Close Enough to Touch (Joanna Book 1) by K.A. Moll

Author:K.A. Moll [Moll, K.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KAM Books, LLC
Published: 2024-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

“You want one?” Rich asked, snagging a Snickers from the brown bag before tossing it her way.

Rylee fingered a Mounds but closed the bag. “No, better not,” she said, looking across their desks to meet his gaze. “We’re going out for barbecue tonight, and I want to be hungry.”

“I thought you went out last night,” Rich responded.

“We did,” Rylee said, fully aware of the pros and cons of the situation.

“Okay then,” Rich answered, drawing out the words as his smile widened.

“I have to keep an eye on her at night,” Rylee said, exhaling. “God, we still have so much to figure out, but…” She shook her head, exhaling again. “I know it’s moving too fast, but I don’t know any other way to keep her safe.”

“You’re worrying more than you need to about that if you ask me,” Rich said.

“Keeping her safe or moving too fast,” Rylee asked, lifting both eyebrows.

“Keeping her safe,” Rich answered, smirking with a shake of his head. “I don’t know, maybe both.”

“When you take the footprint into consideration, same tread and same size,” Rylee countered, rocking back in her chair, “I’m not worrying nearly enough.”

“It was at your ex-girlfriend’s, not Kenzie’s,” Rich said. “And you don’t seem to be worried one iota about her.”

“That’s because she’s with her sister,” Rylee answered. “Nobody’s gonna mess with her under the watchful eye of that battle axe.” She swallowed. “Kenzie, on the other hand, has no one, no one, but me to look after her.” Her parents lived a few hours away and saw her next to never; her church was more show, than action; and her kid… Rylee’s throat constricted thinking that a kid shouldn’t have to worry about her mom’s safety like she’d had to worry about hers. She sucked in air. “And that print may have been at Chastity’s,” she added, “but it was put there right after she’d just met Kenzie.”

“Probably just a coincidence,” Rich responded.

“Yeah, right,” Rylee said, “I wish.” She shook her head, adding, “Plus, we found the seed.”

“From a totally different plant,” Rich countered, “a plant that grows in every county in the state.” He knew because she’d read him a paragraph about the snakeroot from her new favorite reference.

“I know,” Rylee responded, “but it’s poisonous as hell, nevertheless.” She exhaled loudly. “I’m guessing it’ll probably be a match for poison number three.”

“Don’t say that,” Rich responded, making direct eye contact.

“Saying it won’t make it happen,” Rylee said, cocking her head. “Just making an educated guess.”

***

Kenzie’s living room was long and narrow with large windows on two walls and a fireplace at the end. Her curtains, rug, and couch were perfectly coordinated for color and style. “Oriental?” Rylee asked, squatting to examine the intricate design of the area rug more closely.

“It is,” Kenzie answered, her eyes sparkling in her smile. “Hand-knotted, I got it on sale.”

“I like it,” Rylee said. “Kind of calming. Makes the room seem spacious.”

“It’s the jewel tone color pallet,” Kenzie responded. “Sapphire and Amethyst, they have that effect on people.

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