AllFreeNovel
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I turned as I bent over to get the pan out of the cabinet. A cascade of pans fell onto the floor. I got on my knees and picked them up. Moments later, Ric was on the floor with me picking up the pans. My eyes looked up and caught Ric’s. Why did I let this strange man into this house? If he hadn’t been Andy’s friend, I probably wouldn’t have. You don’t meet internet strangers at your house. Safety 101.
“Hey, there,” I whispered. I reached forward to grab a saucepan that he was also reaching for. Our hands touched. My heart fluttered as I pulled my hand back. This . . . this was more than what Ryder-Tucker-Flynn had going for him.
“Hello. I thought I would help clean up your mess,” he said. “I appreciate you letting me stay. Just don’t tell Andy.”
I smiled. “Yeah. Lie to my best friend. Got it.”
“It’s not like she has told you everything anyway,” he said.
I pursed my lips as my brows furrowed. “She’s been lying to me?” I whispered. I knew she was, it just hurt to hear it. Half of our conversations seemed superficial nowadays. Nothing about what she was doing. No details. Just empty chatter that filled the air but didn’t fill the soul.
Unease passed through his features and his face seemed frozen for a moment. Can a human glitch? A moment passed and his face settled again. “It’s not my place to explain what’s going on.”
“She some mafia princess?”
He chuckled. “Mafia is not the word.”
Chapter 5
Ricon
My emotions weren’t stable. Seeing thatmalepaw at her stirred something deep inside me. Yes, I’ve always liked Chloe. She was a cute little human, and talking to her over the last few weeks was refreshing. I didn’t realize how much she would stir my senses until she came closer to me when I sat on her porch. She handled the male, and he left while cursing her out. Now she flitted around the kitchen cooking food for me. The skirt she was wearing would rise, showing bits of her smooth thighs every time she moved around. I couldn’t help watching her, but I needed to stop.
I stood up. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Can you operate a toaster?” she asked as she cracked an egg into the pan.
Surely I can operate this Earth technology. “Where is a toaster?”
Chloe paused as she turned. Her eyes narrowed. “A toaster? Is English not your first language? That’s not the only time you’ve said things weird,” she asked.
“No. Where is it?”
She pointed to the black device at the end of the counter and tossed me the bread. I walked to the device and examined it. I pushed the buttons a few times, trying to figure out what I was supposed to do. There was a tap on the counter behind me. “You put the bread inside it. You know, the slots. Push the button down til it catches.”
“Sorry.” I pulled the slices of bread out of the bag and dropped them in.
“What’s wrong with your arm?” she asked.
“It happened during the mission, but I can’t say more.”
“I really hate being stuck on the outside like this,” Chloe said.
“It’s not my position to tell you. Honestly, if Andy felt like it was important, shecouldtell you.” The bread popped up. Chloe placed a plate beside me. “There should be tongs close by.”
I grabbed the bread pieces from the machine. My fingers grazed the exposed silver portion. Warmth rushed through my fingers, but my skin was much thicker than a human’s. I don’t know how they used this without burning themselves on the heated metal. Chloe gasped behind me. Her hands grabbed my injured arm. Pain shot through my arm as she pulled me toward the sink and dunked my hand under the water. “Why didn’t you use the tongs like I said?”
My hearts were racing as Chloe’s body leaned against mine. Her soft breasts pressed against my arm while she held my hand under the water. “Are you normally a klutz?” she whispered.
“I’m fine. That did not burn.” I pulled my hand from the water. A sizzle and pop erupted in the air behind us.
Chloe spun on her heels as she grabbed the plate. “Shit, the sausage.”
“You didn’t have to cook for me, Chloe. It’s late.”
She was pulling meat from the pan. “I’ve been gone for a few hours. How long have you been here?”
“A few hours?” I said. I returned to the chair and sat down. She sat in front of me. “You are not eating?”
