The Playboy Read online

  She shook her head and light laughter bubbled from deep inside her. “You aren’t talking literally.”

  “About your house I am. My house I’m not.” On impulse, he reached out and grabbed a strand of her hair and rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger, liking the sensual feel of the strands against his skin. “I’ll help you get your aunt’s place in shape to sell, and you’ll help me get my house in order. My personal house.”

  What more could he say by way of explanation? Be my lover, Kendall? His skin prickled with awareness and his body trembled. In words and fact, all felt right. She felt right. So how could he offer a proposal that sounded so hard and callous?

  “Quit beating around the bush and tell me what you have in mind.”

  Drawing a deep breath, he opted for the unvarnished truth. “I want you to pretend to be my lover. Keep the tongues in town wagging and the women off my doorstep.” His eyes bore into hers. “What do you say?”

  A nervous tick pulled at her mouth. “What I said before. You’re crazy,” she said as her huge eyes stared into his.

  Was it his imagination or did hurt flash in the green depths before she masked the emotion. “Not crazy,” he corrected. “I’m just a man who’s had it with unwanted female attention. I also happen to enjoy your company and this arrangement would benefit us both.” Didn’t her body tell her what his already knew? That they were a perfect fit waiting to be soldered together?

  He shook his head, reminding himself he’d suggested a fake relationship. But his body wasn’t listening as she bit down on those generous lips.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You said you’re short on cash. Can you afford a carpenter?” He grasped for the facts necessary to convince her he had what she needed. He was what she needed. “A painter?” he continued. “Anything else that house needs?”

  Kendall exhaled a whoosh of air. “Probably not.” Definitely not, she thought. Even if she worked on her jewelry in between fixing up the house, she still couldn’t guarantee enough income to pay for the repairs. Rick was offering to do them—for a price. A price she’d paid before with Brian and had ended up in a wedding dress.

  A shiver having nothing to do with the frozen case behind her rippled along her spine. She no longer wanted to rely on anyone to meet her needs or achieve her dreams. Most importantly she didn’t want anyone to stand in the way of her goals. And Rick, with his golden eyes, sexy grin, and charming personality, was much more hazardous to all of those things than Brian had ever been.

  But she couldn’t deny his bargain made sense. His forehead still touched hers, the intimate contact making it difficult for her to sort out and weigh her options. Intentional, she had no doubt.

  “As an added incentive I happen to be good with my hands.”

  How good, she wanted to ask but refrained. Her body had already reacted to his deliberate double entendre and a delicious warmth curled her stomach while a pulsing throb of desire settled lower between her legs. His voice oozed sex and Kendall let herself be seduced.

  She licked her lips for moisture and tried without success to focus on the mundane. “Don’t leave me hanging. Tell me what those hands can do.” Unfortunately every sentence came out sounding needy, much the way she felt at the moment.

  He grinned. “I’ve done odds and ends around my mother’s house on my days off,” he said, more focused than she. “I can handle most anything you need and what I can’t, I can call in a favor, and lucky for you I have liberal shifts. Four tens.”

  “In English, please?”

  He rolled his eyes in a playful gesture she found incredibly endearing. “You lay people are so pathetic. I work four ten-hour shifts a week with three days off. Plenty of time to help you out around the house and give people the right impression at the same time.”

  She clenched and unclenched her damp hands. “And what impression would that be?”

  He stroked a gentle hand down her cheek. “That I can’t stay away from you. That I’ve finally met the woman for me. And that no one else interests me in the least.”

  He spoke so deeply, it could have come from the heart—but it didn’t, Kendall reminded herself. This was but another bargain. He was a man bent on avoiding relationships and marriage. All he was doing now was proving to her he could act the part of her lover.

  She’d have to do the same if she agreed. Coming off a similar agreement with Brian, she knew how intimate she and Rick could potentially become. But Rick wasn’t asking for her future, he just wanted a temporary fix to his problem. Just like she needed a quick fix to hers. Quid pro quo. She barely had money in the bank and this man was offering the solution she desperately needed.

  “Kendall?” He broke the long silence, interrupting her thoughts.

  She could do this. If she locked her heart up tight and reminded herself that she’d be moving on soon, there’d be no chance of becoming attached to this solitary man or this town.

  She could handle his bargain. She met his intense gaze. “Yes,” she told him.

  “Yes you’re paying attention now or yes—”

  “I’ll be your lover,” she said before she could change her mind. “Pretend to be, I—”

  Before she could finish, he brushed a kiss over her lips, taking her off guard. His mouth settled for a brief moment, long enough for the inferno to erupt, for the embers to light and sizzle anew. Then too soon, he broke the kiss, raising his head and meeting her gaze. “Thank you.”

  Her lips tingled. Unexpected warmth wrapped around her heart and it scared her. Still shaken, she deliberately kept things light. “Whether you’re welcome or not remains to be seen.”

  Without warning a loud cry suddenly pierced the air around them. Kendall jerked around to see a woman at the far end of the aisle wheel around and run the other way so quickly, she never saw her face. Kendall didn’t even know if the sound had come from the woman who’d turned and run. She turned back to Rick. “What was that?”

  He rolled his shoulders and shrugged. “Couldn’t tell you.” Some kind of emotion flickered in his eyes but the moment quickly passed. “I think this arrangement will work well for us both.”

  She shrugged, unsure. “I still say you’re insane.” “Nah. I’m just a man who enjoys stirring things up.” Light danced in his gaze. “Now let’s finish up here and get going.”

  “If you say so, but I’m not taking responsibility for whatever happens next.”

  “You rode into town in a wedding dress, honey. No way I’m taking any of the blame.” Something Rick proved minutes later when the proprietor began ringing up Kendall’s purchases.

  “Newlyweds, huh?” The older, balding man hand-punched in the prices. Scanning obviously hadn’t made its way to the General Store just yet. “Moving out of your apartment and into Crystal’s guesthouse?” he asked Rick, but didn’t wait for a reply. “Sorry about your aunt, Ms. Sutton. I mean Mrs. Chandler.”

  Kendall started to choke. “It’s Kendall. Call me Kendall,” she said. “Kendall Sutton.”

  Herb looked up and scowled at them both. “You married one of them feminists?” he asked Rick. “Don’t let her take her own name. Next thing you know she’ll be demanding more rights, like the TV remote. Then a man’s got nothing left, not even his pride.”

  Rick breathed in deeply and, Kendall noticed, smothered a laugh. But he didn’t correct the man.

  “Aren’t you going to say something?” Kendall whispered.

  “It won’t do any good and besides it can’t hurt to keep them speculating, right?”

  “About a relationship, not a marriage.”

  “You’ll learn this town soon enough, but I’ll humor you.” Rick patted her hand. “We’re not married, Herb. And I’d appreciate it if you’d correct the misunderstanding when you hear people talking. Not that it’ll do any good,” Rick said, lowering his voice for Kendall’s ears only.

  Herb swiped a hand over his bald spot. “Now I know I heard Pearl say she saw you carrying this prett
y lady over the threshold in a wedding dress.”

  “Well that’s true . . . ”

  “It’s a long story, Mr. . . .” She realized she didn’t know his last name. “It’s a long story, Herb.”

  “And we’d like to explain it to you but we’re late for dinner at my mother’s.” Rick squeezed Kendall’s hand tighter.

  Kendall tried to process the split-second conversation and realized Rick was playing the part already—spreading the news she was having dinner with his mother, holding her hand in public. Heated warmth emanated from his touch and she swallowed hard.

  Herb laughed. “Raina’s gonna like having a daughter-in-law who actually lives in Yorkshire Falls.”

  “I don’t . . .”

  Rick elbowed Kendall softly, reminding her to go along. She might not be his bride, but from now on, she was definitely his lover—in the eyes of the town, anyway.

  Let the charade begin, she thought and handed Herb her credit card so he could ring the transaction. He glanced at her name on the card, looked back and forth between Rick and Kendall, then muttered something about women and their damn independent streaks, but minutes later finished the purchase and had bagged the items.

  “You see Lisa Burton fly outta here?” Herb asked. “Was that the woman who shrieked earlier?” Kendall wondered.

  “Yep. Dropped her basket and took off, leaving me to clean up the broken eggs and everything.”

  “You never know what will set a woman off, Herb.” Rick grabbed Kendall’s elbow in a gentlemanly gesture. “It was good seeing you.” Rick shook the man’s hand.

  “Likewise.”

  “Nice meeting you,” Kendall said as she helped Rick gather the packages.

  “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around. There’s lots of things an old house needs to make it livable for two and—”

  “Sure is. That’s why we gotta be going now.” Rick cut Herb off and herded Kendall out the door before another round of post-wedding discussion could begin.

  A good thing, since Kendall figured they were probably in for enough questioning from Rick’s matchmaking mother.

  Rick looked like he’d been hit by a meteor, Raina thought, immensely pleased. She hadn’t seen that lovestruck, glazed look in one of her boys’ eyes since . . . well since Roman had seen Charlotte at the Saint Patrick’s Day dance. It must have something to do with all that skin these women bared today. Or maybe it was the navel. Raina noticed that Rick couldn’t tear his gaze from Kendall’s bare stomach and belly button.

  Watching the two young people together enabled Raina to find a measure of peace and happiness. With the return of Crystal’s bright-eyed niece, Raina sensed her friend’s presence. She wondered if Crystal had sent Kendall here to impact everyone’s life in some way. If so, Raina intended to help.

  “So what do you plan on doing with the house?” Raina asked Kendall. “Lord knows Pearl and Eldin would be happy to stay on.”

  The young girl laid down her fork. “Really? That’s wonderful.”

  Raina nodded. “I’m glad you agree, seeing as how they live on a fixed income. The arrangement they had with your aunt was the only one they could afford.”

  “Speaking of their arrangement, I need to find out the details of their rental agreement,” Kendall said.

  “Oh, there is none.” Raina waved a hand in the air. “What do you mean?”

  “In this town, people who’ve known each other for ages still do things with a handshake. Silly I know. But that’s how it is. When your aunt got sick, Pearl and Eldin were able to give up their apartments that cost money and move in as caretakers. To keep up the place in her absence.”

  Kendall choked on a sip of water. “Excuse me. I didn’t realize they don’t pay rent.” She coughed again, then blotted her lips with a paper napkin.

  Rick, Raina noticed, watched the action in earnest.

  “You call what they’ve been doing upkeep?” Kendall asked when she’d recovered.

  “Eldin paints in his spare time, which he has a lot of since he’s on disability,” Rick said. “If you looked carefully, you might have noticed the odd splotches on the walls of the main house.”

  “Touch-ups,” Raina explained.

  “I still don’t believe they didn’t pay Aunt Crystal rent.”

  “Oh, Crystal didn’t see any reason. She owned that house free and clear for years. She knew things were tight for Eldin and Pearl and asked them to move in when she went to the home.” Raina reached over and patted Kendall’s hand. “Your aunt was a good woman.”

  “One of the best,” Kendall said, her voice dropping as the reminder of grief set in.

  She smiled right after, showing inner strength, something Raina admired.

  “But I’ll still need to fix the place up,” Kendall said. “And then I can decide what to do with it—” She cut herself off. She met Rick’s gaze and something unspoken passed between them.

  Oh, Raina remembered those days well. Little looks, glances only a couple in the beginning stages of a relationship understood.

  “I mean I’m—”

  “She’s not sure what to do with the house,” Rick interrupted, finishing Kendall’s sentence.

  “Well, you can’t mean to sell your aunt’s house. It’s your heritage!” Raina didn’t understand all the undercurrents going on, but she couldn’t believe Crystal’s niece would give up her inheritance.

  “It’s none of your business what Kendall does with her property, Mom,” Rick said.

  Kendall sighed. “It’s hard to even think of having a heritage when I spent my life moving from place to place.”

  “Oh, yes. Are your parents still abroad? Crystal used to tell me about their travels.” Raina tapped the table with her fingertips, thinking. Transience wasn’t a helpful trait but perhaps Kendall wasn’t like her wayward parents.

  “They’re archaeologists. Somewhere in Africa now.” “And your sister? How is she?”

  “Hannah’s in boarding school in Vermont. She’s okay. I’ve gotten a call or two leading me to believe she’s a bit of a troublemaker, but she’s always been spirited. I plan to go on up there and have a talk with her myself once things settle here.”

  Raina shook her head. “Sad when a family doesn’t live like a family.”

  “Mother.” Rick reprimanded her with his tone. “Kendall just lost her aunt. She doesn’t need you hassling her. Her life and what she chooses to do with it is none of your business.”

  Protective, Raina thought, and though Rick had that streak by nature, this time she sensed his defense of Kendall had a more personal side. A sense of satisfaction pulled at Raina as she watched her son.

  “Rick, I don’t mind explaining. Most people don’t understand my lifestyle. Truthfully, if I didn’t live it, I probably wouldn’t understand.” She smiled at Raina. “Considering what an obviously warm, loving family you have, I’m sure my family’s life seems strange to you.”

  “Nonsense. Well maybe,” Raina admitted, opting for honesty. People could change, she thought, given the right incentive. “I want you to consider yourself a part of our family. Crystal would want that and so do I.” More than Kendall knew.

  From what Raina had seen so far, Kendall Sutton wasn’t only beautiful, she was warm, compassionate, and intelligent. She also had a mind of her own. And Raina assumed her independence held the most allure for her son who’d been bombarded with more domestic-minded women. Raina had only herself to blame for that, but things had changed now.

  Rick obviously had fallen for Kendall even if he didn’t know it yet. Maybe if shown love and tenderness, Kendall would learn to love the stability she’d missed out on as a child. And who better to teach her the value of family than the Chandlers? Rick especially.

  “That’s so sweet. I don’t know what to say.” Kendall’s eyes held a bright sheen.

  “I do. You’ve been conned. By the best in the business,” Rick said wryly.

  Raina scowled at her son.

  “What b
usiness?” Kendall asked.

  “The marriage business.”

  “Ah, yes.” Kendall leaned forward in her seat and grinned. “I heard all about your matchmaking tendencies, Mrs. Chandler.”

  “And I heard all about your auspicious arrival. Now tell me how you ended up on the side of the road in a wedding gown of all things?”

  “Mother—”

  “It’s a fair question, Rick.” Kendall’s cheeks turned a shiny pink, but she carried on like a trooper. “I was supposed to get married this morning,” she said, embarrassed at admitting she’d been an hour away from saying “I do,” when things had luckily fallen apart. “But we both realized marriage would have been a mistake and my fiancé and I parted ways.”

  Raina had been happily married for almost twenty years before John died. She couldn’t imagine agreeing to marry someone she didn’t love or ending things so abruptly. “To call off a wedding so suddenly. Did he cheat on you?” Raina asked, appalled and affronted on Kendall’s behalf.

  Rick kicked her lightly under the table.

  Kendall shook her head. “No, but we were more good friends than anything else. He’d done me some favors, bailed me out by getting me some modeling jobs to help pay for Aunt Crystal’s nursing home, and I felt I owed him. Things just got carried away from there, but we realized it in time, thank goodness. I was so relieved I didn’t really think. I just walked out, got in the car, and drove.”

  The impulsive act shocked Raina, who’d spent her whole life in the same house doing the expected things in life. “Just like that?”

  “Just like that.”

  Raina blinked, stunned. But since she’d gotten this much information, she might as well get it all. “And the pink hair was for a modeling job?”

  Kendall raised a hand to the pink strands. “I wish. Actually it was an impulse.”