Page 196 of Positively Pricked

Chapter 67

Kayla was all smiles as she leaned her head out of her driver's side window to call out, "Hang on. I'll just grab my purse."

I tried to smile back.

Well, at least she wasn't crying anymore.

And I knew why. Against my better judgment, I'd agreed to let her pop into the house for just a few minutes to make sure that her things were still thereandunmolested – by me, apparently.

Our plan was simple enough. We'd leave her car at the gas station and take mine to the house, where she could take a quick look around to ease her mind. Afterward, I'd drive her back.

Simple and quick.

In theory, anyway.

In spite of my nervousness, I tried to look on the bright side. I was doing a good deed, right?

And yet, when she emerged from her car, I felt my eyebrows furrow. Her clothes – or rather, lack of clothes – made me wonder what exactly she was thinking.

She was wearing a skimpy red bikini, with a black something-or-other that might be considered a skirt, if only it weren't so short and so sheer that it was mostly transparent.

On her feet were sassy white sandals with thick, chunky heels. Over her left shoulder was draped a long white purse with long leather fringes. As she opened my passenger's side door, she said, "You aresucha life-saver."

I bit my lip. No, I was an idiot.

I hadn't even checked with Zane, but hehadgiven me permission in a roundabout way. After all, hedidsay that if someone's name was on a box, they could have it. And I'd seen plenty of boxes with Kayla's name.

Still, I wasn't going to take any chances. "I hate to ask," I said, "but I can see your driver's license?"

Her smile vanished. "What?"

"Your driver's license," I repeated. "I just want to make sure that your name matches the name on the boxes."

"Why?" she said. "I'm not taking anything. I'm just making sure everything's still there."

"I know, but…" How to explain? "Zane left pretty clear instructions."

She gave an irritated sigh. "Oh, whatever." She pulled out her purse, and began digging through it. "It totally figures. He issucha prick."

It was then that the strangest thing happened. I felt my hands clench around the steering wheel, almost like her statement actually bothered me. But itcouldn'tbother me, because she had a point.

Zanewasa prick.

Most of the time, anyway.

I pulled my hands off the wheel and tried not to think about it.

As for Kayla, she pulled out her driver's license and thrust it out in my direction. I took it from her hand and pulled it close to study the details.

Yup. It was all there. Kayla Hunt, 241 Longwood Drive – just like I'd seen on a whole bunch of moving boxes.

When I returned the license, she said, "So, are you satisfied?"

Not really."Uh, yeah. Thanks."

Kayla glanced around. "Hey, I don't wanna be rude, but I'm kind of on a schedule here." She glanced down. "Pool party and all. Do you think we could get going?"

Well, that explained the clothes.