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.”
“You would be great at that.”
“I know I would.” She pulled back, brushing her hands over her eyes. “Ugh, why do I always cry around you?”
“I think because I’m usually the issue.”
“You’re probably right.”
Rick chuckled. “I’ll try to do better in the future, if you will let me.”
“Right now, the only thing I wanna do is get something to drink, do some shopping, and have a good time.”
“Lead the way, then.”
She arched a skeptical brow. “Really, you want to go shopping?”
“I told you I wanted to make it up to you and show you that I’m sorry. So if this will make you happy, then I’m willing to do it.” Rick pointed toward the big bar tent and grinned. “First, we’re gonna go get a drink, though.”
Kaylee shot him a small smile. “I’m good with that.”
He followed Kaylee up to the adults-only area, where Colin and Josie were nursing beers.
Kaylee headed straight for the moonshine tent and ordered another shot.
Rick shook his head when she looked at him, asking him if he wanted one.
“I think I need to switch to beer, or I might end up hugging the toilet later.”
He paid for her shot, and when she finished, she took off across the way toward a tent with a bunch of risqué dresses and outfits on hangers. As they got closer, he realized it was a little booth full of lingerie, and he frowned.
“What are we shopping for here?”
She pulled a green nightie off the rack and said, “I want this one. What do you think? I think it looks great with my eyes.”
Rick thought it did, too, but he was also picturing her in it, and it was not conducive to being out in public, especially when his dick was painfully hard.
The clerk put the nightgown in a bag and handed it to Kaylee. She held the bag over her shoulder, and the smile she sent him was practically diabolical. “Should we hit the personal massager booth? I’ve been meaning to grab a new one.”
Please, God, no.
Instead, he swallowed hard. “Whatever you want.”
“How accommodating of you, but honestly, I’m a little tired. I think I just want to head home,” she said, stepping into him, “take a long, hot shower”—she trailed a nail down his chest, her touch sending a shock of desire into his already throbbing cock—“and climb into bed.”
Naked? No, he couldn’t ask that, even though he wanted to. “Sounds good, I’m tired, too.”
“I’m sure you are. All that standing around, watching me.” She started humming under her breath as she walked away, and when he fell into step beside her, Kaylee sang, “Why’re you so obsessed with me? Boy, I gotta know.”
“What was that?” he asked.
“Oh, just a song stuck in my head.”
Rick didn’t believe her, but he kept silent, watching the people they passed as they left the park, turning toward her house in silence.
“You know, Special Agent Diaz, I have decided not to take this personally.”
“Really?” he said cautiously.
“Yeah, you were just doing your job, even if it was in your spare time; you just wanted to put away the bad guy. How can I be mad at that?”
“Why do I feel like this is a trap?” he asked.
“No, it’s not a trap. I’m just telling you that there’s no hard feelings.”
“I’m happy to hear it,” he said, following behind her up the stairs to her front door.
“Therefore, I’m going to honor our deal.
I’ll go back and testify when I have completed my list.” She unlocked the door but didn’t open it, turning to face him.
“Until then, I will be civil, and you can stay at the inn ’til your little heart’s content.
I will continue to live my life. You will be like a shadow hanging around in silence. ”
Her dismissiveness got under his skin, and his jaw clenched. “You think you’re going to be able to ignore me that easily?”
“Oh, absolutely. I mean, I ignored you for two years when you weren’t in town. I’m sure that I can ignore you even if you are here.”
He took several steps toward her, caging her against her front door. “Sweetheart. I’m gonna make it very hard for you to ignore me.”
“Oh yeah,” she countered, her voice slightly breathless, “and how are you gonna do that?”
“I guess I’ll have to think of something,” he said, pushing off the wood and turning around, ambling down her steps. “Sleep tight, Kaylee.”