The Playboy

by Carly Phillips

  “Well, she may not have had to dig too deeply. Apparently Lisa’s got a kinky fetish not many people know about.”

  “Then how do you know?” Eric asked.

  Raina chuckled. “I overhear things. Rick’s not the only one drawing the same conclusion about Lisa. It seems Mildred in the post office got tipped off immediately since she’s been putting those smutty lingerie catalogues in Lisa’s mail for years. Those are Mildred’s words, you understand.”

  “I certainly do. You’re searching for information to redeem yourself with Rick.” He shook his head, clucking his tongue at the same time. “Raina, Raina. When are you going to take my advice and get more involved in your own life than in your sons’?”

  She sighed. “Not this again. You know good and well I read to kids at the hospital children’s ward once a week, I exercise when I’m not in fear of being caught, and I see you whenever you aren’t working. My life’s very full and rewarding.” Very rewarding indeed, she thought, staring into his dark eyes.

  “Is it now? Then how about making it even richer?” He reached over to the lamp table beside the sofa and picked up a small box she hadn’t noticed earlier.

  Coming up on sixty in a few years, she’d been around and Raina had a hunch she knew exactly what kind of jewelry sat in that box. As her pulse rate tripled, she thanked God she didn’t really have a heart condition or she’d find herself prostrate on the floor right now. As he held out the box, she accepted it with shaking hands.

  “It’s different when the surprise is on you, isn’t it?” he murmured.

  She met his amused gaze. “I’m not sure what to say.” “That’s a first,” he said wryly. “Then don’t speak. Just open it.”

  The smooth material glided against her skin as she lifted the box top and revealed a round sapphire blue ring that sparkled in a traditional platinum-looking setting. “It’s . . . it’s spectacular.” She blinked back tears, knowing she didn’t deserve anything so beautiful or precious.

  “I thought since this is the second time for us both we could dispense with the expected and go with the more personal touch. The sapphire reminds me of your blue eyes,” he said, his voice suddenly gruff and husky. Unexpectedly he dropped to his knees. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  The beauty of both the ring and the gesture took her off guard and emotion swelled inside her chest making it difficult to breathe or talk.

  “You’re silent.” Eric waited a beat, then took her hand, anxiety obvious in his eyes. “Can I take that as a stunned yes?”

  Somehow, she managed a shaky nod. “Yes. Yes.” Before she could act on her feelings and throw her arms around him in a hug, the doorbell rang, interrupting the moment.

  He sat back on his heels. “Timing,” he muttered. “That must be my kids.”

  “We can’t tell them just yet.” She held the box reverently in her hands, staring at the ring that represented the start of a whole new life. A happy life as a couple, the wife of a man she loved.

  “Not until we tell our children together. We could plan a dinner, perhaps.”

  Warmth suffused her at the notion. “Oh, a family dinner. I could cook and have everyone over . . .” After Chase found out about her perfect health. “But I need some time. Until Rick and Chase get themselves settled first. Please, Eric. I need my boys happy before I can completely be the same.”

  The doorbell rang once more.

  “Hang on,” Eric called. “We’ll be right there.”

  He glanced at her and narrowed his gaze. “I’ll tell you what? I’ll wait until Rick and Kendall have gotten themselves settled one way or another. Good or bad. And then, regardless, we’re announcing this.”

  She’d known she’d have to bargain him down and was grateful he understood her need to wait at all. But he also understood the compulsion to assure herself her boys weren’t depriving themselves of the best things in life.

  Grandchildren, she assumed, would come soon after. She hoped. She treated him to a beaming smile. “I love you for accepting me.”

  He brushed a soft, endearing kiss over her lips and her stomach fluttered with a combination of newness and familiarity at the same time, then sat back and smiled. “Accepting is the least I can do since you’ll become familiar with my faults in good time.” He laughed, his smile wide and pleased. “Besides, I do love you, Raina.”

  She sighed, her heart full with more happiness than any one person had a right to in this lifetime. And she’d found it twice. “I love you too. Now let your daughter and her family off the front porch.”

  He rose from his knees, grimacing.

  “Don’t worry, darling. I’ll keep you young.”

  He chuckled, then snatched the velvet box out of her hands. “And I’ll keep this until you’re ready to divulge our little secret.” He slipped it into his pocket. “Added incentive for you to up the time frame.” He winked and strode for the door.

  “I don’t even know if it fits,” she thought aloud and allowed herself a moment to pout. But she knew she’d given him no choice. Having seen the ring and the love in Eric’s eyes, she wanted so badly to wear it and let the world know she was fortunate enough to have this man love her.

  A tremor of awareness rippled through her along with an idea. He wanted her to up the time frame and she would. By pushing Rick and Kendall in the right direction.

  Kendall ripped the real estate broker’s card in shreds and let the tiny pieces cascade into the trash. She wasn’t moving, wasn’t leaving Yorkshire Falls, wasn’t going to run. Arizona would just be running away and her future was here. For the first time in her life she was facing her fears and reaching for her unspoken dreams. And though the idea scared her to death, she’d never been more sure of any decision.

  Her cell phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. First thing to cement her status as a resident, she’d get herself a permanent phone line and a real telephone, she decided as she flipped open her tiny cell phone. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Kendall. It’s Raina. I don’t have long to talk, so just listen.”

  Kendall chuckled. She loved Rick’s mother and her unobtrusive way of handling things. “Is everything okay?” Kendall asked.

  “It’s not like me to meddle,” Raina said, then quickly retracted. “Okay, it is like me to meddle, so forgive me for doing it again. Even if you’re leaving town, I have some information I think you’ll want to hear.”

  Kendall drew a deep breath. “Raina, I’m not selling Aunt Crystal’s house.”

  Only Rick didn’t know that yet and neither did her sister. She hadn’t seen Hannah, who’d opted to sleep at Jeannie’s instead of being in Kendall’s company. And she hadn’t yet faced Rick. She had no way of knowing how badly she’d hurt him. She’d taken a man who’d been betrayed, one who’d reached out to her anyway, and trampled on his heart.

  Kendall shook her head. She didn’t deserve his forgiveness or his love, though she desired both. But even if Rick rejected her, Yorkshire Falls was her home and had been since Aunt Crystal had taken her in. Too bad she’d taken so long to acknowledge the truth. She might have saved everyone a lot of grief.

  “Kendall, did you hear me? I said it’s wonderful news that you aren’t selling! Your aunt would be so pleased,” Raina said, her exuberance and honest emotion traveling through the phone lines.

  “Thank you.” Kendall exhaled, grateful for the older woman’s warmth and compassion. “But can you please let me be the one to tell Rick?”

  “Of course. And now that I know, my information seems more important than ever.”

  Raina’s words piqued Kendall’s interest, as the older woman no doubt intended. “What do you know, Raina?”

  “I know who switched the photos at the slide show the other night. Who set you up. Hang on. I’m in the hallway at Norman’s and I don’t want anyone to overhear.”

  As Raina paused, Kendall’s anticipation grew. Now that she planned to build a life for herself, beginning with the decision t
o remain here, she had decisions to make about how to move forward. Confronting the person who so obviously wanted to run her out of town would be a tremendous start. Then she’d face Rick.

  “It was Lisa,” Raina whispered.

  Kendall shook her head. Rick had hinted at the same thing but Kendall still had a hard time imagining a school-teacher resorting to such extremes over any man. Then again, it would make more sense and give Kendall more comfort if it was Lisa, someone who didn’t hide her contempt, than someone in the shadows with no reason to hate her. Lisa’s jealousy had been apparent from the start.

  “That seems absurd though,” Kendall said, voicing her uncertainty to Raina. “I’m not doubting you mean well, but I can’t confront someone without proof.”

  “Well, how’s this for evidence? Mildred down at the post office has been putting—how can I say it delicately? She’s been putting eclectic lingerie catalogues in Lisa’s box for years.”

  Kendall inhaled deeply. “Did Mildred mention any one in particular?”

  Raina laughed. “I knew you’d ask me that, so of course I questioned Mildred further. It seems Lisa gets everything from Victoria’s Secret to Feminine and Flirty to Risqué Business. Any of those ring a bell?”

  “Yes.” The photo at the show had come straight from Risqué Business. Kendall cleared her throat, acceptance settling in. At least the enemy had a face and a reason. “Thanks, Raina. You’re so sweet to tell me about this.”

  The other woman sighed. “Well, I wasn’t sure whether you’d be better off not knowing but when I walked into Norman’s and saw Lisa acting all haughty, like she was so perfect . . . well, I decided she didn’t deserve to get away with it. And I’m embarrassed that I encouraged her to go after my son at all. I needed to make amends. Now I have to go join Eric’s family.”

  “Thanks again, Raina.”

  “You’re welcome, Kendall. You know your aunt was like family to me. So are you. Bye, bye.”

  Seconds later the connection severed, Kendall lowered the phone from her ear. She glanced down and realized she was shaking, not in fear but in anger. Anger at herself and at Lisa.

  Kendall had caused the rift with Rick on her own. She couldn’t blame anyone else. Lisa Burton couldn’t have come between them if Kendall hadn’t been running scared and she had a hunch that if Lisa hadn’t plastered Kendall’s half-naked body on a screen for the town to see, Kendall would have found another excuse to run. That had been her M.O., after all. But no more, Kendall thought, proud of herself at last.

  Still, Lisa ought to be held responsible for her actions and she’d had no right to sabotage the town’s annual slide show any more than she had the right to publicly humiliate or harass Kendall in the name of jealousy. Kendall might not have current rights over Rick Chandler’s body but he’d made himself clear to Lisa. She had none either. And she never would.

  If Kendall was going to stay in town, it was time she asserted herself as a person with rights, feelings, and personal goals—one of which included Rick Chandler.

  Which meant she had to tell Lisa Burton to back off.

  Rick walked into Norman’s. When his mother called him at the station a few minutes ago and asked him to come and join her and Eric’s family after work, he couldn’t refuse despite the fact that he was still damned angry she’d faked a heart condition.

  But knowing she had his best interest at heart, no matter her warped way of showing it, he wasn’t about to turn around and hurt her in return. She was his mother and he loved her.

  No sooner had he stepped inside the restaurant and met up with his mother than she grabbed him in a huge hug, her gratitude and relief evident. “I’m so glad you came. Thank you.”

  He hugged her back, silently thanking God her body was healthy even if he wished her mind wasn’t quite so conniving. Then he stepped back. “So where’s Chase?” Rick assumed Raina had also invited him to dinner with Eric’s family. Roman’s turn would probably come next time he and Charlotte returned from D.C.

  “Your brother will be here,” she said without meeting Rick’s gaze.

  Rick hadn’t yet told Chase about Raina’s charade. Amazing since he’d chastized Roman for holding out on him, but Chase had been busy on deadline and in meetings and there’d been no time for Rick to break the news. Now he had his mother to deal with again and she was back to exhibiting signs of mischief.

  This dinner suddenly reeked of a setup. “So where’s Eric’s family?” Rick asked, wondering if they were even here.

  “They’re sitting at the round table right there.” She gestured over her shoulder to the large group of people in the corner. “But I think you should know that when Kendall walked in—”

  Rick groaned. His mother had just confirmed his hunch. She’d conned him into coming to Norman’s. Oh, she wanted him to have dinner with Eric’s family, all right, but the idea probably hadn’t come up until she’d walked in and seen Kendall. At heart, his mother was a match-maker extraordinaire.

  Kendall. His stomach had plummeted at the mention of her name, a feeling he knew he’d have to deal with for a few more weeks. Or at least until she packed up and left town. He placed a firm hand on his mother’s shoulder, wanting her to back off. He’d given up on Kendall meeting him halfway or any way for that matter. He needed to move on with his life without his mother trying to interfere.

  He squeezed her shoulder lightly, wanting to make sure he had her attention. “Where Kendall goes and what she does is her own business. We’re through, she’s leaving town and she doesn’t want me butting into her life. Let’s leave things at that.”

  Raina frowned. “Okay, but if you don’t want to make sure Kendall’s confrontation with Lisa doesn’t turn into a catfight in Norman’s back hall, that’s your business.” And with that declaration, she turned and started for the round table where Eric’s family sat.

  Rick exhaled a groan. Would he ever not fall into his mother’s trap? She’d baited him and he knew it. But she had a point. If Kendall was in the back hall with Lisa, someone needed to referee. And that someone had better be him.

  As he turned the corner in the back, Kendall’s voice traveled loud and clear. “If you ever harass me again, I’ll sue you.”

  “For what?” Lisa asked, sounding bored.

  “Oh, I’ll start with something simple like intentional infliction of emotional distress and then I’ll move on to filing charges with the police. Harassment would be a nice start. I’m not sure it really matters since Yorkshire Falls is such a small town and the people have long memories.”

  Rick didn’t want to risk stepping into plain sight by taking a peek, but he heard the joy in Kendall’s voice as she laid down the law with Lisa, who merely let out a long-suffering sigh.

  “I’ve lived here longer, have a sterling reputation, and besides you can’t prove I did anything,” Lisa said in reply.

  “Are you so sure? I have a friend at the post office.” Rick narrowed his gaze.

  “And you know how the magazine companies put the name and an address label on the front cover? Anyway, this friend wouldn’t mind ripping off the front cover of your next monthly delivery of Risqué Business. You know, the cover that proves you get a subscription to the same magazine I modeled for?” The glee in Kendall’s voice was clear. “I’m not a lawyer but that should be enough to prove opportunity. Everyone in town knows you have a thing for Rick, so motive’s no problem. Trust me, Lisa. You do not want to mess with me on this. Back off.” She said the last, her voice deepening.

  Rick blinked in shock. He’d never heard Kendall take such a strict, don’t-screw-with-me tone, not even with her sister. Pride welled in his chest along with the acknowledgment that something inside Kendall had changed. She’d obviously faced some of the demons instilled since childhood and come out stronger for the experience.

  He wished he could draw hope from the thought but Kendall had wanderlust in her veins. Even if fear motivated her running and some of that fear seemed to be gone, he�
��d been burned too many times to let himself believe she might change her mind and stay. With him.

  But he took pleasure in knowing that when she left town, it would be with her head held high. “That’s my girl,” he said under his breath, then realized that she was no such thing, and never would be.

  “Once you’re gone you do realize that Rick will forget all about you,” Lisa said, as her parting shot.

  Rick took a step forward, instinct compelling him to correct Lisa and protect Kendall. But Kendall replied first, proving she didn’t need him to look out for her. She’d always gotten along fine on her own.

  “Let’s get a couple of things straight,” Kendall said. “One, I’m unforgettable, two, I’m not going anywhere, and three, keep your hands off Rick. He’s mine.”

  Rick chuckled at the same time Kendall’s words registered, and that elusive ray of hope found its way inside him after all. Kendall’s use of words like not going anywhere and he’s mine provided a jumpstart to his adrenaline and his doubts. Not that he’d take those words of hers at face value.

  Turning, he walked into the hall so he could confront Kendall himself. Lisa stormed past him and he let her go. Kendall had said everything that needed to be said— and more. But the question remained, would she say it again, this time to his face, or would she turn and run?

  He glanced over. She’d leaned against the back wall and shut her eyes. Rick knew confrontation wasn’t her favorite form of recreation but she’d done well. He was proud of her. He didn’t know if Lisa had pulled her last prank, but at least Kendall had put the other woman on notice. There would be consequences next time.

  Kendall breathed deeply, then exhaled. Her breasts rose and fell beneath the lemon-colored tank top she wore. One delicate strap dipped off her shoulder, revealing her smooth skin, and the urge to kiss every inch of her exposed flesh grew strong inside him.