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?”
Kendall stared in shock at her suddenly exuberant sister. “We’ll discuss the purple room another time. How did you get in here anyway? Didn’t Norman say he didn’t want to see your face around here until next century?”
“Yeah but I charmed him,” Hannah said with a huge amount of sass.
Rick turned toward her sister. “And how’d you do that?”
“I helped him wash a few dishes this morning and he was putty in my hands. Does this mean I can call you Dad? Or Uncle Rick? Or how about Hey Copper?” Hannah giggled, happier than Kendall had seen her. Ever.
“I don’t know what you should call him, but you’d better call me Grandma,” Raina said, coming up behind Hannah. She met Rick’s gaze. “You see? I told you I had grandchildren in my future.” She wrapped her arms around the young girl, squeezed her tight, and kept squeezing.
“I can’t breathe,” Hannah squeaked.
“And she can’t talk either. Keep hugging her, Mom.” Rick chuckled while Hannah shot him an annoyed scowl that quickly turned back to a big smile once Raina released her.
“Does this mean you’ll lay off Chase?” Rick asked. “You’ve got Roman and me settled. I think we should go on over to The Gazette and tell him the truth together.”
“What truth?” Kendall asked, lost and curious.
“I’ll tell you later,” Rick whispered in her ear. “When we’re naked and alone,” he said in an even softer voice. He nuzzled her cheek as he spoke.
“Eew,” Hannah said, watching them. But the grin didn’t leave her face.
And as Kendall met Rick’s heated gaze, she knew exactly how her sister felt. Giddiness, happiness, disbelief, and a tremendous amount of love settled inside her when she thought about her future. All possible because she’d faced her past.
Kendall had come to town running and ended up finding the life of her dreams and the home and family she’d never had. She’d tamed both her personal demons and the town’s playboy. Not bad, if she did say so herself.
Next up in The Chandler Brother Series – THE HEARTBREAKER – when Chase Chandler finally falls hard.
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Did you miss THE BACHELOR – Roman Chandler’s story!
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THE HEARTBREAKER
The Chandler Brothers from New York Times Bestselling Author Carly Phillips are back!
He’s a loner who indulges in a one night stand out of town.
She’s a senator’s daughter who never expects to see her indulgence again.
Small town journalist Chase Chandler has waited a long time for the chance at a national story, putting his dreams on hold to help with his younger trouble-making siblings and taking over the family newspaper. His trip to Washington D.C. is business only until he gets a look at the seductive red-head.
Sloane Carlisle isn’t just any woman. She’s a senator’s daughter whose world has been rocked by news that devastates her and she finds solace in Chase’s arms. She was never supposed to see him again except when she heads to the small town of Yorkshire Falls to uncover the truth about her family, she runs headlong into the man she can’t forget and suddenly he’s by her side. All. The. Time.
Because unbeknownst to Sloane, in exchange for an exclusive, all Chase needs to do is keep her safe. He’s watched his siblings fall in love and marry and suddenly the
