She lifted her head suddenly, her eyes bright, her lips moist and damp from his kiss. “We need to talk.”
Though he’d thought the same thing minutes earlier, now he was hard and aching, wanting nothing more than to slip inside her moist heat and claim her as his own. Not that he’d act on their hunger here. When he made love to her, there would be no phones, no people, no distractions.
Right now, despite the glazed desire in her eyes, concern furrowed her eyebrows and Kendall looked distracted. And that wasn’t the emotion he wanted her feeling. “What’s wrong?”
“I think we should clear the air.” She licked her already moist lips. “You know. Set parameters.”
“Okay.” He’d dragged her back here for the same reasons.
“I’m leaving when the house is ready to go on the market.”
“I know that.” It was the source of his churning gut. Rick had been in a relationship where he’d been caught off guard by a wife who’d left him for another man. Since then he’d kept his distance from women, telling himself that way he wouldn’t get hurt again. But now, seeing his overwhelming reaction to Kendall, he realized he hadn’t had to work hard at keeping other women at a distance. None had affected him this strongly before.
And damned if she didn’t have one foot out the door before their relationship ever really began. Well at least this time he could say he was forewarned. He should be grateful Kendall chose to be honest with him now, before he fell hard for an impossible dream. But knowing how easily she drew him in, he’d realized he’d have to work harder at building those walls and keeping her out of his heart.
Starting now. He forced a casual shrug. “I’m not into long-term relationships anyway,” he told her. And his stomach cramped harder. Not a good sign.
At his words, emotion flickered in her gaze. Good, Rick thought. Maybe she was more affected than she wanted him to believe. At least then they’d be on even footing.
“So we’re in agreement. A short-term affair.” She bit down on her lower lip.
Another sign of vulnerability, he thought. This conversation wasn’t easy for her either and he sensed she was forcing the issue.
For both their sakes, he’d go along. “What else could we have? I’m the town playboy,” he said lightly.
She flinched at the term and he took a perverse pleasure in the fact that his exaggerated status bothered her. Still he didn’t want to drive her away, but bring her closer, taking what he could get while he could get it.
If she was going to leave as promised, he wanted all the time he could squeeze into her visit and intended to tell her so. He stroked a hand down her soft cheek. “But while you’re here I’m all yours.”
Her shoulders relaxed, her body easing closer to his. Awareness shimmered between them. Her lips beckoned and he lowered his head for another deep drugging kiss but before his mouth touched hers, a loud banging noise sounded from outside the door.
Kendall jumped back, knocking her head against the air dryer on the wall. “Ouch.”
He reached out, running a hand over her newly cut, shaggy hair. “You okay?”
She nodded. “One second,” she called out to the person on the other side of the door. Then she turned to Rick with wide, inquiring eyes. “What now?”
“Do you mean what do I want? Or is that a rhetorical question?” His heart pounded hard in his chest and his body told him not only what he desired but what he needed. Rick was the master of glib answers but right now, only the unvarnished truth would do. “I want to take you home.” Her home, his home, he didn’t care as long as the place had a bed. He held out his hand.
Kendall placed her palm in his. “I’m hoping that’s an invitation.” A smile tilted her luscious lips.
“A very private, personal invitation,” he said in a deliberate drawl.
Her cheeks heated to a flushed pink. He grabbed for the doorknob. Once outside, he planned to orchestrate a quick thank you and good-bye, then make their way to the street. They never passed the hall. The minute he stepped out of the bathroom, they were ambushed.
“Rick!” His sister-in-law Charlotte grabbed him in a huge embrace.
“Well, this is a surprise,” he said into her hair, since he couldn’t untangle himself from her bear hug. “I thought you were in D.C.”
“We were.” Roman’s voice sounded from behind Charlotte.
Rick’s brother and sister-in-law commuted between Yorkshire Falls where Charlotte owned her business and Washington, D.C., where Roman had a job as an Op-Ed columnist for The Washington Post.
Charlotte released her hold, mostly because Roman pried her arms free, then glared at her husband. Rick would have laughed at his brother’s proprietary actions as he had in the past, but having dealt with his own reaction to Chase and Kendall, Rick understood his little brother better now.
“We heard there was a lot going on at home and we came as soon as we could.” Charlotte grinned.
“Raina summoned you,” Rick guessed.
“No, she just said she thought we’d like to come meet your new lady friend. Her words,” Roman said. “I assume this is her?”
Rick glanced at Kendall in time to see her head ping-ponging, attempting to follow the three-way conversation.
Before he could begin the introductions, Kendall interrupted. “I’m her.” She shook her head. “I mean I’m she. I’m Kendall Sutton.”
Roman grinned. “Nice to meet you.” He extended a hand and Kendall shook it.
“Likewise,” Kendall said.
Charlotte took her turn next. “Did you know Roman kissed me for the first time in this hall? Remember?” Charlotte turned to her husband and devoured him with her eyes, making Rick, Kendall, and anyone within viewing distance feel disposable and irrelevant.
There was a time when Rick would have
