But he was taking a risk. If he’d overestimated Kendall and her ability to give her heart, he was setting himself up for heartache. And this pain, he sensed, would be far worse than any Jillian had inflicted. A smart man would back off as she’d suggested. A risk-taker would stay the course.
Rick Chandler had never run from a challenge, but this time he’d damn well make sure he looked out not just for the woman in his life, but for himself too.
* * *
After a restless, sleepless night, Kendall awoke and headed for the kitchen where she found her sister, wide awake, showered and dressed. That is, if anyone could call Hannah’s short shorts and midriff-baring top dressed. Kendall was about to ask who’d wear such an outfit when she recalled her own choice of clothing the first day she’d hit town, after she’d changed out of her wedding dress.
It seems Rick had pegged Hannah well. Her sister was more like Kendall than even she’d realized, from the outrageous hair coloring and clothes to the more serious, internal emotional needs. Hannah’s outrageous dress and acting out was a means of self-protection. She was running from her feelings, not facing herself. And Kendall knew why. After all, she understood all too well what it felt like to be an unwanted child, and despite her parents’ attempts to provide more stability, Hannah was obviously suffering the same anxieties.
Kendall sighed. Understanding Hannah would go a long way toward allowing Kendall to get closer to her baby sister. Reaching out would do more. “Morning, Hannah.”
Her sister spun around, carton of orange juice in hand and telltale mustache on her face.
“The glasses are in this cupboard.” Kendall opened one of the tall cabinets she’d cleaned the other day. “They aren’t a matched set, but they’ll do. I cleaned them myself so you don’t have to worry about catching anything.” She laughed.
Hannah merely shrugged, then accepted the glass. “You’re up early. I figured you’d sleep in after last night.”
“Do we have to talk about that now?” Hannah asked.
“I thought I was talking about being up early, not last night. Although we are going to have to lay down some ground rules about living together.”
A car horn honked loudly. “That’s my ride.” Hannah set down the glass she hadn’t yet used.
Kendall blinked. “Your ride? You don’t know anyone in this town yet.”
Hannah met her gaze, staring at her through heavily made-up eyes. Kendall narrowed her stare. Was that liner black or dark lavender? Hard to tell, it was caked on so thick. So was her foundation. Thanks to her modeling days, Kendall knew a thing or two about makeup and maybe after she broke through Hannah’s emotional walls, she could chisel through some of that face makeup too.
“Who could possibly be picking you up?” Kendall asked.
“Rick. He said we have a date.” Hannah pivoted fast and walked out, slamming the door shut behind her.
“She’s testing me,” Kendall muttered. “I know she’s testing me.” A quick glance outside told Kendall that Rick was indeed waiting for Hannah. Score one for her sister, not that Kendall was the least bit concerned. Whatever Rick had planned, he must have forgotten to mention it last night. Since there was no one she trusted more than Rick, she wasn’t going to run after Hannah and give her any satisfaction now.
Kendall rubbed her hands over her eyes, then reached to grab a bowl from the cabinet.
“Kendall?” Rick’s voice called to her from the entry-way.
“In the kitchen.” She turned to find him walking into the small room and he wasn’t alone.
Hannah walked ahead of him as he prodded her forward the entire time.
“What’s going on?” Kendall asked.
“Someone was supposed to tell you I’d pick both of you up this morning. And someone neglected to mention it,” he said.
“And could that someone be you?” Kendall asked Rick very sweetly and laughed.
“Depends on your perspective. When I got home last night I realized I’d forgotten to tell you that I’d pick both you and Hannah up this morning. But since I trusted her to relay the message, I figured I wouldn’t call and possibly wake both of you up.”
The young girl rolled her eyes. “So I forgot. Big deal.”
“Pick us up for what?” Kendall asked.
“I told Hannah I’d take her over to the DARE program car wash so she could meet some kids her age and I figured you could pick up your car at the same time.” Rick shot Hannah an annoyed glance.
“I said I forgot. So sue me.”
Kendall folded her arms across her chest, as annoyed as Rick at the games Hannah chose to play. “You forgot. But you didn’t forget to tell me you and Rick had a date this morning, now did you?”
Rick opened his mouth to speak but when Kendall winked at him from behind Hannah, he quickly shut it again.
“Selective memory?” she asked her sister, not holding back the sarcasm.
“You’re goading me, Hannah, and I want to know why.”
“You don’t want me here. The only reason you’re putting up with me in the first place is because I have nowhere else to go. Otherwise you wouldn’t think twice about me.”
Hannah’s comments merely cemented Kendall’s earlier impression of her sister as a lonely, abandoned child. Guilt resurfaced, compounded by the notion that Kendall should have thought more about Hannah’s life and feelings than she had before.
But Hannah’s pain didn’t excuse her rudeness and Kendall drew a calming breath before answering. “Tell you what. You two go to the car wash. Introduce Hannah to some kids. I’ll shower and get myself together. Tonight we’ll talk and I’ll set the record straight. Got it?” she asked.
Hannah turned away, as if she meant to ignore her. “Talk to the hand,” she muttered.
“How long’s the car wash?” Kendall asked Rick through gritted teeth.
“All day. Izzy and Norman are providing lunch for the kids.”
“Great! I think Hannah could benefit from some good old-fashioned work. I’ll see both of you at Norman’s at five.”
“I can’t wash cars all day!” Hannah cried, spinning around and giving Kendall the opportunity to talk to her face-to-face. “I mean, my nails will break and I’ll get dishpan hands.”
“Better you washing cars than me washing out that sarcastic, obnoxious, forgetful mouth,” Kendall snapped back. “That’s ground rule number one. You treat me with respect and I’ll do the same. See you at dinner.” Taking her cue from Hannah, Kendall turned and walked out, her only concession to politeness the fact that she didn’t slam a door behind her.
Kendall walked to the school to pick up her car. Then she planned to head home, load the trunk, and meet with Charlotte at her store. But first she decided to snoop. Without bothering Rick or Hannah, she watched their interaction; Hannah hung out with the kids whom she’d obviously clicked with and Rick acted the part of the parental guide he probably didn’t realize he’d become.
For a man who claimed to not want marriage or kids, he’d make one hell of a father. The thought brought a lump to her throat. Upon viewing his stern caring with her sister last night, Kendall had developed an even greater respect for him as a man. Seeing him now with the teenagers and realizing how well liked he was in his community, how could she not fall a little bit in love with him?