The Playboy (Chandler Brothers 2)

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.