Kendall raised a hand to the pink strands. “I wish. Actually it was an impulse.”
“Another one?” Rick asked, devouring Kendall with his gaze.
Raina wanted to clap for joy.
“Last night I panicked. I stood in front of my bathroom mirror and I just . . .” Her eyes seemed to glaze. “Panicked. I couldn’t imagine marrying Brian. I love him as a friend, but I’ve never been tied down to anyone or anything in my life. I saw my reflection and I was afraid I couldn’t go through with the wedding.” Her voice dropped. “But I’d given my word, I’d promised, and he’d been so good to me. I thought maybe if I didn’t look like me, the new me could take on this new life.”
“So you bought pink dye?”
She laughed. “No. I had red dye in the closet at home. Cherry Cola actually, but I’ve got pale blond hair and the color just didn’t take the way I thought it would. Instead of cola-colored red, I got pink.” She shrugged. “There are worse things.”
“I should have known you were really a blonde,” Rick said, his voice deep and husky.
“Because of my impulsive, ditzy behavior today?” Kendall asked, laughing.
“Because he has a thing for blondes,” Raina offered helpfully. “And if you ever want to change back, I could take you into town and introduce you to Luanne and her daughter Pam. They own Luanne’s Locks. The only hair salon in town.”
“You’re supposed to stay off your feet,” Rick said sharply.
Dammit, Raina thought. This fake heart condition would be the death of her yet. She hated putting her boys through the charade, hated the crimp it put in her social life, but it was necessary. She’d concocted the idea after she’d been rushed to Emergency a few months before with a diagnosis no more dire than indigestion. But her boys didn’t know the truth and Raina had used the situation to help her show them the error in their bachelor ways.
She’d allowed them to think she was seriously ill and in return, they’d grouped together to give her her fondest wish. Roman had been the son designated as the one to give her a grandchild. Raina still held out hope he and Charlotte would do just that, though Roman insisted he and his new bride needed time alone before starting a family.
But grandchildren weren’t all Raina desired. She wanted her sons settled, living happily ever after with the woman of their dreams and families of their own. She didn’t want them living lonely lives. She was one-third of the way there. Chase and Rick were next.
“Are you sick?” Kendall asked, concern in her voice. Raina drew a deep breath and covered her heart with one hand. “I had an episode a little while ago.”
“A weak heart,” Rick explained. “She’s got to watch her routine and her diet and that’s just a start.”
“So Norman’s been delivering meals and the boys hired a housekeeper.” While Raina had been keeping a bank account to pay her sons back when this charade was over. She hated their stubborn refusal to let her pay for her own care. And she was growing to dislike their hovering more and more.
But she’d created this situation and she’d see it through. So far, Kendall seemed like her best prospect for daughter-in-law number two.
“You’re lucky to have such devoted sons, Mrs. Chandler.”
“Raina, please, and yes my boys are the best. They’ll make wonderful husbands too. Just ask my first daughter-in-law. She nabbed Roman, the world traveler. Rick’s a little easier since he doesn’t have to be convinced to settle down. But you—”
“Ahem.” Rick cleared his throat loudly. “Mom, I like to romance women on my own, without your help.” Rick squeezed Kendall’s hand and she blushed a shade darker than her hair.
“So you admit to a budding romance?” Raina asked, pleased.
“Just leave the dishes, Mom,” Rick said, ignoring her. But Raina wasn’t deterred. Rick had never brought a woman to their family dinners before and Kendall’s presence spoke louder than anything Rick could have said.
“Cynthia will be here first thing in the morning to clean. Meanwhile, Kendall and I need to get going. I promised I’d help her bomb out a room or two so she could sleep in a clean house tonight.”
“Nonsense. She’ll stay here,” Raina said in the voice that shook her sons’ composure when they were young boys. “That place is a pigsty, not fit for a human being and a couple hours’ worth of cleaning won’t change that. No insult intended, Kendall.”
The young woman shook her head. “None taken. But I can’t impose.”
“You’d never be an imposition.”
“You’re sweet, but I’m used to being on my own.”
“And you young people want your privacy?” Raina guessed, relieved Kendall had turned her down. With a house guest, she’d have killed her prime opportunity to walk the treadmill when her sons weren’t around. When she’d concocted this scheme she should have labeled herself a heart patient, not a patient with a weak heart who had to curtail activity, but she hadn’t been thinking ahead.
Rick rose and Kendall followed. Then he placed a lingering hand on the small of her back. “We’re not going to answer anything private, Mom.” He leaned over and kissed her good night.
Long after Kendall had thanked her and gone off with Rick, Raina’s joy remained, making it difficult to wind down. She hadn’t seen her middle son laugh so freely in ages, not with a woman as the reason, anyway. Not since that Jillian had broken his heart. But that was the past.
Kendall was the future. And though Rick didn’t believe he’d marry again, Raina knew better. Thanks to Kendall and her impulsive nature, Rick would come to believe it too.
* * *
Rick held the car door open for Kendall, then strode around to his side and got in, buckling his seat belt before turning toward her. He held his hand high and she
