, crossing to the railing and leaning against it, facing the yard. There was a light-up nativity set that included the three wisemen on camels, along with signs in lights that said HE’S THE REASON FOR THE SEASON and JESUS IS KING. “Does everyone decorate but you?”
Before she could tell him to get stuffed, the door flew open. Marianne’s blue eyes widened as she glanced from Rick to Kaylee.
“Hi,” Marianne said awkwardly. “I didn’t realize you were bringing a guest, especially a male guest.”
Before Kaylee could say anything, Rick broke in, holding his hand out to her.
“I’m Rick, and I kind of invited myself along because I’m staying with Kaylee for such a short time, and well …
” Kaylee startled when he grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze, and she looked up into an expression of pure affection on his face.
“I don’t want to waste a moment away from her. ”
That does not sound like friends! What the heck is he doing?
“Oh, that’s so sweet.” Marianne’s smile dampened, and she added, “I’m just not sure how everyone else will feel.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have tried to crash.
I’m really sorry.” He took a step back and waved toward her yard.
“I love your yard, by the way. Most of the houses have Santa and Rudolph, but it’s important to remember what Christmas is about.
My abuela, my grandmother, had a nativity scene passed down to her, and I have it now. It is my favorite possession.”
Kaylee could tell the minute Marianne fell for his charm and almost gagged when she said, “That is beautiful. I understand what it’s like to be in the honeymoon stage, even though that was twenty-some odd years ago for me.
” She laughed at her little joke and stepped back, clearing the doorframe. “I’m happy you could come.”
As they walked past the threshold, she pointed to a door to their right. “You can leave your coats and anything else in that room. We are hanging out in the living room, drinking some bubbly. If you need to go to the bathroom, it’s down this same hallway to the left.”
Kaylee could have told Rick that, but Marianne seemed to like playing hostess, as she started showing Rick the pictures on her wall, naming off her kids.
Rick hadn’t relinquished Kaylee’s hand, and his palm was warm against her skin.
While she told herself that she didn’t want to pull away and cause a scene, deep down, it felt good to hold hands with him, even if it was just pretend.
She scanned the living room behind her for Josie, who was clutching a blue book in her hands. Kaylee tried to signal her slyly, but she was too caught up in her discussion to notice.
“Well, I should probably get things rolling before Barny and the kids get back. Go ahead and grab some mimosas and snacks from the kitchen and join us in the living room.” She beamed at Kaylee, squeezing her arm. “I really like him.”
Kaylee gave her a small smile, unwilling to offend the mayor’s wife. When Marianne disappeared out of sight, Kaylee shook off Rick’s hand. “You’re diabolical.”
“What? We’re already the talk of the town.”
“Don’t remind me,” she grumbled.
“Anyway, I met the lovely Jolene, who thinks we’re already involved, or I have a sneaking suspicion she would be doing her very best to play matchmaker. So, if the town thinks I’m just a smitten college friend, then why not play the part?”
Kaylee nearly groaned aloud. Jolene had been trying to set her up since she’d gotten settled, but she’d given her a story about an ex-boyfriend she was still hung up on. Clearly, she thought Rick was the guy.
“Because I do not want to be in a relationship with you, even a fake one. I just want to live my life and talk about smutty Santa books.”
“‘Smutty Santa books’?” he repeated, amusement sparkling in his brown eyes. “Really?”
Kaylee, hiking her bag higher onto her shoulder in case he got any ideas about snatching it and checking out exactly what kind of book she’d been reading, marched away from him and into the kitchen. She picked up a plastic cup of mimosa and downed it in a single gulp.
Rick followed her in there, silently loading a plate with all kinds of snacks and picking up a mimosa. When he took a sip, he let loose a little hum in the back of his throat. “That’s really good. No wonder women drink these all the time.”
“We do not drink them all the time; we have them with Sunday brunch, champagne at weddings, and other big moments. That is why they are special.”
He arched a brow at her. “You’re getting awfully crabby about mimosas.”
“No, I’m crabby,” she ground out through a clenched jaw, “because I don’t want everyone to think you are my boyfriend when you’re really my keeper.”
“Isn’t that what a boyfriend is?” His full lips quirked in that smug way that aggravated her nerves. “You know, somebody who hangs around, makes sure you’re safe, takes care of you, and protects you from harm.”
“No, I am a grown woman. I can take care of myself. I do not need a man for any of that.” Although it would be nice to someday have a husband who would fill up her car and do other little things, Rick didn’t need to know about that.
Rick stepped into her, and she backed up until her butt hit the countertop. “Then what do you need a man for?”
Kaylee’s body hummed at his proximity, her answer coming out in a stammer. “No-nothing. I mean, what can a man do for me that I can’t take care of alone?”
Why the heck did I say that? It’s like pushing the barn door wide open.
Rick’s eyes sparkled. “You never have anything that you wish someone would take care of for you?”
Kaylee gasped, his suggestive tone sinking in. “You are not talking about that with a roomful of women literally a whisper away.”
“Why not?” he murmured, leaning in until they were nearly nose to nose. “No one can hear me.” He pressed into her until their lower bodies connected. “Kaylee, you never need anyone to take care of you?”
“No, no,” she said breathlessly. “I can take care of that by myself, too.”
“Oh yeah,” he teased, cocking his head curiously. “How?”
Her face burned. “I’m not talking about this, especially not with you.”
Rick’s hand came up, cradling her face. His lips hovered above hers, and she held her breath, eyes fluttering.
“Then maybe it’s just me.” He was so close that his breath warmed her mouth. “Because I can tell when a woman wants me.”
His words were like a bucket of ice water, and Kaylee let out an angry growl, pushing him away. “You are an arrogant, cocksure, son of a bitch.”
Rick laughed. “Cocksure? Really?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“I prefer to call it confidence, but whatever rocks your boat, baby.”
He left the room, and Kaylee gripped the edge of the counter, taking deep breaths.
Closing her eyes, she tried to regain control of her body.
His proximity had an accelerating effect on her heartbeat and the pulse between her thighs.
That throb was a reminder that last night she’d been lying on her back for hours, staring at the ceiling and imagining Rick opening her door and poking his head in.
In her mind, he’d asked if she was asleep, and when she said no, he’d crawled into bed with her.
The fantasy had her in a choke hold, and she’d ended up taking her waterproof vibrator into the shower and easing some of the tension so she could sleep, but his presence was wreaking havoc on her hormones.
Kaylee grabbed another mimosa and downed it like a shot before tossing her cup into the trash. She wasn’t going to let Rick get to her. She would be poised, she would be graceful, and she would be freaking immune to his gross, manipulative tactics.
Asking her if she needed any help.
She’d ask him for help when monkeys flew out of her butt.