The Playboy (27 page)

Her sister wanted to rinse out her hair? She liked it here enough to come out from hiding?
Why not,
that small voice asked.
You
did, recalling how she’d rinsed the pink soon after arriving because she’d wanted to be herself. Kendall blinked, startled at the similarities between the sisters. And a positive one this time.

“Well, Kendall?”

Hannah’s voice interrupted her thoughts and Kendall glanced at her sister. “Yes, yes, and no.”

Her bright eyes opened wide, clearly upset. “That’s
so
unfair. Just because I slept at Charlotte’s last night doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be able to sleep out again tonight and I earned money helping Charlotte all morning, so—”

“Whoa.” Kendall held up a hand, cutting her sister off. “Yes, you can definitely have the purple washed out of your hair. My treat. Yes, you can sleep at Jeannie’s house
if
it’s okay with her mother.” She paused, an idea hitting her. “Actually, why don’t the two of you sleep at our house and give her parents a break after the movies and dinner? And no, I didn’t know Greg lived next door to Jeannie,” Kendall finished on a laugh.

Hannah blushed. “Sorry.”

“That’s okay.” At least Hannah was acting like a typical teenager and not an angry young girl. “So what does everyone think?” Kendall asked about the idea of the girls sleeping at her place.

The girls looked first at each other, then at poor Grace McKeever.

“Please, Mom, please can I sleep at Kendall’s?” Jeannie tugged on her mother’s sleeve. “They’re staying in Ms. Sutton’s old guest house. Hannah said it’s so cool. She has her own room and there’s an attic where Kendall set up all her jewelry designs. Hannah said it’s awesome. Please?”

Hannah said anything about Kendall or the house was
awesome
? Kendall had to blink back tears. She turned and wiped her eyes, intending to blame the sun if anyone called her on it.

“It’s fine with me, girls. We’ll stop at the house before we leave for Harrington so you can pack up your things.”

“Cool!” The girls shot each other conspiratorial grins, as if they’d accomplished some covert deal.

“Don’t forget a blanket or sleeping bag of some kind,” Kendall said to Jeannie. “We don’t have extra beds and furniture.”

“Double cool!” Jeannie said as Grace jotted down her cell and home phone number and Kendall did the same so they could exchange. Then Grace excused herself to do some more shopping. The girls turned to run back to their crowd of friends, but Hannah pivoted back and leaned across the table, meeting Kendall’s gaze.

“Thanks.”

The appreciation in Hannah’s eyes told Kendall more than anything her sister could possibly say. “My pleasure.” Reaching into her jeans pocket, Kendall pulled out spare money and gave it to her sister. “Spend wisely,” she joked.

Hannah shoved the bills into her front pocket. “Kendall?” “Yes?”

Hannah swallowed hard.

“Hannah, come on. They’re waiting for us,” Jeannie called out.

“I . . . I love you. Bye.” Before Kendall could reply, Hannah turned and ran to join her friends.

“I love you too.” And this time, a tear really did fall, dripping down her cheek.

As the sidewalk sale drew to a close, so did Rick’s shift. He was free to do as he pleased and seeing Kendall pleased him greatly. He caught up with her as she was exiting Charlotte’s Attic, a briefcase in hand.

Matching her stride, he fell into step with her. “Hey there.”

Her eyes flashed a genuine greeting. “Hi yourself.” “Successful day?” He gestured to the briefcase.

“Amazing. I sold much of what we had out and took special orders for dozens of others.” She shook her head in awe. “It’s just been great.”

“I know how to make it even better.”

She paused and turned toward him. “Oh, yeah?” A smile pulled at her lips.

After their serious conversation the night before, he’d deliberately kept things light between them and judging by her welcome now, his tactics were working. Instead of running scared, she was moving closer.

He wanted her closer still. “Did you ever make out at a drive-in movie?” he asked her.

Her lips pulled up in a smile. “Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure, why?”

“Tonight’s the annual slide show. It coincides with the sidewalk sale every year. They turn the football field into a makeshift amphitheater and recount town history. It’s not the most exciting thing to see but everyone shows up anyway. And I just happen to know a secluded place with the best view. Want to be my date?”

“You’re not working?”

“I’m officially off duty and all yours,” he said, leaning closer.

“I like the sound of that.”

Her voice dropped a husky octave and he liked that even more. But before he could concentrate on tonight, he had something he needed to discuss with Kendall. “I stopped by my mother’s this morning on the way to work.”

“All cleaned up from the party?”

He nodded. “Except the stack of gifts left over. I had no idea that everyone who showed up last night brought presents.” He felt ridiculous accepting gifts for his birthday and he wished he could return all of them.

All except one. He pulled the collar of his shirt down slightly to reveal the thin black piece Kendall and Hannah had made for him. He wasn’t a jewelry kind of guy, but this wasn’t a typical piece of jewelry. It was masculine and unobtrusive enough to make him comfortable wearing it. But most importantly, the necklace was a gift from the heart, Kendall’s heart.

“You like it?”

The hesitancy in her voice surprised him. When it came to her work, she was confident or so she’d seemed as he’d observed her from afar all afternoon. He hadn’t wanted to interrupt or cause her to lose a sale. The more successful she became in Yorkshire Falls, the better for him.

“I like it and you.” He stepped closer, bracketing her between him and the brick wall of the nearest building. His body reacted, something she obviously didn’t miss because a low moan escaped her throat, turning him on even more. “I need to thank you properly.” He treated her to a wicked grin. “After all, my mother raised me to be a gentleman.”

“She also raised you to take this sort of thing behind a closed door.” Raina’s distinctive voice and chuckle broke the seductive spell he’d begun to weave.

“Oh, God.” Kendall ducked beneath his arm. Dammit. He’d wanted Kendall excited and anticipating the evening to come, not distressed and mortified. “Hello, Mother,” he said through gritted teeth and stepped aside to let Kendall gather her composure.

“Hello, Rick.” Raina smiled. “Kendall.”

“I thought you were home resting,” Rick said.

“I was. Then Chase wanted to snap a few last-minute photos and I begged him to take me along for a quick trip to see the sale. I haven’t missed one yet and didn’t intend to this year either.”

“And now that you’ve seen and been seen?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ll go home and rest up for this evening of course.”

Rick shot her a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding look. She was going out again this evening?

“There’s nothing unhealthy about sitting on a blanket with a doctor by my side.” Raina blushed but squared her shoulders as if daring him to argue that point. “Will you and Hannah be going to the show?” she asked Kendall, obviously turning attention away from herself.

It worked. Instead of his mother’s health, he focused in on Kendall. In his desire to be alone with her, Rick realized he’d forgotten about Hannah.

“Actually Hannah’s going to dinner and a movie with a friend.” Kendall stepped up beside Rick. “I don’t expect them back until around eleven and then they’re having a sleep-over,” Kendall said, obviously recovered from her embarrassment at being caught like two teenagers by his mother.

“Anyone I know?” Raina asked.

“Jeannie McKeever.”

Rick breathed a sigh of relief. Grace McKeever was known for having an open house for all her kids’ friends. With the girls sleeping there he’d have another night to let Kendall get used to having him around—in her life and hopefully in her heart.

“I’m having both girls sleep over in the guest house tonight. I’ve never had a sleep-over myself as a child so I thought I’d give Hannah the experience in a place that feels like home to her, you know?” Kendall asked of Raina.

“I most certainly do.” Raina touched Kendall’s cheek with her hand. “You’re such a sweet girl.”

He should have known better than to jump to conclusions about anything, especially when his love life was involved. He shook his head and laughed.

“Something funny?” his mother asked.

“Not a thing,” he said wryly. He’d just have to enjoy Kendall’s company before her duties as a parent resumed later on. Duties she’d obviously taken to with more ease than either of them had anticipated.

Though she and Hannah had rough patches, Kendall had an innate understanding of her sister’s needs. She had the ability to give the young girl a special life, if only she’d step back, realize and accept it. She’d make a great sister. She’d make an amazing mom. The thought stopped him cold, like a shot upside the head.

He glanced to his side where Kendall and Raina were in deep discussion about video rentals and the possibility of Kendall’s borrowing a VCR for the night in order to entertain the girls. From his mother’s wide smile, she approved of Kendall, of that Rick was certain. Although he’d never in his life let his mother’s input dictate his choice in a date or relationship, it eased his mind knowing that he’d made her happy and hadn’t added to her stress or weak heart. In fact, he made her happy. By choosing Kendall.

What unbelievable irony. He’d begun his relationship with Kendall to deter his mother and the women she’d encouraged in order to marry him off and get herself grandchildren. And he’d ended up wanting those very things for himself with the woman who he’d used to foil his mother’s plan. Now if only Kendall wanted those same things.

If only.

Kendall parked her car in the spot behind the guest house and walked to the front door. The day had been more fun than she’d had in a while. Successful too, she thought and smiled. As she unzipped her bag, a low whining sound reached her ears. She glanced around, but didn’t see anyone or anything. She shrugged and put her briefcase down so she could search her purse for her keys, which she’d stupidly tossed back in her bag so she could get her things out of the car.

The first thing she came up with was the real estate card given to her by Tina Roberts. The young woman had ordered an ID bracelet and then gone on to solicit business, asking Kendall what she planned to do with her aunt’s house and without waiting for a reply had offered to come by to give her an estimate should she decide to sell. She’d also boasted her many accomplishments and the reasons why she’d make the perfect listing broker. No hesitancy, no shame. No wonder she’d made Realtor of the Month, Kendall thought wryly.

But she couldn’t sell a house for above market value if it wasn’t worth the money and the broker’s card brought home an important point. Kendall hadn’t bothered to do any more work on the house in days. And she hadn’t given another thought to putting the place on the market.

The only thing she
had
decided was to put Pearl and Eldin in the guest house and make their living there rent-free a condition of sale. She didn’t know who would accept such terms, but there was no way Kendall would displace the older couple completely. She just hoped they’d be happy in the smaller residence, but with Eldin’s bad back, maybe they’d be better off in a one-level place with less maintenance to deal with.

After her incredible day here, Kendall just wasn’t ready to deal with selling the house. Not when she’d just begun to let herself think about other possibilities in life besides running. Not when she’d just begun to play
What If . . .

She had time. Kendall stuck the card back in her bag and continued to poke around until her fingers wrapped around her keys when the pitiful noise sounded again, closer now. Glancing down, she saw a dog. A sandy-colored, shaggy-looking dog staring up at her with deep, soulful eyes.

“Hi there,” Kendall said, approaching cautiously. When the dog’s tail began a metronomic wag with no menace in sight, Kendall bent down to pet her. Her coat was matted as if she hadn’t been cared for in ages but her demeanor was warm and friendly. She wasn’t afraid of Kendall and after a few minutes of head scratching, she rubbed against her legs and next thing Kendall knew she’d rolled onto her back for a belly rub, exposing her private parts for the world to see.

“Well, looks like I was wrong, Mr. Man. You’re a boy.” Kendall laughed. She felt beneath the matted fur on his neck. “No collar or ID. What am I going to do with you?”

She rose and he followed. She walked back to the front door and he tagged along. Twenty minutes later, after she’d given him a bowl of water, cleaned up the mess he’d made by the door because she hadn’t realized the single bark meant he had to do his business, and called Charlotte for the name of the local veterinarian, Kendall and dog were in Dr. Denis Sterling’s office.

“I didn’t know what to do with him,” Kendall explained as the doctor finished up his examination.

“Well, I’m glad you called. I never mind coming in for an abandoned pet.”

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

Dr. Sterling gave the dog a friendly pat on the head and Kendall an equally reassuring smile. Everything he did reinforced her initial impression of him as a kind man. He appeared to be in his late fifties, a good-looking man with blond hair, no gray, and a weathered face and gentle disposition.

“I didn’t want to page you but Charlotte promised you wouldn’t mind.”

“And she was right. Charlotte’s instincts are good ones.” His voice held warmth.

Charlotte had mentioned that the local vet had a crush on her mother, but Annie Bronson hadn’t returned his feelings. Instead she was working on repairing her broken marriage to Charlotte’s father. Dr. Sterling seemed no worse for the rejection though.

“Here’s what I can figure about your friend here,” the doctor said. “He looks like a soft-coated Wheaton terrier. You can tell by the beige- or wheat-colored coat and the terrier face. From his weight, I’d say he’s full grown, about two or three years old, tops. And from his exuberance around strangers, I’d say he hasn’t been abused.”