01 - The Heartbreaker (42 page)
Read 01 - The Heartbreaker Online
Authors: Carly Phillips
“Not in this lifetime,” he said, quoting her. He rose from his seat. “So what are your plans?” He tossed the volley back to her.
Apparently they both had emotional walls they didn’t want to let crumble. Much as she was dying to know more about him, he’d shut her down. Since she didn’t want to share any kind of closeness that would bond them, not when she planned to leave soon, she had to respect his privacy.
He wanted to know her plans and she assumed he meant short term. She took in the dusty trappings around her, and recalled all the things that appeared to be old and decrepit in the main house. She rubbed a weary hand
over her eyes. “For tonight I guess I’ll clean the room where I’ll sleep and maybe the kitchen.” She crinkled her nose at the thought of all that dust swirling around her. “Tomorrow I’ll get started on getting the house in shape. Oh, and I suppose I should contact a realtor and see what my possibilities are, even though I know now I need to finish fixing before I can show the place.”
He nodded, hands shoved in his back pockets as he, too, surveyed the damage. “I’ll help you clean.”
His offer touched her but she couldn’t accept. “You don’t need to do that. Honestly, I can get one room in decent shape by myself.”
“With what? You’re going to need supplies and if the weather forecast is correct, an A.C. unit. No way will you be able to sleep in this place without air.”
She tried to inhale but choked instead. Rick was right. The air was stagnant and oppressive. Concern and a wave of depression settled over her. “Oh, geez. I really didn’t anticipate all these extra costs.” She mentally calculated the money in her account. Unfortunately she’d need more than she had in the bank just to live the next month or so here.
“I take it you thought you’d arrive, list the house, sell, and be on your way?”
Kendall nodded. “A little overly optimistic, huh?”
“A little.” He grinned. “But I like your attitude. Why deal with problems until they crop up?”
“You’re just being nice to me. You don’t want to call the new girl in town a ditz or an impulsive idiot.”
His sexy grin turned into a scowl as his lips took a downward turn. “Hey quit being so hard on yourself.
You’ve been through a lot. Now do you have an immediate plan?”
For money, she did have her credit cards, and Brian would be more than happy to overnight her jewelry and supplies. If she could find a store to place them on consignment, maybe she could scrounge up some extra cash. Okay, so she had a plan. Of sorts. She glanced at Rick. “Just point the way to town and I’ll . . .”
“Fly there on your magic carpet?”
She let out an exhale and added fixing the car to her list of expenses. “I don’t suppose I could bum a ride?” She bit down on her lower lip, realizing that for a man who was tired of women who wanted something from him, Kendall was probably more trouble than she was worth.
“I’m heading toward town myself. And before you ask, yes I can give you a lift back home afterward.”
Home. Had she ever really had one? Not wanting to delve into deep thoughts right now, she flashed him a grateful smile instead. “You’re a regular knight in shining armor, Rick Chandler.”
He grinned. “What can I say? I never could resist a damsel in distress.” A mixture of humor and unexpected sadness touched his voice despite the sexy outward smile. Was the sadness related to his past marriage, she wondered.
Once again, when it came to this enigmatic man, Kendall wondered why. What made him tick, what happened in his past that drove him to avoid another marriage yet make it a habit of rescuing women in need? Knowing his pull and effect on her, she was glad she wouldn’t be around long enough to find out.
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The Infinite Appeal of Small Towns by Carly Phillips
