Kendall glanced at her shoulder-length hair in the mirror. “I take it you want me to be your guinea pig?”
Pam grinned. “I’ll be your best friend,” she said in a singsong voice.
The chant was reminiscent of the childhood song Kendall had heard others use, but never about her. The happy lyric brought a lump to her throat and a longing for she wasn’t sure what. Kendall inhaled deeply. “Sure. Why not. Make me look like Meg.” She laughed, striving to shake off the unnerving feeling, the sense of loss that accompanied the knowledge that she’d never had a childhood best friend.
Once given permission, Pam squealed with delight. “You’ve got yourself a friend forever.”
That thought not only cheered Kendall but gave her something special she’d never had. “Back at you, Pam.”
For the next fifteen minutes, Pam chatted away while she worked and when she was through, Kendall had dye covering her entire head and a new friend in this town. But despite Pam’s warm demeanor, no one else in the salon attempted a friendly wave or even a hello. Kendall tried to tell herself it didn’t matter, but in her heart she knew it did.
In the four days she’d been in this town she’d come face-to-face with the things she’d never had in life—close friends and family. And for the first time, the loss hurt.
“Another twenty minutes and we’ll rinse you.” Pam set the timer and placed it on the counter. “Relax for a while, okay?”
Kendall did as she suggested and closed her eyes, ignoring the chatter around her, thinking instead of the best way to approach Pam about setting up her designs for display in the shop. Finally, all noises drifted far away and peace descended on her.
“Hi, honey.”
Without warning, a familiar male voice disturbed her rest. The seductive cologne excited her senses. She opened her eyes to find Rick, hands braced on either side of her chair, leaning over her.
“I love the hairdo.” He grinned.
Ignoring the burning flush Kendall felt certain rose to her cheeks, she shrugged. “You know what they say, the things women do in the name of beauty.”
“You are beautiful, even with that slop on your head. Not many women can say that.”
“Please.” She waved away his obvious exaggeration. “If any modeling agency saw me like this, I’d never have gotten my aunt’s bills paid.”
His sexy lips turned downward in a frown. “Some people don’t know their own worth.”
He stared into her eyes, almost willing her to believe until beneath his compelling gaze, she almost felt beautiful. The compliment warmed her, even as warning bells sounded in her head. “You flatter me, but I have a hunch you’re awfully good at that,” she said in an attempt to distance herself from her rampaging emotions and growing feelings for Rick Chandler.
“I’m good, period.” He grinned, letting her know he was kidding. “Which of my attributes are you talking about, specifically?”
She rolled her eyes. “Your ability to flatter all women, Officer Chandler.”
“As of now, only you.” His hazel eyes danced with delight and he exuded charm even the most jaded female would be hard-pressed to resist.
“I remember.” She licked her dry lips. “So, do you make it a habit of stopping by the hair salon?” She sought to change the subject.
“Only when a certain red car is parked outside.”
“You came to see me?”
He winked, then brushed a kiss over her lips, taking her completely off guard. “Course I did. You’re sitting in gossip central. What better way to get those tongues wagging?”
Her mouth tingled from his touch and the delicious hint of spearmint on his breath, but disappointment settled in her stomach. “Of course. That makes sense.” Play out the charade, Kendall thought. How could she have been stupid enough to forget for even one second?
Now that her attention was properly refocused, she realized silence had once again descended in Luanne’s as the gossips tried in vain to hear their whispered conversation.
“Smile.” He reached out and touched one corner of her mouth, pulling her unwilling lips upward. “We have an audience.”
She forced a grin, then reminded herself she had no reason to be upset or disappointed. They had a bargain. She didn’t want anything real with Rick Chandler any more than he wanted a relationship with her. But those sexual sparks wouldn’t be denied and Kendall’s gut told her they were both headed for trouble.
“Did you meet everyone here?” His hand swept around the shop in a grand gesture.
She shook her head. “As your . . . significant other, by reputation anyway, they didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat. Except for Pam. She’s wonderful.”
“Pam’s a sweetheart. But you’re telling me the rest of these women weren’t friendly?” He frowned. “I never intended for you to suffer because of our agreement.”
His serious expression did nothing to detract from his sex appeal, to Kendall’s unending dismay.
“Hey, everyone,” he called out, turning away from Kendall and toward the room at large.
“Rick . . .” She grabbed for his arm but missed.
“I want you all to meet Kendall Sutton. I know you all loved Crystal and you’ll extend your friendship and sympathies to her niece.”
Kendall noticed Rick didn’t ask anyone to do him a favor, but his meaning was implied. Too bad Kendall didn’t want friendships based on the fact that Rick asked people to be nice to her. Nor did she plan to stay here long enough for it to matter, she reminded herself.
He turned back to Kendall. “Mission accomplished.” He treated her to a flirty wink. “I’ll see you later.” Another kiss, this one thorough and mind-blowing and then he was gone.
But his impact remained. Long after he’d walked out the door, her head still spun and her heart beat furiously inside her chest. She let out a long, slow exhale, trying to regain equilibrium.
“That’s some guy you’ve got yourself.” Pam’s sigh echoed Kendall’s previous one.
She bit the inside of her cheek. “You can say
