Page 91 of The Playboy (Chandler Brothers 2)
Rick had spent last night drowning his emotions and this morning learning about his family situation. He hadn’t dealt with anything yet, but it could wait. Right now Hannah needed him more. He knelt beside the young girl, wishing he could offer comfort when he knew there was none to be had.
Not for Hannah and not for him. After wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her close. “Your sister loves you, you know.”
“Yeah right.” She snorted in his ear and ended with a sniffle.
Despite his disappointment in Kendall, Rick knew it was in Hannah’s best interest that he put a positive spin on a hopeless situation. Normally Rick didn’t give up without a fight but Kendall had left him with no alternative. He’d done his best to show her the life they could have together. She was the one walking away. And though he thought he’d been preparing for this moment since Kendall’s arrival, the burning in his gut told him he was wrong.
Regardless of how she felt about him, Rick was certain Kendall did adore her sister. But before he could begin to make Hannah see the truth, he needed to know what Kendall planned. “Well, where did your sister say you’d be going when she takes off?” His stomach churned as he used words that put an end to their time in Yorkshire Falls.
Hannah sighed. “Kendall said she’d take me with her but I don’t want to go anywhere.” Her voice trailed off in a long sigh.
Clearly she wanted more than Kendall was willing to give. Join the club, Rick thought silently. But knowing Kendall was doing right by Hannah filled Rick with relief and eased the vise gripping his heart. If Kendall was giving up her solitary roaming, then she’d begun to face her fear of commitment and stability. She was fighting harder than he’d given her credit for, but he didn’t delude himself into thinking she’d take that next step and do right by herself. At least she’d opened her heart and her life to her sister at the moment the young girl needed her most. That counted for a lot in Rick’s book.
He glanced at Hannah out of the corner of his eye. “You know your sister’s way of thinking. She doesn’t know anything other than a transient kind of life. For her even to take you with her is a huge leap. You need to go. To bond with her. Get to understand her.”
He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to make a bleak situation look great to a teenager. “Besides, I hear Arizona has amazing weather, no humidity, and you’ll be able to learn horseback riding,” he said, figuring Kendall planned to head west as she’d told him a while back. He put his hand beneath her chin. “Look at me.”
She glanced up but instead of excitement he saw desperation in her young eyes. “You have to try and stop her,” she said, pleading with no shame.
He’d grown to love Hannah like he loved his own family and he’d do anything for this kid. Anything he could, Rick amended. Unfortunately that excluded what she wanted from him most of all. “I can’t.”
She blinked and turned away, that mutinous, stubborn tilt to her chin returning. “Because you don’t care if we stay or go either.” Her stubborn bravado faltered when her voice caught on her words.
“Untrue and you know it.” He still held her tight, no matter that she tried to pull away and put distance between them. She obviously wanted to blame him, force him to share the brunt of her anger.
“Then why won’t you help me get Kendall to stay?” Because Rick refused to shoulder the burden for Kendall’s impulsive actions. She obviously wasn’t facing her feelings and Rick wouldn’t be the one to make her life any easier. She didn’t deserve it. If her pint-sized, hellion sister wanted to torture her a little, maybe she’d be forced to take a good look at her decisions and their consequences.
“Because Kendall’s a grown woman,” he explained, gentle in tone but firm in his intention. “She knows her own mind. I can’t make your sister do something she doesn’t want to do, Hannah.”
“Yeah, yeah. Thanks for nothing.” She jerked out of his grasp and rose to her feet.
Rick followed, standing on the step above hers. “Promise me something?”
“Maybe.”
He loved this kid despite her wise-guy mouth. He shook his head and stifled a laugh. “Just think about what I said and give your sister a chance. She loves you.”
“Says you.” She turned and started to bound down the stairs.
“Hannah, wait.”
The young girl pivoted back to face him. “Yeah?”
“I just want to know where you’re going.” He couldn’t help looking out for her.
“To Norman’s for a soda. Jeannie’s there and since I don’t know when Kendall will decide to take off, I want to hang out with her as much as I can.”
