Page 79 of The Playboy (Chandler Brothers 2)
“Something funny?” his mother asked.
“Not a thing,” he said wryly. He’d just have to enjoy Kendall’s company before her duties as a parent resumed later on. Duties she’d obviously taken to with more ease than either of them had anticipated.
Though she and Hannah had rough patches, Kendall had an innate understanding of her sister’s needs. She had the ability to give the young girl a special life, if only she’d step back, realize and accept it. She’d make a great sister. She’d make an amazing mom. The thought stopped him cold, like a shot upside the head.
He glanced to his side where Kendall and Raina were in deep discussion about what movie the girls could stream tonight. From his mother’s wide smile, she approved of Kendall, of that Rick was certain. Although he’d never in his life let his mother’s input dictate his choice in a date or relationship, it eased his mind knowing that he’d made her happy and hadn’t added to her stress or weak heart. In fact, he made her happy. By choosing Kendall.
What unbelievable irony. He’d begun his relationship with Kendall to deter his mother and the women she’d encouraged in order to marry him off and get herself grandchildren. And he’d ended up wanting those very things for himself with the woman who he’d used to foil his mother’s plan. Now if only Kendall wanted those same things.
If only.
* * *
Kendall parked her car in the spot behind the guest house and walked to the front door. The day had been more fun than she’d had in a while. Successful too, she thought and smiled. As she unzipped her bag, a low whining sound reached her ears. She glanced around, but didn’t see anyone or anything. She shrugged and put her briefcase down so she could search her purse for her keys, which she’d stupidly tossed back in her bag so she could get her things out of the car.
The first thing she came up with was the real estate card given to her by Tina Roberts. The young woman had ordered an ID bracelet and then gone on to solicit business, asking Kendall what she planned to do with her aunt’s house and without waiting for a reply had offered to come by to give her an estimate should she decide to sell. She’d also boasted her many accomplishments and the reasons why she’d make the perfect listing broker. No hesitancy, no shame. No wonder she’d made Realtor of the Month, Kendall thought wryly.
But she couldn’t sell a house for above market value if it wasn’t worth the money and the broker’s card brought home an important point. Kendall hadn’t bothered to do any more work on the house in days. And she hadn’t given another thought to putting the place on the market.
The only thing she had decided was to put Pearl and Eldin in the guest house and make their living there rent-free a condition of sale. She didn’t know who would accept such terms, but there was no way Kendall would displace the older couple completely. She just hoped they’d be happy in the smaller residence, but with Eldin’s bad back, maybe they’d be better off in a one-level place with less maintenance to deal with.
After her incredible day here, Kendall just wasn’t ready to deal with selling the house. Not when she’d just begun to let herself think about other possibilities in life besides running. Not when she’d just begun to play What If . . .
She had time. Kendall stuck the card back in her bag and continued to poke around until her fingers wrapped around her keys when the pitiful noise sounded again, closer now. Glancing down, she saw a dog. A sandy-colored, shaggy-looking dog staring up at her with deep, soulful eyes.
“Hi there,” Kendall said, approaching cautiously. When the dog’s tail began a metronomic wag with no menace in sight, Kendall bent down to pet her. Her coat was matted as if she hadn’t been cared for in ages but her demeanor was warm and friendly. She wasn’t afraid of Kendall and after a few minutes of head scratching, she rubbed against her legs and next thing Kendall knew she’d rolled onto her back for a belly rub, exposing her private parts for the world to see.
“Well, looks like I was wrong, Mr. Man. You’re a boy.” Kendall laughed. She felt beneath the matted fur on his neck. “No collar or ID. What am I going to do with you?”
She rose and he followed. She walked back to the front door and he tagged along. Twenty minutes later, after she’d given him a bowl of water, cleaned up the mess he’d made by the door because she hadn’t realized the single bark meant he had to do his business, and called Charlotte for the name of the local veterinarian, Kendall and dog were in Dr. Denis Sterling’s office.
