Chapter Thirty-Nine
RICK
Rick pushed off the tree he’d been leaning against when Kaylee stepped out of work and noticed him right away.
He’d been waiting for her, just like he had been the last three days.
Ever since they’d gone to lunch, things had been more amicable between them, and she smiled as he fell into step beside her, greeting him with, “Hello. Been waiting long?”
“Not at all.” He didn’t admit that he’d been hanging out for over an hour in case she got off work early, reading on his phone. She already knew she had him by the short and curlies; no need to give her more power. “How was work?”
“It was good. How was your day?”
Woke up thinking of you, and it hasn’t stopped. “Just fine. I hung out at the inn. I read.”
“Oh, what are you reading?” she asked.
Rick held up his phone. “The next book in the Ice Planet Barbarians series. I downloaded them onto my phone so I didn’t have to haul a book everywhere.”
Kaylee scoffed. “You are not.”
“I am, too. It’s a fascinating read.”
“You are just trying to mess with me,” she said, stepping to the side of the sidewalk.
“Why would I do that?”
She crossed her arms, glaring at him. “Because you think it’s funny.”
“Well, I mean it is a little funny that you don’t want me to read it, but I actually am enjoying the series. It’s like crack.”
Both her eyebrows hiked up her forehead. “You are comparing books to hard drugs, you do realize that, right? You are an FBI agent talking about a comparison between books and drugs.”
“Well, yeah, I’ve done a little time undercover,” he deadpanned.
Kaylee gave him a strange look. “Are you for real right now?”
Rick chuckled. “No, I’ve never done undercover work, and I’ve never smoked crack.”
“Well, you’d be really good at it cause you had me going for a minute,” she said, walking again, and it only took him half a stride to catch up.
“So what are you up to tonight?” he asked.
Kaylee hesitated for a second, and he already knew he wouldn’t like the answer. “I am going to go shopping with Josie.”
“What are you shopping for?”
“Some date clothes.”
His step slowed as his heart nearly plummeted to his feet. “You’re going on a date? When?”
“I don’t know if I should tell you,” she said lightly. “You might show up and make things awkward.”
“I might,” he admitted, dying to sit her down under a bright light and drag every detail from her, but he had no right to ask for more than she was willing to give. “How about you tell me who you’re going with?”
“I’m going out with Benny.”
He snorted. “The delivery guy?”
“What’s wrong with the delivery guy?”
“You don’t like him.”
“I never said I didn’t like him. You just happened to assume I didn’t like him because I turned down his previous invitation, but now that I have my list, I can check off number ten.”
Rick racked his brain, trying to remember what number ten was, and finally just asked, “And that would be what?”
“Have a one-night stand.”
Rick frowned. “Technically, you’ve had a one-night stand, since we only had sex the one time.”
“I’m not counting that.”
“You’re not counting it?” he repeated, affronted by her disrespect. “Do I need to regale you with everything that happened so you remember?”
“It was the middle of the day, and no, you don’t need to do any of that. I remember everything; I’m just not counting it.”
“And why is that?”
“Sex under false pretenses.”
Rick’s jaw clenched. “There were no false pretenses, and besides, most one-night stands happen under false pretenses.”
“And what does that mean?” she snapped.
“When people, especially men, are just looking to get laid, they will tell a girl anything she wants to hear to get them into the sack. That’s why a one-night stand is a bad idea.
” Rick took her arm, stopping her angry march and turning to face her.
“You’re gonna hurt this guy ’cause he actually likes you, and you’re planning on just using him and discarding him.
You’re not cruel, Kaylee. Giving someone false hope is not something that you should do. ”
“Well, then, we won’t do the one-night stand. I will finish number thirteen instead.”
“I did not memorize your list, so if you could elaborate, that would be amazing.”
“Trying something I don’t think I’m going to like to see if I change my mind.”
“You’re not going to tell him that, are you?”
“I’m not talking about him! I am going to pick something off the menu when we go to dinner.” As if something suddenly occurred to her, she turned around and poked him in the chest. “You’d better not ask Josie where I’m going. If you show up and embarrass me, I will end you.”
Rick grinned wickedly. “What do I get out of it if I stay home like a good boy?”
“I don’t poison your coffee.”
“I won’t get my coffee from you anymore.”
“I will sneak into the inn. Remember, I have friends in this town. Don’t mess with me.”
Rick chuckled. “Fine. I won’t say anything, but I still think you’re wasting his and your time.”
“Well, I appreciate your concern, but my love life is none of your business. Remember, you are just the agent in charge of bringing me in to testify, and I am just your witness.”
They reached her car, and he caged her in against it with his arms on either side of her body. “You really think that’s all there is between us.”
“I think that’s all there’s going to be.”
Rick pushed off her car and took a step back, regret and frustration churning in his gut. He started to walk away, but she called after him.
“No more snarky comments or arguments to change my mind?”
“No,” he said, facing her. “You’re a grown woman who knows her own mind, and I’m just your FBI agent.”
“I’m surprised,” she muttered, and Rick wondered if that’s what she’d hoped to get from him. That he’d keep trying to convince her to trust him again, but he was all out of words and needed actions.
Maybe if she thought he’d given up, though, she’d get a taste of what he’d been going through.
“Don’t be. I’m on vacation, and I don’t really know anybody in town. Maybe I should ask somebody out. Have a little fun.”
Kaylee’s expression turned thunderous. “You cannot date anyone in this town.”
“And why not?”
“Because I know them.”
“I’m just the FBI agent protecting you, right? So it doesn’t matter who I go out with.”
“You know what? You’re right. Go out with whoever you want and have a great time.”
“Thanks. I think I will.”
“Good.”
“Great.”
“Fine.”
“Fantastic.”