Page 35 of Dangerous Kiss
It wasn’t until she left one store with a comfortable woolen blanket for Mary that Biba realized she was being followed. It started with a sick feeling inside as she felt someone walking too close behind her. She darted into the nearest store and circled back on herself to see if she could spot who it was.
No one. Was she being paranoid? Biba took a deep breath in and went out into the mall again. Ten minutes later, she got that same prickling up her spine and turned around. She was being paranoid. No one was paying any attention to her.
Shaking her head, she went to grab a coffee and saw Rich Furlough in the back of the shop, latte on the table in front of him, flicking through something on his phone. Biba hesitated for a moment. Would Rich have followed her?
He looked up then, and if he was acting, he did a good impression of being surprised. “Hey, short-stack, didn’t expect to see you here. Can I get you a drink?”
Biba, not wanting to be rude, nodded. “I’d like that. Hot chocolate, please.”
She settled down in the easy chair opposite Rich’s and then laughed when he returned with a fully loaded hot chocolate for her. “I got them to put everything on—and I remembered you like a shot of vanilla syrup, too.”
Biba relaxed. Rich was the last person she needed to be scared of. “Thank you, honey.” She looked at the cream piled high on top of the liquid. “How on earth do I tackle this?”
“I suggest rappelling up the north face,” Rich nodded sagely.
Biba giggled. “You are a lunatic.” She took a sip, burying her nose in the cream, then giving him a wide grin. Rich laughed, shaking his head.
“Goddamn, May, stop being so adorable.”
Biba felt slightly awkward. “Sorry.”
“Dork. Adorkable.”
Her shoulders eased. “That isn’t a word.”
“Is. So…?”
“So?”
“Elephant in the room. You and Cos—happy?”
She nodded firmly. “Very. I’m really sor—”
“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry, Beebs. I’mdelightedfor you, I really am. You and Cos make sense.”
“Even with the age gap?”
“Fuck the age gap. Literally, ha ha.” He grinned, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“What about you?”
Rich shrugged. “As everyone says, I have my life partner in Gunter, the goof ball.” He grinned. “If only I was like Reggie.”
“Huh?”
“Gay. Then me and Gun could have a happy life together.”
Biba sipped her hot chocolate. “Reggie’s not gay, Rich.”
“Really?” Rich seemed genuinely taken aback, and Biba shook her head.
“Nope.”
“Dang it. Now I owe Gun twenty bucks.”
Biba laughed. “Oh, so you were fishing?”
Rich grinned. “Sorry. Just neither of us could figure out why you and Reggie never got together.”
