Kissing Kendall

by Jennifer Shirk

  “Oh. But I thought—” Kendall’s stopped herself as a heaviness centered in her chest. Her grandmother wouldn’t be around for yet another special event. Maeve had originally promised she would help her out with the arrangements and Kendall had been looking forward to spending that time together. But there was no use in complaining or arguing once her grandmother made up her mind.

  She turned to Maeve and tried to keep the frustration out of her tone. “Sure, I understand, Grams. What did you want me to give to Georgie?”

  “This.” Her grandmother proudly pulled out three knitted bibs and two pairs of knitted socks. “Ta-dah! What do you think?”

  What do I think? Kendall was too shocked to think much of anything. She couldn’t believe her grandmother actually took the time out of her traveling schedule to make such a thoughtful gift for her friend.

  She saw the tiny baby clothes dangling from her grandmother’s hands and was assailed by a horrible sense of envy. Not that she would ever begrudge Georgie’s happiness—she was thrilled for her friend. Unfortunately, she couldn’t quite drum up an ounce of that particular emotion right then.

  “They’re lovely,” she finally whispered. She pressed a hand over her face and took in a few deep breaths. Her life wasn’t anywhere near what she’d wanted it to be. Children of her own would have to wait, since Kendall couldn’t even think about dating again. But maybe…she could take a step and fill that void in her life with something else. Something she could control. Something solid and concrete.

  Something that, given just the right amount of drive, could really…last.

  Brad had told her that when she had the drive, a need to move on with her life, she would know and would be able to make a decision. He was right. And with some lightheartedness, she realized she had just done exactly that. Funny, even after all this time apart, Brad knew exactly what she needed to hear.

  It was so good to see him again. He had shown up when she needed him most. Brad hadn’t forgotten about her, and her heart gave a crazy jolt just thinking about how protective he still was over her. But she wouldn’t allow herself to rely on him or anyone else. She needed to take charge of her own life.

  Gram began wrapping her gifts back up in tissue paper. “I’m so glad you—”

  “I’m opening up my own bakery,” Kendall blurted.

  My own bakery? Did I really say that?

  Gram’s wrinkled hands stilled over the gifts. “What did you say, dear?”

  Kendall blinked, still surprised at her outburst. She wasn’t sure what she had said exactly, but she thought it had something to do with opening up her own business. Her very own bakery. Oh, dear, she had really snapped. The idea of starting a bakery was crazy. Risky. But somewhere deep inside she knew she needed to do this. In baking—in having this business—she’d be able to find the strength to help her through her solitude. To help her heal, just as Brad had said.

  Or so she hoped.

  “I’ve decided to open up my own bakery,” she repeated, liking the way it sounded the second time around. In fact, she liked the way it sounded a lot. “Um, what do you think about that?”

  “What do I think?” Her grandmother’s red mouth slid into a crafty smile, then she reached out her arms and gave Kendall a tight hug. “I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

  A step? Kendall thought warily. More like a giant, scary leap.

  …

  Brad walked into Somers Shore Pharmacy with a real appreciation for all the changes his sister and Walt had put into the business. It was no longer a dying independent pharmacy; aisles were full of people shopping. The store looked neat and professional and obviously able to compete with some of the newer drugstore chains opening up outside of town. He scanned a few aisles before he caught sight of his sister’s bright red hair. He made a beeline for the back counter, where Georgie was working as the pharmacist on duty.

  As soon as she saw him, her face split into a wide grin. “Howdy, stranger, to what do I owe this visit?” She looked at him more closely. “You’re not here to get a prescription filled, are you?”

  “Nope. Actually, I came by to show you these,” he said, slapping a small cardboard box onto the counter. “I just picked them up from the printer and I wanted to get your opinion on them first.”

  Georgie gingerly pulled out one of his business cards for his new handyman service. With a little eager squeal, she began reading. Then her face fell.

  She lowered her hand and stared at him. “Is this for real?” she asked, gesturing to the cards.

  “Of course it’s for real.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “You cannot be serious. ‘Don’t get mad, call Brad’?” She lost her shocked composure and laughed out loud.

  Brad snatched his card back. “As a matter of fact, I am. And just what the hell is so wrong with that slogan?”

  She placed her hands on her rounded stomach and laughed even harder. “What’s wrong with it? Let me count the ways. For starters, how about that’s the lamest slogan I’ve ever seen? In fact, it’s so lame that I would purposely not call you if I saw this ad, not even if you were the last handyman on the planet.”

  “Wow, Georgie, thanks so much for the sisterly support. I don’t know what I’d do without it.”

  Using the lapel of her lab coat, Georgie wiped the tears from her eyes. “Being honest is being supportive, dumb-dumb. What kind of sister would I be if I let you hand those out to people we know—more importantly, people I know?”

  “Well, your so-called ‘support’ could have at least been laced with an ounce of tact.”

  Georgie rolled her eyes but let out a resigned sigh. “Oh, fine. I’m sorry—blame the pregnancy hormones. If it’s any consolation, Walt told me I’ve been a little snippy with him and the customers lately, too.”

  Brad glanced down at his business card and read it over again. Hmm…he still thought it looked pretty good. It even had a cartoon picture of a guy standing outside a collapsed house with a hammer in his hand. Genius, if you asked him.

  “Do you really hate the cards?” he asked, looking up.

  “Dear heaven above, hate isn’t even the word!” she exclaimed. “In fact, I would go to the printers and demand my money back right now.”

  Brad scowled. “Uh, remember to use your tact voice next time.”

  “Oh, right. Sorry.” A flush swept over her cheeks and she shrugged. “Well, remember, pregnancy hormones and all that.”

  He shoved the card back into the box and slammed the lid shut. “Yeah, whatever. It’s not like I’m looking to drum up a ton of business with this handyman service anyway. I’m just interested in keeping the work steady enough so that…I don’t know. I stay busy.”

  Yeah, busy would be good. Busy would be great. Busy was exactly what he needed right now. Because work would distract his thoughts of a pretty young widow—a widow whom he had no business thinking about in the first place.

  Georgie’s expression softened. “Brad, you know there are other ways to keep yourself busy.”

  Brad sighed. He knew exactly what his sister meant: dating. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t thought about that, too. Actually, he’d thought about it a lot since seeing Kendall last week. But he didn’t know where to start. He needed a plan—a plan that involved his sister’s help. Heaven help him.

  Brad couldn’t quite meet her gaze, embarrassed that he was actually going to take his sister’s advice for once. “Yeah, well, I’ve been doing some thinking lately, and I’ve come to a conclusion.”

  “What conclusion is that?”

  “I’ve decided to look for a woman.”

  She stared at him blankly. “A woman for what?”

  Brad threw his hands in the air. “Jeez, Georgie, you’re married and pregnant! What do you mean ‘for what’? Do I really have to explain the birds and bees to you?”

  “Oh!” She smacked herself in the forehead and laughed. “Of course! You mean you’re going to date again? I can’t believe it; it’s
been, like, two years. This will be so good for you, Brad, I promise. I’m so happy you want to rejoin the living.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t get too excited,” he said grimly. “I’m not looking to get engaged, just dinner and maybe a movie. If anything, it’ll get you to stop nagging me.” And hopefully help him put Kendall out of his mind once and for all.

  “Dinner and a movie sounds great,” she said with a wide smile. “Now I only wish I could convince Kendall to do the same thing.”

  Damn Georgie and her big mouth! Did she have to bring up Kendall?

  He let out a heavy sigh. He obviously needed to find a woman to help him move on with his life sooner than he thought. Brad licked his lips, hesitating for a moment before broaching the subject with his sister. “Um, look, I remember you came up with some kind of…eligible bachelorette list for me way back when.” Then as casually as he could manage, he asked, “You wouldn’t happen to still have that so-called list, would you?”

  Georgie’s face lit up brighter than the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. “Actually, I happen to have it right here,” she said, whipping out a folded-up piece of paper from her lab coat pocket.

  Brad arched an eyebrow. “You carry that thing around with you?”

  “Well, I never know when I could meet someone to add to the list.”

  He shook his head. And Georgie thought he was a meddling sibling? Now he knew what exactly occupied his sister’s spare time. Here he had hoped that the impending arrival of her first child would be keeping her busy and out of his personal life.

  How wrong he was.

  “Just hand it over,” he said, holding out his palm.

  She was about to do just that but snatched the paper out of his reach at the last second, clutching it to her chest. “Uh-uh. Not so fast,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Are you really going to start dating or are you just saying you’re going to start dating to get me off your back?”

  “Georgie…,” he warned.

  “Okay, okay. Fine, here.” She tossed him the list. “Now I want you to keep in mind that I was very selective about whom I added to that list. I didn’t add just any woman with a pulse.”

  “Good to know.”

  “And just for the record, all these women willingly gave me their phone numbers. Apparently, you’re considered quite the catch in this them parts, pardner,” she said with a grin, pretending to tip a fake cowboy hat.

  Brad ignored the comic cowgirl routine and looked over the list with an incredulous eye. “Good lord, Georgie, there are more than forty women’s names here!”

  She beamed. “You’re welcome.”

  Hell, he thought grimly as he tucked the note in his pocket. If his sister ever wanted to give up pharmaceuticals, she’d do well opening her own dating service. “Don’t pat yourself on the back yet. I’ll reserve the thanks until after I look over this list a little closer.”

  Brad was about to leave when a trail of vanilla and cinnamon wafted through the air. He could identify whose scent that was with a wad of tissues up his nose, which meant he needed to get out of there fast. His insides clenched, but before he could turn away, Kendall appeared at his side, looking better rested and even more beautiful than the last time he’d seen her. Crap. With that kind of thinking he knew he was in trouble. But when Georgie took one look at Kendall, Brad saw the lightbulb go off over his sister’s head.

  That’s when he knew his real trouble was just beginning.

  Georgie’s grin widened. “Hey, Kendall. I’m so glad you stopped by now of all times. Well, well, look who’s here, Brad,” she said pointedly. “Kendall.”

  “Yeah, I’ve got eyes,” Brad ground out between clenched teeth.

  What a mistake he’d made confiding in Georgie. He had told his sister years ago—in a weak and unguarded moment—that he once had minor feelings for Kendall. Something he should have told Kendall himself, but she was engaged at the time and he didn’t want to interfere with her and Jake’s relationship, so he kept silent about it. But now that he mentioned wanting to date again, he had a sneaking suspicion that his sister was trying her hand at matchmaking. He sighed, reining in the embarrassment brewing in his belly over his sister’s interference.

  Kendall chuckled, then looked up at him with lips parted in a dazzling display of perfect white teeth. “Nice to see you again, Brad.”

  “Again?” Georgie asked, her features becoming even more animated at that extra tidbit of information. “Oh? Did you two see each other recently?”

  Brad kept his mouth shut. He preferred to just shoot daggers at his sister with his gaze.

  Unfortunately, Georgie was still alive and well and, worse, didn’t seem to be getting his subtle hint to back off.

  Let it alone, he silently conveyed to her. There was no use in wasting energy where it was of no use. His sister of all people should know Kendall was not in the market for a relationship.

  Kendall brushed her long brown bangs to the side of her forehead and smiled at Georgie. “Yeah, your brother was nice enough to check up on me the other night on his way home from work.”

  Georgie’s eyebrows climbed up her forehead. “Yes, that was kind,” she remarked, shooting him a knowing look.

  Brad’s face grew hot. Good grief. He was going to strangle his sister.

  He cleared his throat instead. “So what brings you by, Kendall?” he asked, changing the subject before Georgie could read any more into his encounter at Kendall’s house.

  “I was dropping off some of my baked goods to a few of the coffeehouses in town. I thought maybe they could sell my muffins. I left some business cards, too.”

  Georgie clucked her tongue. “I still think you’re wasting your time. You have real talent; you should be looking for a nice storefront to rent and open up your own bakery. Don’t you think so, Brad?”

  “Kendall knows what I think.” He turned to her then, giving her a reassuring wink. “I always was a fan of your blueberry pie, so you’d definitely have my support. But you know enough people in town who’d support you in whatever you decide.”

  Kendall bit her lip. “Actually, I haven’t officially made the big announcement yet, but…I have decided to open my own business. I’ve only had a chance to check out a few places to rent so far, though, and nothing is just right or in my price range. So I thought in the meantime I would try to drum up some interest in my baked goods.”

  “Oh, I’m so proud of you, Kendall!” Georgie gushed.

  “There’s that small diner on Atlantic Avenue that just closed because of some kind of tax evasion problem the renters had,” Brad told her. “The owners don’t have it up on the market yet. I was in there a few times to grab coffee. It’s pretty nice, but definitely needs some work inside to get it to where you’d need it to be. I’m sure the owners would like to have a renter before summer. I bet you could get a reasonable rate.”

  Kendall’s brown eyes widened. “Really? I’ll definitely take a look at it. But I’d need to find someone to help me with the repairs, and that’s where things could get costly.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, Brad can help you with that,” Georgie offered.

  He stared at his sister, tongue-tied.

  What the hell was Georgie thinking? The last thing he wanted to do was insinuate himself into Kendall’s life. He wasn’t sure he could handle spending so much time with her—him wanting to be more than friends and her wanting…well, her husband back. It was a recipe for disaster.

  He ran a hand through his hair, his gaze unable to meet hers. “Uh, I don’t know, Kendall. I wouldn’t set your hopes on me. It could be a bigger job than what I can handle.”

  Georgie took out one of his business cards and handed it to Kendall. “Don’t listen to him; he’s being modest. My brother can do anything. He helped Walt put in an absolutely stunning deck in our backyard for free.”

  “Really?” Kendall asked, casting him a sidelong glance. “Well, you wouldn’t be working for free. I’d definitely pay you. Are you su
re you wouldn’t mind the extra work?”

  “I—”

  “Of course he wouldn’t mind,” Georgie said.

  Brad glared at his sister. She smiled back innocently, but he knew that smile well. What kind of crap was she trying to pull?

  Kendall’s gaze bounced between Georgie and Brad, looking hesitant. “Um, only if you’re sure you have the time…”

  Brad leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Actually—”

  “Brad’s got plenty of time,” his sister happily supplied. “Just before you showed up, he was mentioning how busy he wanted to keep himself.”

  Brad scowled. Dammit. He had just said that, but the point of keeping busy was so he wouldn’t think of Kendall. How the hell was that supposed to work if he was helping her?

  Georgie reached out and squeezed Kendall’s hand around his business card. “You should call him.” Then she let out a fake giggle. “Oops, I mean, you should call him if you need any handiwork done, of course.”

  Brad gritted his teeth so hard he thought his jawbone was going to disintegrate. Georgie was going to get an earful the next time they were alone. Thankfully, Kendall seemed oblivious to Georgie’s matchmaking.

  Kendall placed a hand on his arm, diverting his thoughts from the many ways he was planning to get even with his sister. “Thanks, Brad, you’re a real lifesaver.”

  “What are friends for?” Georgie said, folding her arms with a satisfied grin. “Right, Brad?”

  He swallowed, then looked at Kendall again. She was gazing up at him with those big, grateful brown eyes and…that was that. He melted—like the complete lovesick stick of butter that he was. Damn. He was so doomed.

  “Sure, what are friends for?” he repeated.

  Friends. Man, he was really starting to hate that word. His sister probably thought she was being cute—helpful, even. She didn’t know how torn he was over his feelings for Kendall, and his sister clearly was oblivious to Kendall’s residual feelings for Jake. Brad hated to leave her high and dry, so he’d make sure she would have the help she needed before he begged off the project. He’d ask around the station tonight.