The Playboy

by Carly Phillips

  “Thank you for doing this for me,” she whispered. “Don’t thank me,” he said in a voice too gruff for his liking. He’d do anything for her but she wasn’t ready to hear it. Besides, by agreeing to his suggestion, she’d given him something too. He now had the rest of the summer with both Kendall and her sister.

  But he was taking a risk. If he’d overestimated Kendall and her ability to give her heart, he was setting himself up for heartache. And this pain, he sensed, would be far worse than any Jillian had inflicted. A smart man would back off as she’d suggested. A risk-taker would stay the course.

  Rick Chandler had never run from a challenge, but this time he’d damn well make sure he looked out not just for the woman in his life, but for himself too.

  After a restless, sleepless night, Kendall awoke and headed for the kitchen where she found her sister, wide awake, showered and dressed. That is, if anyone could call Hannah’s short shorts and midriff-baring top dressed. Kendall was about to ask who’d wear such an outfit when she recalled her own choice of clothing the first day she’d hit town, after she’d changed out of her wedding dress.

  It seems Rick had pegged Hannah well. Her sister was more like Kendall than even she’d realized, from the outrageous hair coloring and clothes to the more serious, internal emotional needs. Hannah’s outrageous dress and acting out was a means of self-protection. She was running from her feelings, not facing herself. And Kendall knew why. After all, she understood all too well what it felt like to be an unwanted child, and despite her parents’ attempts to provide more stability, Hannah was obviously suffering the same anxieties.

  Kendall sighed. Understanding Hannah would go a long way toward allowing Kendall to get closer to her baby sister. Reaching out would do more. “Morning, Hannah.”

  Her sister spun around, carton of orange juice in hand and telltale mustache on her face.

  “The glasses are in this cupboard.” Kendall opened one of the tall cabinets she’d cleaned the other day. “They aren’t a matched set, but they’ll do. I cleaned them myself so you don’t have to worry about catching anything.” She laughed.

  Hannah merely shrugged, then accepted the glass. “You’re up early. I figured you’d sleep in after last night.”

  “Do we have to talk about that now?” Hannah asked. “I thought I was talking about being up early, not last night. Although we are going to have to lay down some ground rules about living together.”

  A car horn honked loudly. “That’s my ride.” Hannah set down the glass she hadn’t yet used.

  Kendall blinked. “Your ride? You don’t know anyone in this town yet.”

  Hannah met her gaze, staring at her through heavily made-up eyes. Kendall narrowed her stare. Was that liner black or dark lavender? Hard to tell, it was caked on so thick. So was her foundation. Thanks to her modeling days, Kendall knew a thing or two about makeup and maybe after she broke through Hannah’s emotional walls, she could chisel through some of that face makeup too.

  “Who could possibly be picking you up?” Kendall asked.

  “Rick. He said we have a date.” Hannah pivoted fast and walked out, slamming the door shut behind her.

  “She’s testing me,” Kendall muttered. “I know she’s testing me.” A quick glance outside told Kendall that Rick was indeed waiting for Hannah. Score one for her sister, not that Kendall was the least bit concerned. Whatever Rick had planned, he must have forgotten to mention it last night. Since there was no one she trusted more than Rick, she wasn’t going to run after Hannah and give her any satisfaction now.

  Kendall rubbed her hands over her eyes, then reached to grab a bowl from the cabinet.

  “Kendall?” Rick’s voice called to her from the entry-way.

  “In the kitchen.” She turned to find him walking into the small room and he wasn’t alone.

  Hannah walked ahead of him as he prodded her forward the entire time.

  “What’s going on?” Kendall asked.

  “Someone was supposed to tell you I’d pick both of you up this morning. And someone neglected to mention it,” he said.

  “And could that someone be you?” Kendall asked Rick very sweetly and laughed.

  “Depends on your perspective. When I got home last night I realized I’d forgotten to tell you that I’d pick both you and Hannah up this morning. But since I trusted her to relay the message, I figured I wouldn’t call and possibly wake both of you up.”

  The young girl rolled her eyes. “So I forgot. Big deal.” “Pick us up for what?” Kendall asked.

  “I told Hannah I’d take her over to the DARE program car wash so she could meet some kids her age and I figured you could pick up your car at the same time.” Rick shot Hannah an annoyed glance.

  “I said I forgot. So sue me.”

  Kendall folded her arms across her chest, as annoyed as Rick at the games Hannah chose to play. “You forgot. But you didn’t forget to tell me you and Rick had a date this morning, now did you?”

  Rick opened his mouth to speak but when Kendall winked at him from behind Hannah, he quickly shut it again.

  “Selective memory?” she asked her sister, not holding back the sarcasm. “You’re goading me, Hannah, and I want to know why.”

  “You don’t want me here. The only reason you’re putting up with me in the first place is because I have nowhere else to go. Otherwise you wouldn’t think twice about me.”

  Hannah’s comments merely cemented Kendall’s earlier impression of her sister as a lonely, abandoned child. Guilt resurfaced, compounded by the notion that Kendall should have thought more about Hannah’s life and feelings than she had before.

  But Hannah’s pain didn’t excuse her rudeness and Kendall drew a calming breath before answering. “Tell you what. You two go to the car wash. Introduce Hannah to some kids. I’ll shower and get myself together. Tonight we’ll talk and I’ll set the record straight. Got it?” she asked.

  Hannah turned away, as if she meant to ignore her. “Talk to the hand,” she muttered.

  “How long’s the car wash?” Kendall asked Rick through gritted teeth.

  “All day. Izzy and Norman are providing lunch for the kids.”

  “Great! I think Hannah could benefit from some good old-fashioned work. I’ll see both of you at Norman’s at five.”

  “I can’t wash cars all day!” Hannah cried, spinning around and giving Kendall the opportunity to talk to her face-to-face. “I mean, my nails will break and I’ll get dishpan hands.”

  “Better you washing cars than me washing out that sarcastic, obnoxious, forgetful mouth,” Kendall snapped back. “That’s ground rule number one. You treat me with respect and I’ll do the same. See you at dinner.” Taking her cue from Hannah, Kendall turned and walked out, her only concession to politeness the fact that she didn’t slam a door behind her.

  Kendall walked to the school to pick up her car. Then she planned to head home, load the trunk, and meet with Charlotte at her store. But first she decided to snoop. Without bothering Rick or Hannah, she watched their interaction; Hannah hung out with the kids whom she’d obviously clicked with and Rick acted the part of the parental guide he probably didn’t realize he’d become.

  For a man who claimed to not want marriage or kids, he’d make one hell of a father. The thought brought a lump to her throat. Upon viewing his stern caring with her sister last night, Kendall had developed an even greater respect for him as a man. Seeing him now with the teenagers and realizing how well liked he was in his community, how could she not fall a little bit in love with him?

  She wrapped her hands around her bare forearms and shivered. So many unanswered problems and questions, she thought. She didn’t know what to do for her sister, didn’t know why Hannah had decided to focus her anger on Kendall and not their parents. She didn’t even know how to go about finding the right school or getting her sister to go back once she had. And mostly Kendall didn’t know what her feelings for Rick meant, for herself or the solitary future she’d
always envisioned.

  She’d always been impulsive, hence the constant movement. Being able to pick up and go from place to place on a whim gave Kendall an odd sense of security. No one and nothing could ever trap her. If things got too suffocating, she moved on. And though she’d never made a huge success for herself, perhaps because she’d never stayed in one place long enough, she had managed to get by financially, occasionally taking sales jobs in crafts stores where she could learn by reading, watching, and listening. She planned to do the same in Sedona while learning new aspects of her craft. But Arizona wasn’t the draw it had once been. She didn’t think of the place with nearly the longing she once had.

  Because now she had obligations. For a woman who’d never put down roots, she now had plenty of ties to this small town. She owned a house and was responsible for the occupants who didn’t pay rent but whom she feared displacing. She had a small business ready to begin in Charlotte’s Attic and the possibility of working further with Rick’s sister-in-law in D.C. She had an emotionally needy sister who had nowhere to go and no one to rely on but Kendall. And she had a relationship with a special guy.

  One who played the role of bachelor but who’d spoken of her staying beyond the summer and withdrawn when she’d balked at the idea. He’d obviously been hurt badly by one woman who’d left him and knowing Kendall planned to do the same, he’d reerected the walls he’d built on day one. She hated the barriers between them as much as she understood the need.

  And she didn’t know what she was going to do. About anything. Frustration and fear filled her until she squeezed her hands into tight fists, fighting back tears. Then she drew a deep breath. She might not have a plan, but she was an independent fighter. She’d figure this out. Somehow.

  She squinted into the sunlight as one of the kids sprayed a healthy dose of water on Officer Rick, as she’d noticed he was called. He dumped a bucket of water in retaliation and the shouts of glee echoed in the air. Hannah was in the middle of the fray and Kendall couldn’t help but smile.

  For all the problems surrounding her, for now, while she was in Yorkshire Falls, life was better than it had been in a long while. Better than it had ever been.

  And the thought scared the living daylights out of her.

  Hours later, Kendall sat in Charlotte’s Attic, feeling as if she’d been friends with Charlotte and her manager, Beth Hansen, forever. The women were open and outgoing and their discussions included girl stuff and resulted in the kind of female bonding Kendall had missed out on as a teen.

  She was catching up big time now. She knew more details about Roman and Charlotte, and Beth and her boyfriend Thomas, than she’d imagined being privy to.

  Having a hunch she’d be next up, Kendall deliberately kept the subject on Beth. “So how long have you and Thomas been dating?” Kendall asked.

  “About four months now,” Charlotte answered for Beth. “Anyone want more lunch?” She pointed to the large Greek salad the women had brought in from Norman’s next door. A salad Kendall and Beth devoured and Charlotte picked at.

  Because Kendall had arrived right around lunchtime, they’d insisted she join them and hadn’t taken no for an answer. Now an hour later, though they hadn’t gotten to business, Kendall was glad to have been included in their female bonding.

  “None for me. I’ve had enough,” Beth said.

  “Same here.” Kendall rose and started gathering up the paper plates.

  Charlotte picked up the soda cans and a water bottle. “You don’t need to do that.”

  “Sure I do.” Since they wouldn’t let her pay, the least she could do was help clean.

  Charlotte shrugged. “I suppose if you’re going to end up with Rick, then you’d better get used to cleaning.”

  “I’m not—”

  “You should see the messes Roman used to leave,” Charlotte said as she walked toward the back room with the garbage in her hand.

  Kendall followed, tossing out the plates and plastic forks.

  “Until you trained him better, right?” Beth laughed. “Is Rick at least marginally better at keeping a place clean, Kendall?”

  Recalling his neat apartment, Kendall nodded. “Must be the disciplined cop in him.”

  “Either that or he had Wanda in to clean.” Charlotte laughed. “I hooked him up with my housekeeper when he took over my lease.”

  “And he needs it. Rick’s not exactly the neatest person around,” Beth said.

  “And Beth would know. She and Rick have been friends for a long time.” Charlotte walked side by side with Kendall as they returned to where Beth was wiping down the small table where they’d eaten. “Right, Beth?” Charlotte asked.

  “Right. Unlike those other ridiculous women who throw themselves at him, I know a good friend when I see one. Not long ago I was getting over a broken engagement and Rick gave me a shoulder to lean on.” Beth met Kendall’s gaze and held it, convincing Kendall of her sincerity.

  With both her words and her actions, Beth epitomized what was good in Yorkshire Falls and she’d made Kendall feel like she was an honest friend, not someone out to provoke her jealousy. “Rick’s good at the shoulder bit. His initials should have been S.O.S.” Kendall laughed.

  “There was a time that protective streak of his got him in trouble,” Beth said.

  Charlotte shrugged. “Jillian was an idiot.”

  “Right,” Beth said. “She never should have married Rick in the first place. No good could come of it. She knew Rick always had a thing for her and— Oops. Sorry, Kendall.” Beth blushed. “Sometimes I talk too much.”

  Kendall shook her head, too fascinated by the information. “No, that’s okay. Insight into a man’s good.”

  “But it wasn’t meant to make you feel bad or worry. Jillian’s so far in Rick’s past it isn’t funny.”

  Kendall hoped so. Because just hearing that he’d had feelings for his ex-wife was like a sharp knife gutting at Kendall’s insides. But she didn’t intend to share that information with her female cohorts. “You really don’t need to convince me of anything. Rick and I have an arrangement—” As the words came out of her mouth, they felt bitter on her tongue.

  Not just because she owed Rick and needed to uphold her end of their bargain but because she’d begun to feel proprietary about him despite her words to the contrary. Uh-oh.

  Charlotte burst out laughing, startling her.

  “What’s so funny?” Kendall asked.

  “I’m not sure if it’s your expression or your insistence that there’s nothing serious between yourself and Rick. But whatever you say, okay. Let’s talk business.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Relieved to be off the subject of Rick, Kendall pulled out a travel case she used to show her designs and opened it on the table. “This is my wire jewelry. In my experience it appeals to a variety of women. What’s your minimum age demographic?”

  “Early twenties,” Beth said. “Some mothers bring their younger daughters in, but most take them to Kmart or the mall in Albany.”

  “Want to change that?” Kendall asked. “When I was in New York I didn’t have the connections to get my jewelry into the trendy boutiques but I was able to sell on campus at some of the colleges and the students loved the matched sets. Take a look.”

  She pulled out a tray of thin choker necklaces made of glass beads imported from West Africa, along with matching dangling earrings. “These sold well.”

  “They’re different,” Beth murmured, approval in her voice.

  “What are these?” Charlotte pointed to a black silk string hanging out from beneath the drawer.

  Kendall lifted the drawer. “This is something new I’m trying. Knotted silk string necklaces.”

  “I adore them.” Charlotte studied the pieces in question. “And yes I think the kids will love them.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh, and I know the perfect place to debut them. There’s a sidewalk sale this weekend. I’ll check with Chase and see if he can alter the ad we took in The Gazette. Add
information about Kendall’s jewelry. What’s your business’s name?”

  “Kendall’s Krafts.”

  Charlotte grinned. “Love the alliteration. And I’m sure we can make this work for us both!”

  Charlotte’s voice rose in anticipation, creating an excitement that even Kendall couldn’t quite squelch. “You should know, I can’t afford much but I’m more than willing to contribute to the cost of the ad.” Kendall couldn’t afford her offer but she considered it an investment in her future.

  Charlotte waved a hand in the air. “Nonsense. First off, he doesn’t act it but Chase is a real softie when it comes to family. And I know both Raina and Chase consider you family. Because of Crystal,” she rushed to clarify. But her grin told Kendall she was also thinking of Rick. “Don’t tell anyone though. It’s one of the perks us Chandlers get.”

  Us Chandlers. Kendall shivered at the notion, liking being included in that moniker way too much.

  “Okay, so on to commission,” Charlotte said, unaware of the turmoil her words caused inside Kendall.

  Kendall took a minute to think. When it came to setting a percentage for commission, she always factored in the cost of her goods, labor and overhead, along with the pricing of other competitors in the market. In this case, she seemed to be the only one in the small town offering her kind of wares which was a huge benefit.

  She grabbed a sheet of paper, planning to write down a fair price she fully expected Charlotte to haggle downward, but one which Kendall could still live with. Instead, Charlotte scribbled a number first and passed the paper across the table.

  Kendall glanced down. The amount Charlotte offered was a higher amount than what Kendall had had in mind. She crinkled her nose, wanting to argue. She had no doubt Charlotte’s generosity stemmed in most part from Kendall’s relationship with Rick, something she didn’t want to take advantage of. But much as she hated to admit it, she wasn’t in the financial position to argue herself down—not when Charlotte’s offer was more than fair to them both.