The Playboy (Chandler Brothers #2)(54)
Author: Carly Phillips

“Get me out of here before I make a fool of myself.”

“Already happened, sweetheart.” Eric shook his head and laughed. “But your wish is my command. Let’s go before you do get yourself in trouble. Make that more trouble. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her, Rick.”

“I have no doubt you will.” Rick inclined his head, giving his subtle blessing, then watched as the older couple worked their way through the crowd and out the door.

What a night and it wasn’t half over. Kendall still looked busy with her sister, so Rick headed for the soft drinks on the side table in the corner. Pouring himself a cola, he raised his glass and hummed. “Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me. Happy birthday . . .”

“Always sing to yourself?” Kendall came up behind him, snaking her arms around his waist.

Her chest pressed against his back and her warmth seeped inside him, softening his heart yet hardening his body to the point of burning need.

He laughed. “Caught in the act.”

“I loved that story about the fairy godmother.”

“You and everyone else in the room,” he muttered.

“Had for a pack of baseball cards.” She pivoted around so she was facing him, her arms still tight around his waist. “I didn’t know you could be bought, Officer Chandler,” she said in a husky voice.

“Those were the good old days. And it wasn’t the cards, it was the gum.”

“I thought you said you didn’t remember the incident?”

She lifted her brows, causing a wrinkle of skin between them, and his desire to kiss her grew stronger. “I don’t remember. But assuming it’s true and not a figment of my mother’s overactive imagination, I was all of three years old. What do you think held greater appeal, the cards or the gum?”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Good point. And one that tells me you can be bribed.”

“Into felonies now are we?”

She set her lips in a pout that incited his already aroused hunger. “No, actually I’m into you.”

A low growl came from his throat. “Now that I like.”

Kendall forced a smile. She didn’t know how well he’d like it if he realized what was going on in her head. After a night of insight into Rick’s past, she’d discovered how much she didn’t know about him. How much she wanted to know. When she’d told him earlier that she was getting more information out of the show than out of him, she hadn’t been kidding. He hadn’t told her about his birthday. Hadn’t mentioned it at all.

Rick Chandler, an open, lively, talkative man, had kept silent. And she hated it. He knew more about her life than she did about his. Until tonight she hadn’t realized how purposefully he’d acted.

The show had piqued her curiosity about Rick and it was time she found out how much this man was willing to reveal. “So back to bribery. Do you mean to tell me there’s nothing I could offer that would entice you to reveal hidden secrets?”

Despite the party and the crowds, his gaze settled on hers, hot and with complete understanding in the darkened depths. “Oh, I’m sure there’s something you can offer that would make me throw my principles to hell and back.” He never broke eye contact, mesmerizing her, tantalizing her with his heated stare.

“Are you sure you won’t jeopardize your job?”

“Something tells me it’d be worth it. What are you offering in exchange for information?” He leaned closer.

His breath was warm on her cheeks, her body on fire with want and desire. But he still hadn’t promised to talk. Hadn’t said he’d reveal what she wanted to know. His life. His past. His marriage. He’d so obviously perfected the art of keeping his distance while giving the perception of closeness at the same time, she wondered if he knew how to act differently. To open up and risk being hurt.

Did she?

She shivered beneath his gaze, knowing that until now, his distance had been enough.

Probably because distance had been safer for her as well. Still was. So why fight it, she wondered. Why push him for information?

Without warning, the microphone shrieked again and a female voice intruded on the crowded party, and on Rick and Kendall’s hot exchange. “I wanted to wait until Raina left before finishing up the last of Rick’s surprises for the evening.”

“What’s going on?” Kendall turned around for a better look and Rick stiffened beside her.

“Lisa,” he muttered. “Dammit, I’ll be right back.”

“Oh, no. Not without me.” Kendall wanted to hear this exchange firsthand. She followed Rick through the crowd.

Unfortunately, Lisa continued talking. “This Is Your Life, Rick Chandler wouldn’t be complete without a summary of his later years. I notice no one mentioned Jillian Frank.”

Silence descended upon the room. Rick came up beside the other woman. “Give me the microphone and stop embarrassing yourself.”

She lowered the instrument but didn’t release her grasp. “I’m a schoolteacher. Very little embarrasses me.” She then raised the mike and spoke again. “I just wanted to wish Rick a happy anniversary too.”

Kendall sucked in a deep breath. “What?” She hadn’t meant to speak out loud but she was obviously discovering why Rick hadn’t mentioned his birthday to her earlier. The day was too painful. Her heart clenched, twisting with a pain of her own.

Hannah came up to Lisa. “You are so pathetic.”

Kendall knew things could unravel fast from here. Apparently so did Rick because his gaze searched out Roman’s, and seconds later Roman and Charlotte herded a grumbling Hannah away from Lisa.

“We’ll keep her for the night,” Charlotte called over her shoulder as they guided the young girl out the door. Hannah complained until the door closed behind them.

Kendall exhaled a sigh of relief. One problem down. Another to go, she thought, turning back to Lisa. It didn’t escape Kendall’s notice that the rest of the town stood eating and drinking and gaping as if they considered Lisa’s behavior a part of the evening’s entertainment. For them it was.

For Kendall it was an awful revelation and she refused to give Lisa the satisfaction of knowing she’d gotten to her. Not even when Lisa turned back to Kendall.

“You’re probably the only one in town who didn’t know that Rick’s birthday coincides with the day he married his pregnant friend. Not that it matters since she dumped him for the baby’s father. But he never got over it. Never got seriously involved again. So don’t think you’ll be the one to change that—”