Brad reached into his pocket to finger Georgie’s dating list for added support and knew right then and there exactly what he had to do. Tonight, he’d make use of that list and take the first step in finding himself a woman.
Chapter Three
“What do you think?”
Dee took her time glancing around the diner. Her gaze traveled from the water-stained floors to the cracks in the trim, then all the way up to the clouded mirrored walls. She finally turned to Kendall. “Well, I think this should keep you busy for a good long while.”
Kendall looked around the beaten-down dining room herself and her heart gave a little squeeze. Oh, gosh, what had she been thinking? The building was more of a mess than she remembered. Maybe she had rushed into signing the lease for this place.
Her face must have given away her torn thoughts, because Dee immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Breathe, kiddo. In and out. There you go. It’s not really that bad.” Dee looked around again and flinched. “Okay…it is. But Brad will have this place in shape in no time. Plus, if you need anyone to help paint or anything, you can always count on me.”
Kendall blew her bangs out of her eyes and managed a shaky smile. “Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys. I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew right now.”
She looked again and was grateful Dee still held an arm around her, because she felt as if her legs were about to give out. This was such a huge risk, trying to open up a business. Was this really what she had said she wanted? Her mouth dried up and she was starting to get an airy butterfly feeling in the pit of her stomach. If she didn’t do something soon, she was going to wind up a puddle on the floor. She closed her eyes and slowly took in a deep breath through her nose.
“Sweet Mother of Mercy!” a familiar voice cried.
Cold hands suddenly clamped down on her cheeks. Kendall’s eyes sprang open and she was greeted by her grandmother’s horrified expression.
“Are you all right?” Maeve asked, giving Kendall’s head a little shake. “Speak to me, dear!”
To Kendall’s chagrin, Maeve’s frantic shaking actually managed to make her feel better. Kendall pulled back slightly and sent Dee and her grandmother a sheepish smile. “I’m fine. Really. I think I just need some air.” And a life. And about $20,000 worth of repairs done at half the cost.
Grammy’s eyes narrowed. “Have you eaten anything yet today?”
Kendall blinked. Eaten?
She mentally added breakfast to her running list of needs. “Um, well, I had some coffee this morning.”
Maeve gasped, dramatically clutching a hand to her heart.
Maybe she shouldn’t have been so honest. Even Dee seemed to know the mistake Kendall had made and winced. Now she was in for a lecture on taking better care of her health. But her appetite still wasn’t what it had been before Jake passed away, and the nervousness she felt at starting up her own business was really getting to her.
“Coffee is not a meal, nor is it in a major food group,” her grandmother said sternly. “Just what kind of baker are you going to be if you don’t even taste your own product?”
Dee raised a guilty hand. “Um, I think that’s my fault. I’ve got about eight extra pounds on me that say I’ve been doing way too many taste tests.”
Maeve’s lips twitched, but she kept her expression stern. “Shame on you, Kendall. You have to take better care of yourself with all the things that need to be done around here. And Dee, I expect you and Georgie to make sure my granddaughter eats while I’m away in New York.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Dee mumbled, looking as if she desperately wanted a way out from the conversation. Not that Kendall didn’t want to go and hide somewhere too. When Grammy was in rare form—as she obviously was today—she could be pretty darn scary.
“And another thing,” Maeve continued, waving a finger, “I think you both—”
“Oh, wow, look at the time!” Dee exclaimed, pointing to her wrist even though she wasn’t wearing a watch. “I better get back to work or Georgie’s going to have my butt on a plate. Mondays are always extra busy at the pharmacy and she’s going to need the extra tech help, so…I should really be there. Now. Bye, Kendall. Um, so nice seeing you again, Mrs. Lennox.”
“Chicken,” Kendall mouthed, but Dee just shrugged and made a beeline for the door.
As soon as Dee made her quick escape, Maeve’s gaze swept the area of the diner and her already deep frown somehow managed to sag even farther.
“I know it doesn’t look ideal in here,” Kendall rushed to explain, “but I think with a little elbow grease and Brad’s help—”
“Brad?” Maeve interrupted. Her grandmother’s features suddenly softened. “You mean Georgie’s brother?”
“Well, yeah, he’s been really great about helping me. I don’t think I would have been able to lease this place if it wasn’t for him. He’s cutting me a break on repair costs.”
“I always did like that young man,” Maeve said, tapping a red-colored fingernail against her matching lips. “Polite. Very protective of his sister, if I remember correctly. Good-looking fellow too, wouldn’t you say?” she said, shooting her an inquisitive glance.
The question took Kendall off guard for a moment. In all the years she had known Brad, her grandmother had never spoken of him in that way before. “Uh, Brad is… Yes, I guess he is very handsome.”
Of course Brad was handsome! Duh. Not that she happened to notice something like that because she was interested in him. She only noticed because it was one of those far-removed observations any woman with a pair of working eyes could make.
And speaking of eyes…
Brad really did have the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen on a man. They were a lovely shade of cornflower blue surrounded by thick, dark lashes that made them look all the more compelling. A woman could get lost staring into those eyes. And apparently, Brad had left quite a trail of broken hearts back in high school, from what Georgie had mentioned. Kendall’s heart might have become one of them if she’d allowed it. Brad had a way of smiling at her that made her feel as if she were the only woman in the room. But next to her grandmother, Georgie was the closest thing to family Kendall had, and she had come to value Brad in the same way. She’d never jeopardize that relationship over the little crush she’d first had.
Brad had so much more going for him than just looks. He was kind and honorable and protective of those he loved, too; the perfect man for any woman.
Well, any woman but her, that is.
Her grandmother’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “Brad will be working here a lot, I imagine.”
“Yes, on his days off. But he’s a police officer, Grammy. I can’t expect him to be helping me twenty-four-seven. And I’m sure he has other projects he might be working on for his handyman business.”
“Mm-hmm, I do remember he’s an officer—and I approve. It’ll be good for you to spend time with such a nice young man as that.”
“Spend time with— What? Oh, it’s not like that at all. Our relationship is strictly professional. Well, we are friends, but we’re not—”
Maeve’s chuckle had Kendall snapping her mouth shut. What was so amusing?
Her grandmother closed the distance between them and stroked the side of Kendall’s face with her fingers. “Jake would approve, too, and would want you to move on with your life,” she said in a gentle tone.
Kendall stiffened then turned away. “I don’t want to talk about Jake or what he would want right now.” She snuck a glance back at her grandmother’s hurt face and immediately regretted her gruff response. “I’m sorry,” she said with a sigh. “I know what you’re saying and I completely get it. But I’m…I’m just not interested in Brad that way.” Although as soon as she said the words, her stomach clenched and she knew what she had spoken was a lie—or that she needed something to eat. She prayed it was the latter.
It had to be the latter because no matter how att
ractive Brad was, they were only friends. Brad had never given her any clue of having any interest beyond that. Besides, she was done hanging her hopes on any kind of relationship with a man who had a dangerous job. There was no way she would make that mistake again. And Brad deserved to find a stronger woman, someone who could support him in his line of work. And she, well—when she was ready, that is, she needed to find a man who was…safe.
Someone physically fit with no preexisting health conditions would be a plus too.
Her grandmother heaved a disappointed sigh. “If you say so, dear. I just hate seeing my beautiful young granddaughter waste her life.”
Kendall’s eyes widened. “Grammy, how can you say that?” She spread her arms out wide, gesturing around the diner. “Look at what I’ve decided to take on. Does this look like someone who is wasting her life? I’m going to be a small-business owner soon. This is good. Really good. What I’ve always wanted.” One of the things she always wanted, anyway.
She just hoped it was enough.
Kendall carried her laundry basket into the living room. “What do you want to watch tonight, Deucey?” she asked, turning on the TV.
Deuce wagged his tail in response. No big surprise there. This had been their routine as of late; she randomly picked out a mindless television program and Deuce sat on her lap, watching it with her. However, tonight she felt like shaking things up a bit, so she decided to add folding laundry into their weekend repertoire.
Ooh, if only my friends could see how I spend my Friday nights. Then they’d really be impressed.
She sighed as she picked up a pillowcase and began folding. Deuce plopped down by her feet, chewing relentlessly on something. She assumed it was the new bone her grandmother gave him, but when she glanced down, she noticed the bone untouched on the other side of her feet.
Curious, she tilted her head. “Hey, boy, what are you sinking your teeth into now?” she asked, bending down and reaching for whatever he had lodged in his mouth.
Not wanting to give it up, Deuce turned his head and took off for the kitchen. Her worst fear was that it was her new Victoria’s Secret bra, so she ran after him. Her puppy had already ruined two pairs of pantyhose and one of her favorite slippers.
When she caught up with him, Deuce hid under the table, but she was able to snatch some of the material and began pulling it from his jaw. Deuce finally let go and she held up the damp item in victory. But what her puppy had in his mouth wasn’t her bra. It was a simple sock. A man’s sock.
Jake’s sock.
Grief instantly pooled in her heart. She choked back a cry, letting the sock fall from her fingertips.
Of all the stupid things to cry over. She thought she had gotten rid of all of Jake’s things from the house. Perhaps she had overlooked something like that on purpose. It was probably good to have those reminders of her husband every now and again, otherwise she might forget.
And she feared she was already beginning to.
She and Jake hadn’t been together long, but memories were all she had—they were the only things keeping Jake alive in her heart. She couldn’t forget. Otherwise, it’d be like losing him all over again. She’d lost far too many people in her life as it was.
Her dad was the first. He had gotten sick when she was fourteen and passed away suddenly. Her mother couldn’t seem to handle her grief and raising a teenager to boot, and coped with alcohol and tranquilizers. They had taken their toll on her mother’s body a few years later. Then Grammy stepped in to take care of her. But once Kendall graduated, her grandmother was hardly around, always off traveling somewhere. Kendall never quite had a normal family life.
When she finally met Jake, she thought that would change. Maybe that’s why she had rushed into marriage. But she was in love and wanted stability so badly, had such hope of finally creating a lasting family of her own. But then her husband passed away only a few months into their marriage, proving once again that she lost whatever she loved. Well, she didn’t need to tempt fate any more. With that kind of track record, she was completely done with giving her heart away to anyone else.
A knock at the door startled her. Deuce let out a happy bark and ran to the front of the house, Kendall quickly swiping at her eyes and following him. Looking in the hallway mirror, she studied herself and cringed. Oh well. No magic tricks up her sleeve at the moment. Whoever was at the door would have to suck it up and deal with her appearance. It’s not like she was expecting a hot date tonight—or any other night for that matter.
She squinted through the peephole and saw Brad grinning on the other side. He stood so handsome and neatly groomed that she could feel her face flush and perspiration build under her Phillies T-shirt.
Whoa. She stepped back. That kind of reaction to Brad was new. Another knock sounded. She quickly shrugged off her response and did her best to compose herself before opening the door.
Brad took one look at her and his expression went grim. “What happened?” he asked gently, his eyes sweeping over her face with concern. “Are you all right?”
“Nothing,” she said, brushing any remaining wetness from her face and averting her eyes. “I—I’m fine.”
Mercifully, the bulb in one of her porch lights was out and the dim lighting could hide the heat growing in her cheeks. The last thing she wanted to do was show Brad that she had been crying. Especially over a sock! There were people in town—namely Georgie and Dee—who worried enough about her already. If the two of them got wind of how she was acting tonight, she’d be in for something a lot stronger than a day at a spa.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, still unable to meet his penetrating gaze. Deuce began to whimper and scratch at the screen door. She cooed at him lightly and tried to settle him down.
“I wanted to stop by and drop off these flooring samples,” Brad said, watching her with a careful eye. “The earlier you decide what kind you want, the earlier I can put the order in. Who knows how long they’ll take to come. I was going to leave the samples here by the door but since I saw your car in the driveway and the porch lights on”—he glanced up and squinted—“or at least one porch light on, I thought I’d say hi.” He shrugged, giving her a disarming half smile. “So…hi.”
Kendall smiled and stepped out onto the porch. “That was thoughtful.”
“I have my moments.”
“You always did.”
“I can’t believe you’d remember, considering how long it’s been since we’ve hung out.”
She pondered that, surprised how easy it was to slip back into their old friendship. “I guess I have my moments too.”
“I’m glad.” He startled her by reaching out and stroking her cheek. It nearly set her on fire. His touch was whisper-light but that didn’t stop goose bumps from rippling up her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked huskily.
“I…” Gazing into his blue eyes, her mind suddenly floundered. He was ridiculously good-looking in his wind-blown hair, ripped jeans, leather jacket sort of way. An appeal that went deeper than looks alone.
What was wrong with her tonight? She definitely wasn’t okay. Her response to him came so swiftly, she took a step back. Even in the dim light, Brad’s smile managed to kick her pulse up a few extra beats. She had always thought Brad was an attractive man, but never in all the time she had known him had those thoughts gone further than that. But now, this magnetic pull toward him made her want to do things she hadn’t done with a man in a very long time.
Wonderful. She had become a walking stereotype now: lonely widow turned hussy. Poor Brad just wanted to say hi and now she wanted to jump him. It was her grandmother’s fault, asking all those questions about Brad and whether she thought he was handsome or not. She was completely losing it and figured it was in both their best interests not to invite him in. Hopefully he would take the hint that it was a bad time to come by.
“All right then,” he said with a sigh, handing her the sample booklet. “You seem busy, so I’ll leave you to wh
atever you were doing. See ya later.” He then turned on his heel and jogged his way down her steps.
Good. He got the hint and he’s leaving. But as soon as he left her porch, she felt a strange sense of loss and it jerked her to her senses.
What was she doing? Brad was so wonderful to help her with her repairs and then she had to go and shut him out. Hadn’t she just told him the other day that she missed his friendship and he should stop by more? She was such a fool. Brad was her friend—a good friend—and he was more than safe from being jumped by her tonight. After all, she was a grown woman, not a teenager with her first crush. Plus, she could use a friend tonight—a friend who was not of the canine variety, for a change.
“Wait!” she called.
Brad stopped a few feet from his car parked in her driveway. He slowly turned, inhaling a deep breath, almost as if he dreaded hearing what was going to come out of her mouth next. Obviously she had hurt him by not being friendlier when she’d answered the door, but Brad kept a lot of things to himself—including his feelings—and she always respected his privacy.
He folded his arms, tall and straight, reminding her of a towering spruce as he waited for her to continue. A stance like that probably made him a formidable-looking police officer to would-be thugs. But she knew the toughness he portrayed on the outside had nothing to do with what was on the inside, so she had to smile.
Say something, stupid. He’s waiting. “I made pie,” she squeaked.
Not the most eloquent olive branch she’d ever extended, but it was safe. Pie was a neutral, friendly kind of thing to share. No sexual connotations could be inferred from pie. You had champagne and strawberries with a lover, but you sat down and had a nice piece of pie with a friend.
Brad shifted his stance and seemed to consider her offer. “Blueberry pie?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
She swallowed. Goodness, why was she so nervous? She was only offering pie, not a one-night stand. But she was so used to pushing people away, it felt foreign for her to reach out to someone now—even in friendship. “Yeah, I, uh, was wondering if you wanted to come in and have some. You said it was your favorite, and you’ve been so great about agreeing to help me that…I kind of made it with you in mind.”
Kissing Kendall Page 4
