“Listening in a public place.”
She rolled her eyes. “Same difference. So . . . how much did you hear?” she asked as she bit down on her glossed lips.
He wanted to take a nibble too. “How much do you want me to know?” he asked instead.
She sighed, shifting from foot to foot, her discomfort obvious. “Rick, I don’t want to get into a game of twenty questions.”
“Neither do I.” He also didn’t want to stand here pining for a woman who’d just reject him again. “So how about you just answer my question. Tell me whatever it is you want me to know.” He stepped closer, taking the biggest risk of his life. But if he’d heard her correctly, she’d finally taken a risk too. If not, this was Rick Chandler’s last stand. “Talk to me.”
Kendall stared at Rick, taking in his beloved face, serious expression, and gorgeous mouth. Now that he stood before her, she didn’t know what to say so she opted for the truth. “I’m scared,” she admitted.
He reached out a hand and stroked her cheek. His roughened skin sent awareness shimmering throughout her body, reminding her not just of their physical connection but the emotional one as well. Obviously their bond remained despite her attempts to shut him out and the relief sweeping through her veins eased her mind a little bit. This was Rick and she could tell him anything.
As she looked into his eyes, she realized how much hinged on her reply. Though she feared he’d reject her, ironically she also feared he’d accept her. The life she’d always wanted and feared at the same time hung just within reach and she wouldn’t be human if she didn’t admit to being petrified.
Drawing a deep breath, she took a huge leap of faith, hoping Rick would be there to catch her. “I’m not leaving Yorkshire Falls after all.”
“Really.” He raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
An adorable smile tipped the corner of his mouth and Kendall knew he’d heard her entire conversation with Lisa. But he still deserved to be told firsthand and in a much different tone and manner than she’d taken with the witch, as Rick had aptly called Lisa.
“I . . .” Kendall paused and cleared her throat, nerves nearly paralyzing her. What if he turned away? What if he didn’t?
As if sensing her distress, he reached forward and clasped her hand in his, squeezing tight. For courage. For comfort. “Go on.”
She forced a smile that became easier and more real as she spoke. “I decided to stop running.”
“Because?”
He squeezed her hand harder and she appreciated his show of support, gaining hope. “I don’t know why. One minute I was looking at that blown-up photo and convinced myself the time had come to leave. That you and your family deserved better.”
“Did any of us tell you we wanted better?” He growled and a fierce scowl replaced his smile. Clearly he wasn’t pleased.
“Well no.” No one had planted the idea in her mind.
“But you figured you’d make the decision for us. Thank you very much.” He shook his head.
“It was an excuse for me to run.”
“It was an excuse for you to run,” he said at the same time.
She laughed, the lump in her throat disappearing. “You know me so well.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all along.” His voice grew somber, serious, and even more sexy if such a thing was possible.
“I wish I could promise you this would be easy.” She gestured back and forth between them. “That I’d have no trouble adjusting.”
“If I wanted easy I’d be with Lisa.” He grinned, slapping his thigh and laughing hard at his own joke.
“Very funny.”
“I thought so,” he said, then shrugged. “Seriously, sweetheart, all I want is you, in one place. With me. The rest will come naturally, I promise. A few bumps in the road maybe, but every married couple deals with those sooner or later.”
“Married?” She stepped back in surprise and hit the wall behind her.
He followed, leaving no room for retreat. “We can do this one of two ways. Slow and easy or fast and hard.” He braced one hand on the wall over her shoulder. “I don’t want to push you into more than you’re ready for but I do have to lay my cards and intentions on the table so there’s no mistake.”
She nodded. She wanted that too. Honesty, up front, no mistakes, no surprises. No retreat.
“I want to marry you.” He stroked her cheek with his other hand. “I want to spend the rest of my natural life with you. I want to help you raise your hellion sister along with a couple of kids of our own. And I want to do it here, in Yorkshire Falls.” He tipped his head close, his forehead touching hers, his breath warm against her cheek.
She inhaled deeply and felt as if she’d come home. “I want those things too.” Her voice cracked and a tear dripped down her cheek. “But what if I panic? I’ve never lived in one place for very long, never looked to the future. The first sign of a problem and my instinct is to run—to reject a person or a place before they can reject me. I realize that now. What if—”
“Shh.” He placed a finger over her lips. “There are no what ifs. Not now that you understand why you’ve been running. If that panic comes over you, I’ll know it. Or you will and you’ll come to me because that’s what people who love each other do. And I’ll talk you through it,” he said, then sealed his mouth over hers, promise and love evident in the broad sweep of his tongue and the possessive way he took command of her senses.
He knew her, he understood her, and he accepted her in spite of it all. She brought her hands upward, cradling his face between her palms, giving herself better, deeper access to the moist warmth of his mouth before finally pulling back. “I never thought I’d find home,” she whispered.
“It’s right here, sweetheart.” His lips hovered over hers. “With me.”
“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.
“Freaking awesome!” 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?”