The Playboy (Chandler Brothers #2)(33)
Author: Carly Phillips

“How’d you get in?”

She laughed. “Ever the cop. Forget, I’m glad to see you, Kendall and go right for the interrogation. But to put your overworked mind at ease, I spoke to Chase and when I explained what I had in mind, he confessed to having an emergency key. He let me in and here I am.” She spread her arms wide, gesturing around the apartment.

For the first time, Rick noticed the pizza box on the counter and the delicious Italian aroma that surrounded him. She’d obviously gone to a lot of trouble on his behalf and the knowledge helped to lift his lingering weariness.

He stepped forward and leaned an elbow on the counter so they were face-to-face. “Did I mention I’m glad to see you?”

She shook her head with a smile showing off her dimples.

“Well, I am.” He’d inched closer and as he spoke, he moved his mouth over hers, tasting the fruity wine and tasting her. But unfortunately, his stomach chose that moment to growl loud and clear.

She laughed and moved back, breaking the physical connection. “I take it you’re hungry?” A naughty grin tipped her lips.

“Hell yes. I’m hungry.” For more than just food, though he knew he’d have to eat first if he wanted the stamina to devour later.

“I brought you pepperoni pizza.”

He raised an eyebrow, surprised. “My favorite. I take it that’s what you had to discuss with Chase?”

“Among other things.” She served him a cheesy slice of pizza, then walked to the kitchen and returned with a bottle of his favorite beer, popped the top, handing him the bottle.

“To . . .” She paused.

“Us.”

“Tonight,” she said at the same time he spoke.

“To us tonight.” He grinned and clinked their glasses together.

She pushed a plate toward him and patted the stool beside hers. “Come eat. You must be running on empty by now.”

Her concern warmed him in places long forgotten, reminding him of dreams he thought he’d given up on, of having someone to come home to at night, and maybe even a family of his own one day. Dreams Kendall had already told him she wouldn’t, couldn’t make come true.

Yet this skittish woman brought those very hopes back to life anyway. It was that skittishness he had to nurture and he had to admit her presence here now was a good sign.

“So what have you been doing with yourself during the day?” Keeping things light seemed to be his renewed mantra with Kendall.

“I had a business breakfast with Charlotte.” She took another sip of wine.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

She blushed, red staining her cheeks. “I already did. A full plate of Pearl’s brownies, but that’s another story,” she said, laughing.

“And one I want to hear. But first, what did you accomplish with Charlotte?” he asked, then took a welcome bite of pizza.

“She’s going to take my jewelry in to sell.” Pride and pleasure tinged her voice. “On consignment.”

“That’s amazing! So we’re celebrating tonight too.” Her work was obviously important to her, for reasons Rick sensed went beyond her financial needs.

Kendall nodded. “I guess we are celebrating but I hadn’t thought of it that way. I wanted tonight to be about you.”

Gratitude flowed through him. “Well, indulge my curiosity. That’s the same as catering to me. So tell me about your jewelry.”

She frowned at his obvious attempt to put a wrench in her plans. “I’d rather hear about what you do.”

He laughed. “Okay, I’ll humor you. Me first.”

She glanced down and realized he’d finished one slice and she put a second on his plate.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “My day was typical. The usual paperwork, patrol, questioning, and some training at the high school.”

“What kind of training?”

“DARE training for the teachers. Drug Abuse Resistance Education.” He explained the acronyms she’d heard but never knew exactly what they stood far. “I’m the DARE

officer at the school.”

“Mmm. Lucky kids getting to learn under you. Something tells me a good-looking guy like you definitely holds at least female interest,” she said jokingly.

“Kendall,” he said, warning her. Though he joked about many things, DARE wasn’t one of them.

“I’m serious. It’s so important to keep kids aware. I hope they’re doing half as good a job at my sister’s boarding school as I’m sure you’re doing. And with teenage girls’ minds turning toward the opposite sex, if you do hold their interest, who cares if the reason is your looks? They’ll listen to you and you’ve accomplished a huge goal for those kids, their parents, and for society.”

She spoke passionately about a subject close to his heart and her words dispelled his earlier misgivings. Rick could have kicked himself for thinking she’d belittle something so important. He knew her better. That she could relate to him on this level proved something his gut already knew. They were good for one another in many ways.

“What about the guys in the program?” she asked. “How do you keep their interest?”

“It’s not as easy. But based on your description, getting the girls’ attention has to help.

They want to be where the action is.” He laughed, amazed her perspective made enough sense that he now planned to use it in the future.

“So what was today’s meeting about?”

“Since it’s summer we’re working on teacher training for September.”

“Did it go well?” She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands.

“As well as it could with Lisa Burton there,” he muttered.

“Lisa.” Kendall said the name with obvious dislike.

“You’ve met her?” Rick asked, wary. Who knows what the jealous teacher had done or said to Kendall, Rick’s supposed girlfriend. He caught himself, realizing that Kendall was no longer his pretend anything.

She was real. Incredibly, beautifully real.

Kendall sighed. “I didn’t meet her exactly. She was one of the women at the hair salon who pretty much snubbed me. Not that I care.”

He could read the lie in her eyes. She’d been hurt and he couldn’t believe how badly he wanted to not just protect her but take away any slight or pain. “Lisa’s not worth worrying about. Just a jealous woman who doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.”