Page 89 of Second First Kiss

Kat knew this about her friend. There were days that Gemma couldn’t even leave the house she was so riddled with loss. But the way she showed up for her friends, you’d never know it. She hid the worst of it from the world, so most of the town thought she’d moved on from losing her daughter, but Kat doubted she’d ever move on completely.

“You know I’m here for you.”

“Just like I’ll be here for you for when you come clean.”

“Hypothetically what would happen if I didn’t? With Nolan.”

Because she could already hear his lecture—and see his disappointment. And she’d be putting him in a position where he’d have to choose her over the responsibilities of his job. And she wasn’t sure who would win out.

“The girl said he was selling drugs. Drugs like the kind Nolan found at that cabin. You have to tell him. It could give them the evidence he needs to arrest R. J. Isn’t that what you want?”

Kat hopped up on the kitchen counter with a loud groan. “Yes. You’re right. I’ll tell him the next time I see him.”

“Tell me what?” Nolan said from the kitchen doorway.

He was armed to the teeth and dressed in his uniform which displayed his biceps and abs beautifully, which meant he’d come directly here before going to his place to change. Then she saw his duffel bag at his feet and it all became suffocatingly real.

He was actually moving in.

Sure, he’d said he was, after she saw that guy creeping around her house, but she’d only half believed him. Now that it was a real thing, she felt all clammy and short of breath.

“What’s that?” she asked, unable to take her gaze off the bag, staring at it as if it were a ticking time bomb with only five seconds left and counting down.

His upper lip tilted at the corner. “Just what it looks like. The question you should be asking is where you think I’m going to put it. At the foot of your bed or at the foot of the couch.”

“My vote is the bedroom,” Gemma said, and since she was on FaceTime her voice carried through the kitchen.

“Thanks for the support,” he said with a big-ass grin.

“You’re welcome. And I am also voting for Milly who seconds that.”

“Goodbye.” Kat hung up. Then to Nolan, “What are you doing here so early?”

“I just got off. And I thought I made myself pretty clear last night. Until we figure out what’s going on, we’re like glue. Either I stay here or you and Tessa move in with me.”

“I am not moving in with him,” Tessa said stubbornly, and Kat jumped. Gemma could have at least given her a head’s up that her sister was on her way home.

There in the doorway, with her backpack on and arms crossed stubbornly, stood Tessa. “Why is the ranger here?”

“I’m not a ranger. I’m a federal law enforcement agent.”

Tessa crossed the kitchen, dropped her backpack on the counter, and opened the fridge. “Whatever. Give him a doughnut and maybe he’ll go away.”

He looked at Kat and raised a brow. Like, you want to tell her or do you want me to? This was a mess.

Kat ushered them to the table. “Let’s all take a seat and have a family meeting.”

“He isn’t family and I have homework.”

Kat sighed. This wasn’t going to plan. Then again, she didn’t have a plan and that was part of the problem, she was realizing. “This is serious, we need to talk.”

Tessa rolled her eyes so hard Kat was shocked they didn’t fall out. “You had your chance to talk about this and you blew it. So we can keep secrets from each other. Good to know. Later.”

Tessa started to leave, but Nolan stuck out his arm stopping her. “You want the truth? Last night there was a near break-in. Someone was in your shed, so I stayed here to make sure your sister was okay.”

Tessa’s eyes went wide with a combination of fear and concern. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I checked this morning and nothing was taken,” Kat said.

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