He hugged her back, silently thanking God her body was healthy even if he wished her mind wasn’t quite so conniving. Then he stepped back. “So where’s Chase?” Rick assumed Raina had also invited him to dinner with Eric’s family. Roman’s turn would probably come next time he and Charlotte returned from D.C.
“Your brother will be here,” she said without meeting Rick’s gaze.
Rick hadn’t yet told Chase about Raina’s charade. Amazing since he’d chastised Roman for holding out on him, but Chase had been busy on deadline and in meetings and there’d been no time for Rick to break the news. Now he had his mother to deal with again and she was back to exhibiting signs of mischief.
This dinner suddenly reeked of a setup. “So where’s Eric’s family?” Rick asked, wondering if they were even here.
“They’re sitting at the round table right there.” She gestured over her shoulder to the large group of people in the corner. “But I think you should know that when Kendall walked in—”
Rick groaned. His mother had just confirmed his hunch. She’d conned him into coming to Norman’s. Oh, she wanted him to have dinner with Eric’s family, all right, but the idea probably hadn’t come up until she’d walked in and seen Kendall. At heart, his mother was a match-maker extraordinaire.
Kendall. His stomach had plummeted at the mention of her name, a feeling he knew he’d have to deal with for a few more weeks. Or at least until she packed up and left town. He placed a firm hand on his mother’s shoulder, wanting her to back off. He’d given up on Kendall meeting him halfway or any way for that matter. He needed to move on with his life without his mother trying to interfere.
He squeezed her shoulder lightly, wanting to make sure he had her attention. “Where Kendall goes and what she does is her own business. We’re through, she’s leaving town and she doesn’t want me butting into her life. Let’s leave things at that.”
Raina frowned. “Okay, but if you don’t want to make sure Kendall’s confrontation with Lisa doesn’t turn into a catfight in Norman’s back hall, that’s your business.” And with that declaration, she turned and started for the round table where Eric’s family sat.
Rick exhaled a groan. Would he ever not fall into his mother’s trap? She’d baited him and he knew it. But she had a point. If Kendall was in the back hall with Lisa, someone needed to referee. And that someone had better be him.
As he turned the corner in the back, Kendall’s voice traveled loud and clear. “If you ever harass me again, I’ll sue you.”
“For what?” Lisa asked, sounding bored.
“Oh, I’ll start with something simple like intentional infliction of emotional distress and then I’ll move on to filing charges with the police. Harassment would be a nice start. I’m not sure it really matters since Yorkshire Falls is such a small town and the people have long memories.”
Rick didn’t want to risk stepping into plain sight by taking a peek, but he heard the joy in Kendall’s voice as she laid down the law with Lisa, who merely let out a long-suffering sigh.
“I’ve lived here longer, have a sterling reputation, and besides you can’t prove I did anything,” Lisa said in reply.
“Are you so sure? I have a friend at the post office.”
Rick narrowed his gaze.
“And you know how the magazine companies put the name and an address label on the front cover? Anyway, this friend wouldn’t mind ripping off the front cover of your next monthly delivery of Risqué Business. You know, the cover that proves you get a subscription to the same magazine I modeled for?” The glee in Kendall’s voice was clear. “I’m not a lawyer but that should be enough to prove opportunity. Everyone in town knows you have a thing for Rick, so motive’s no problem. Trust me, Lisa. You do not want to mess with me on this. Back off.” She said the last, her voice deepening.
Rick blinked in shock. He’d never heard Kendall take such a strict, don’t-screw-with-me tone, not even with her sister. Pride welled in his chest along with the acknowledgment that something inside Kendall had changed. She’d obviously faced some of the demons instilled since childhood and come out stronger for the experience.
He wished he could draw hope from the thought but Kendall had wanderlust in her veins. Even if fear motivated her running and some of that fear seemed to be gone, he’d been burned too many times to let himself believe she might change her mind and stay. With him.
But he took pleasure in knowing that when she left town, it would be with her head held high. “That’s my girl,” he said under his breath, then realized that she was no such thing, and never would be.
“Once you’re gone you do realize that Rick will forget all about you,” Lisa said, as her parting shot.
Rick took a step forward, instinct compelling him to correct Lisa and protect Kendall. But Kendall replied first, proving she didn’t need him to look out for her. She’d always gotten along fine on her own.
“Let’s get a couple of things straight,” Kendall said. “One, I’m unforgettable, two, I’m not going anywhere, and three, keep your hands off Rick. He’s mine.”
Rick chuckled at the same time Kendall’s words registered, and that elusive thing called hope found its way inside him after all. Kendall’s use of words like not going anywhere and he’s mine provided a jumpstart to his adrenaline and his doubts. Not that he’d take those words of hers at face value.
Turning, he walked into the hall so he could confront Kendall himself. Lisa stormed past him and he let her go. Kendall had said everything that needed to be said—and more. But the question remained, would she say it again, this time to his face, or would she turn and run?
He glanced over. She’d leaned against the back wall and shut her eyes. Rick knew confrontation wasn’t her favorite form of recreation but she’d done well. He was proud of her. He didn’t know if Lisa had pulled her last prank, but at least Kendall had put the other woman on notice. There would be consequences next time.
Kendall breathed deeply, then exhaled. Her breasts rose and fell beneath the lemon-colored tank top she wore. One delicate strap dipped off her shoulder, revealing her smooth skin, and the urge to kiss every inch of her exposed flesh grew strong inside him.
“Easy,” Rick said under his breath. They had a long way to go before he’d indulge in kissing of any kind with this woman who held his heart in her hands. He’d do best starting with the basics. “Congratulations.”
Her eyelids flew open wide. “Rick.” She blinked, obviously startled but not unhappy to see him if the hesitant smile on her face was any indication. “Congratulations about what?”
“You tamed the witch,” he said, speaking of Lisa. A smile tugged at his mouth. “That deserves a round of applause.” He clapped to prove his point as well as to break the tension between them.
“I don’t know if I tamed her.” Kendall laughed, her eyes sparkling. It had only been a few days but God he missed the light in her eyes and her easy laughter. “But I did set her straight.”
He nodded. “So I heard.”
“You were eavesdropping?” she asked, obviously surprised.