The Playboy (Chandler Brothers #2)(78)
Author: Carly Phillips

“Mmm.” Despite the lingering fear she knew she’d spend more time coming to terms with, Kendall felt safe, loved, and wanted for the first time in her life. A feeling she’d pass on to her sister and to kids of her own. Warmth filled her chest and expanded inside her.

“Cool beans!” Hannah’s yell echoed in the hallway. “Jeannie, get in here and see this!

And bring Mrs. Chandler. I mean Raina. Bring Raina. Woo hoo!”

Kendall felt herself blush, the heat rising fast and furious to her cheeks while Rick merely straightened to an upright position and laughed. “Guess I’d better get used to this kind of an interruption, huh?”

“Maybe she’ll learn to knock?” Kendall asked hopefully.

“We’re staying? Are we staying?” Hannah asked, her eyes huge and hopeful.

Kendall grinned. “We’re staying.”

“Where are we gonna live? Can we move to the main house? Pearl said Eldin’s back would do so much better in the guest house but she didn’t want to tell you that with the scandal on your mind,” Hannah rambled on.

Kendall glanced up at Rick, her head spinning.

“We haven’t gotten that far, squirt,” he told Hannah.

“Okay well fine. We can talk about it later. I want my room to be purple. Can you paint whatever room I get purple, Rick?”

Kendall stared in shock at her suddenly exuberant sister. “We’ll discuss the purple room another time. How did you get in here anyway? Didn’t Norman say he didn’t want to see your face around here until next century?”

“Yeah but I charmed him,” Hannah said with a huge amount of sass.

Rick turned toward her sister. “And how’d you do that?”

“I helped him wash a few dishes this morning and he was putty in my hands. Does this mean I can call you Dad? Or Uncle Rick? Or how about Hey Copper?” Hannah giggled, happier than Kendall had seen her. Ever.

“I don’t know what you should call him, but you’d better call me Grandma,” Raina said, coming up behind Hannah. She met Rick’s gaze. “You see? I told you I had grandchildren in my future.” She wrapped her arms around the young girl, squeezed her tight, and kept squeezing.

“I can’t breathe,” Hannah squeaked.

“And she can’t talk either. Keep hugging her, Mom.” Rick chuckled while Hannah shot him an annoyed scowl that quickly turned back to a big smile once Raina released her.

“Does this mean you’ll lay off Chase?” Rick asked. “You’ve got Roman and me settled. I think we should go on over to The Gazette and tell him the truth together.”

“What truth?” Kendall asked, lost and curious.

“I’ll tell you later,” Rick whispered in her ear. “When we’re naked and alone,” he said in an ever softer voice. He nuzzled her cheek as he spoke.

“Eew,” Hannah said, watching them. But the grin didn’t leave her face.

And as Kendall met Rick’s heated gaze, she knew exactly how her sister felt. Giddiness, happiness, disbelief, and a tremendous amount of love settled inside her when she thought about her future. All possible because she’d faced her past.

Kendall had come to town running and ended up finding the life of her dreams and the home and family she’d never had. She’d tamed both her personal demons and the town’s playboy. Not bad, if she did say so herself.