A shiver having nothing to do with the frozen case behind her rippled along her spine. She no longer wanted to rely on anyone to meet her needs or achieve her dreams. Most importantly she didn’t want anyone to stand in the way of her goals. And Rick, with his golden eyes, sexy grin, and charming personality, was much more hazardous to all of those things than Brian had ever been.
But she couldn’t deny his bargain made sense. His forehead still touched hers, the intimate contact making it difficult for her to sort out and weigh her options. Intentional, she had no doubt.
“As an added incentive I happen to be good with my hands.”
How good, she wanted to ask but refrained. Her body had already reacted to his deliberate double entendre and a delicious warmth curled her stomach while a pulsing throb of desire settled lower between her legs. His voice oozed sex and Kendall let herself be seduced.
She licked her lips for moisture and tried without success to focus on the mundane. “Don’t leave me hanging. Tell me what those hands can do.” Unfortunately every sentence came out sounding needy, much the way she felt at the moment.
He grinned. “I’ve done odds and ends around my mother’s house on my days off,” he said, more focused than she. “I can handle most anything you need and what I can’t, I can call in a favor, and lucky for you I have liberal shifts. Four tens.”
“In English, please?”
He rolled his eyes in a playful gesture she found incredibly endearing. “I work four ten-hour shifts a week with three days off. Plenty of time to help you out around the house and give people the right impression at the same time.”
She clenched and unclenched her damp hands. “And what impression would that be?”
He stroked a gentle hand down her cheek. “That I can’t stay away from you. That I’ve finally met the woman for me. And that no one else interests me in the least.”
He spoke so deeply, it could have come from the heart—but it didn’t, Kendall reminded herself. This was but another bargain. He was a man bent on avoiding relationships and marriage. All he was doing now was proving to her he could act the part of her lover.
She’d have to do the same if she agreed. Coming off a similar agreement with Brian, she knew how intimate she and Rick could potentially become. But Rick wasn’t asking for her future, he just wanted a temporary fix to his problem. Just like she needed a quick fix to hers. Quid pro quo. She barely had money in the bank and this man was offering the solution she desperately needed.
“Kendall?” He broke the long silence, interrupting her thoughts.
She could do this. If she locked her heart up tight and reminded herself that she’d be moving on soon, there’d be no chance of becoming attached to this solitary man or this town.
She could handle his bargain. She met his intense gaze. “Yes,” she told him.
“Yes you’re paying attention now or yes—”
“I’ll be your girlfriend,” she said before she could change her mind. “Pretend to be, I—”
Before she could finish, he brushed a kiss over her lips, taking her off guard. His mouth settled for a brief moment, long enough for the inferno to erupt, for the embers to light and sizzle anew. Then too soon, he broke the kiss, raising his head and meeting her gaze. “Thank you.”
Her lips tingled. Unexpected warmth wrapped around her heart and it scared her. Still shaken, she deliberately kept things light. “Whether you’re welcome or not remains to be seen.”
Without warning a loud cry suddenly pierced the air around them. Kendall jerked around to see a woman at the far end of the aisle wheel around and run the other way so quickly, she never saw her face. Kendall didn’t even know if the sound had come from the woman who’d turned and run. She turned back to Rick. “What was that?”
He rolled his shoulders and shrugged. “Couldn’t tell you.” Some kind of emotion flickered in his eyes but the moment quickly passed. “I think this arrangement will work well for us both.”
She shrugged, unsure. “I still say you’re insane.”
“Nah. I’m just a man who enjoys stirring things up.” Light danced in his gaze.
“Now let’s finish up here and get going.”
“If you say so, but I’m not taking responsibility for whatever happens next.”
“You rode into town in a wedding dress, honey. No way I’m taking any of the blame.” Something Rick proved minutes later when the proprietor began ringing up Kendall’s purchases.
“Newlyweds, huh?” The older, balding man hand-punched in the prices. Scanning obviously hadn’t made its way to the General Store just yet. “Moving out of your apartment and into Crystal’s guesthouse?” he asked Rick, but didn’t wait for a reply. “Sorry about your aunt, Ms. Sutton. I mean Mrs. Chandler.”
Kendall started to choke. “It’s Kendall. Call me Kendall,” she said. “Kendall Sutton.”
Herb looked up and scowled at them both. “You married one of them feminists?” he asked Rick. “Don’t let her take her own name. Next thing you know she’ll be demanding more rights, like the TV remote. Then a man’s got nothing left, not even his pride.”
Rick breathed in deeply and, Kendall noticed, smothered a laugh. But he didn’t correct the man. Obviously it was simpler to ignore his old-fashioned thinking.
“Aren’t you going to say something?” Kendall whispered.
“It won’t do any good and besides it can’t hurt to keep them speculating, right?”
“About a relationship, not a marriage.”
“You’ll learn this town soon enough, but I’ll humor you.” Rick patted her hand. “We’re not married, Herb. And I’d appreciate it if you’d correct the misunderstanding when you hear people talking. Not that it’ll do any good,” Rick said, lowering his voice for Kendall’s ears only.
Herb swiped a hand over his bald spot. “Now I know I heard Pearl say she saw you carrying this pretty lady over the threshold in a wedding dress.”
“Well that’s true . . .”
“It’s a long story, Mr. . . .” She realized she didn’t know his last name. “It’s a long story, Herb.”
“And we’d like to explain it to you but we’re late for dinner at my mother’s.” Rick squeezed Kendall’s hand tighter.
Kendall tried to process the split-second conversation and realized Rick was playing the part already—spreading the news she was having dinner with his mother, holding her hand in public. Heated warmth emanated from his touch and she swallowed hard.
Herb laughed. “Raina’s gonna like having a daughter-in-law who actually lives in Yorkshire Falls.”
“I don’t . . .”
Rick elbowed Kendall softly, reminding her to go along. She might not be his bride, but from now on, she was definitely his girlfriend—in the eyes of the town, anyway.
Let the charade begin, she thought and handed Herb her credit card so he could ring the transaction. He glanced at her name on the card, looked back and forth between Rick and Kendall, then muttered something about women and their damn independent streaks, but minutes later finished the purchase and had bagged the items.