“What about the guys in the program?” she asked. “How do you keep their interest?”
“It’s not as easy. But based on your description, getting the girls’ attention has to help. They want to be where the action is.” He laughed, amazed her perspective made enough sense that he now planned to use it in the future.
“So what was today’s meeting about?”
“Since it’s summer we’re working on teacher training for September.”
“Did it go well?” She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands.
“As well as it could with Lisa Burton there,” he muttered.
“Lisa.” Kendall said the name with obvious dislike. “You’ve met her?” Rick asked, wary. Who knows what the jealous teacher had done or said to Kendall, Rick’s supposed girlfriend. He caught himself, realizing that Kendall was no longer his pretend anything.
She was real. Incredibly, beautifully real.
Kendall sighed. “I didn’t meet her exactly. She was one of the women at the hair salon who pretty much snubbed me. Not that I care.”
He could read the lie in her eyes. She’d been hurt and he couldn’t believe how badly he wanted to not just protect her but take away any slight or pain. “Lisa’s not worth worrying about. Just a jealous woman who doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.”
“She’s one of the ones after you?”
He almost said they were all after him, that’s how overwhelming the barrage had been. But true to his plan, now that the town thought he was with Kendall, no one had ambushed him in days. “If Lisa bothers you, let me know.”
Kendall raised an eyebrow. “So you can what? Arrest her for rudeness? Please.” She waved away his protective concern. “Honestly I’ve been to many new towns. Not everyone likes everyone and that’s the way life is. I can handle her. But if she puts so much as a hand on you, then I can’t be held accountable for my actions.” She grinned and finished the last of her wine.
“Possessive thing, aren’t you?” He tapped the tip of her nose with his finger.
“What’s mine is mine.” She shrugged easily.
The wine had obviously relaxed her defenses and though she spoke jokingly, there was a hint of seriousness in her tone that pleased Rick. To his never-ending surprise when it came to Kendall, he didn’t mind being claimed.
“Finished?” she asked.
He glanced down, once again shocked he’d eaten not just his second slice but a third without being aware. The conversation and company were too stimulating for him to concentrate on food.
“I sure am. I’m stuffed.” He started to rise, but her hand on his shoulder stopped him.
“You worked all day. I’ve got the cleaning. Finish your beer and relax.” She gathered the paper plates and her empty wineglass and headed into the kitchen.
Because of the open pass-through area between the kitchen and the family room where his bar stools were, Rick was able to continue conversation—and watch Kendall while she worked. She had an amazing body and her outfit outlined every curve, arousing his baser male instincts despite the earlier exhaustion.
Though he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her narrow hips and firm behind—he was male after all—her heart and inner spirit interested him most right now. “So tell me about your jewelry.”
She’d tossed the paper plates and wrapped the extra slices. “Refrigerator or freezer for these?” she asked him.
“Refrigerator. I’ll live on those tomorrow.”
“Okay. I have two different styles of jewelry,” she said as she got back to work. “I hope to learn newer techniques in Arizona especially working with turquoise, but right now, I do wire jewelry with beading. I also have another idea but I haven’t tried it out yet. I only have sketches and I’d have to show you—” She obviously and deliberately cut herself off. “That was silly. You wouldn’t be interested in female jewelry.”
In a heartbeat he stood and strode into the kitchen, catching her between the counter and his body. “I wouldn’t presume to know what interests me, if I were you.”
She licked her lips. “Why’s that?”
“Because you might miss out on something amazing if you do. Now I might not be interested in women’s jewelry, that’s true. But when it comes to something that you’ve created, that’s a different story.”
A unique-looking choker that resembled a lace collar lay wrapped around her neck. He lifted the piece and fingered some of the small and intricate beads in his hand. He studied the piece and craftsmanship with awe. Kendall had talent to say the least and Rick was certain Charlotte had seen it or she wouldn’t have agreed to take the pieces into her beloved shop.
“This is beautiful,” Rick said. “And so are you.” He unhooked the necklace from behind and lay it on the counter beside him, then leaned forward and placed his lips on the soft skin where the choker had once been.