The Playboy (Chandler Brothers #2)(37)
Author: Carly Phillips

He moved on top of her, thrusting fast. She was moist and wet, contracting around him, taking him deeper and deeper inside. She wrapped her legs around his waist and suctioned him completely into her. Their skin was slick with sweat, their bodies rocking in unison, not fast and frenzied, but a slower coming together, a meaningful joining of two people who’d bared not just their bodies but their souls.

Rick thought he’d long since understood the distinction between having sex and making love. But as he surged one last time, taking them both over the edge, he finally comprehended that distinction, in a way he’d never experienced before.

Minutes later, the aftershocks still shaking him, his breathing still rough, he settled beneath the covers with Kendall in his arms. A sense of peace and rightness settled over him, along with one of imminent doom.

“I was supposed to take care of you tonight,” she whispered as her eyelids drifted shut.

He forced a laugh. “You did.”

“I’m glad.” Her drowsy voice wrapped around his heart.

He held her in silence and waited until her breaths came in slow, shallow succession before shutting his eyes. He could easily get used to this, but unlike the dream of becoming a cop, this one that involved Kendall was much more futile.

A high-pitched ringing woke Kendall from a deep, luxurious sleep. She didn’t want to be bothered, not when she was cocooned in such delicious warmth, but a hand on her arm was shaking her, giving her no choice but to open her eyes.

“Kendall. It’s the phone in your purse,” Rick said.

She groaned and buried her head in the pillow before rolling over and out of bed. Air-conditioning hit her bare skin and she shivered. She dug through her bag, pulled out her phone, and glanced at the incoming number. She didn’t recognize anything but the Vermont area code. Hannah, she thought and realized the cold air on her naked body was the least of her problems.

She pressed the green button, hoping she hadn’t missed the call. “Hannah? Hannah, are you still there?”

“Of course I’m still here. Vermont’s the other end of the world. I can’t travel far without money or a car.” Her sister’s annoyed voice sounded over the phone lines.

“That’s not what I meant.” Kendall ran a hand through her morning-messy hair. “We need to talk.”

“Yeah we do.”

Kendall narrowed her gaze. Hannah had been avoiding her phone calls for days and now she was suddenly being agreeable? “What’s going on?”

“Like you care.”

Kendall ignored that comment. “I spoke to Mr. Vancouver—”

“He hates me.”

“Apparently you’re giving him good reason.”

Her sister snorted.

“He said you’re on probation.”

“Uh, not anymore.”

Kendall blinked. “You’re off probation? How’d you manage that? Did you apologize or—”

“I left.”

“What do you mean you left?” Kendall shrieked and Rick jumped out of bed, coming up behind her and leading her back so she could sit down on the mattress. “Where are you?

And how are you?” She willed herself not to panic. Yet.

“What do you think I mean? I left. It’s not like they wanted me there anyway. I’m sure I saved him the job of kicking me out.”

“Kicking you out?” Though Mr. Vancouver had intimated such consequences were possible, Kendall had thought for sure he’d sit down with Hannah and her parents, or Hannah and Kendall, and talk first. And she’d never thought her sister would do anything to lead to such drastic consequences.

“Would you quit repeating everything I say? It’s no big deal. This school sucks.”

“Watch your mouth.”

“Don’t tell me what to do. You’re not my mother.”

Kendall cringed at Hannah’s nasty tone. What happened to her sweet sister and what had caused her to run from school? “Look, I happen to be the only adult relative listed on your emergency card at school. That gives me some rights. And the first right I’ve got is to get a straight answer.” To the most important question, Kendall thought. “How are you?”

“Like you care,” Hannah shot back with that snotty tone again.

“I do.”

“Whatever. I’m fine and I’m at the bus station near school. I need a ticket and I need to know where you are. Between Mom, Dad, and you, it’s like having no relatives at all.”

Hannah’s words were like a knife in Kendall’s heart. She’d lived the very life Hannah just described and it hadn’t been fun, nor filled with warm, fuzzy moments. Their parents had chosen boarding school for Hannah as a means of providing more stability than Kendall had had. But could stability replace family, a chiding voice inside Kendall asked.

“Hannah—”

“Don’t get all mushy on me. Just get me out of here, okay?”

Kendall blinked. Her sister’s animosity and hurt obviously ran deep. And Kendall hadn’t even realized it existed. She’d been so caught up in caring for Aunt Crystal and dealing with her own problems, she’d merely assumed Hannah was safe and happy in boarding school. An assumption that would obviously cost her now.

But first, she needed to get Hannah home. As if either of them had a home. Kendall glanced at her watch. It was eightA .M. already. She rubbed at her eyes. “Give me the information about where you are and I’ll call and buy a bus ticket. You have your ID on you?” She gestured to Rick for a pencil and paper.

“Yeah.”

Rick handed her the things she’d asked for. “Thanks,” she mouthed at him. “Go ahead, Hannah.” Kendall scribbled down the Vermont bus terminal name and area code, then asked and got the pay phone number. “I’ll make the arrangements and there’ll be a ticket waiting for you. I’ll meet you on the other end.”

“Whatever.”

Kendall saw past the bravado to the scared girl alone at a bus station, or perhaps Kendall just needed to believe her sister wasn’t as hardened and uncaring as she sounded. After all, she’d been in touch with Hannah lately and she’d sounded fine. But when was the last time you really made time to listen to her, that same accusing voice asked. Not wanting to face the answers or the guilt, Kendall turned her attention to the here and now. “Be careful, Hannah.”

“I’m not going back to that place.” Hannah’s voice cracked and Kendall knew she hadn’t imagined it this time.