“You just got through telling me your mother is out to marry you off. Everyone in town probably thinks we’ve done the deed, and now you’re bringing me home for dinner? Are you insane?”
“Probably.” He met Kendall’s shocked gaze and treated her to a grin. “I have a plan. A quid pro quo of sorts and you need to hear me out before you say no.”
A hint of wariness flashed in her eyes, making him think she’d nix the idea before he got the chance to propose it.
She perched her hands on her hips and faced him. “What makes you think I’d say no?” she asked, surprising him with a challenge instead.
He figured she was out to prove she could handle anything he dished out and after that kiss, he wouldn’t mind proving the same thing.
“So what kind of exchange did you have in mind?” The wariness in her voice hadn’t changed.
If he wanted a chance of convincing her to go along with his plan, he needed to alter her attitude. He propped an arm on the glass door behind her head, bracketing her between his body and the frozen food case in an intimate position. One any observer couldn’t mistake, and one meant to lower her defenses and make her his. “I’m proposing a housecleaning of sorts.” His voice dropped a deeper octave, spurred by her nearness and the sizzling awareness raging through his veins. “I’ll clean your house if you’ll clean mine.”
She shook her head and light laughter bubbled from deep inside her. “You aren’t talking literally.”
“About your house I am. My house I’m not.” On impulse, he reached out and grabbed a strand of her hair and rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger, liking the sensual feel of the strands against his skin. “I’ll help you get your aunt’s place in shape to sell, and you’ll help me get my house in order. My personal house.”
What more could he say by way of explanation? Be my fake girlfriend, Kendall? His skin prickled with awareness and his body trembled. In words and fact, all felt right. She felt right.
“Quit beating around the bush and tell me what you have in mind.”
Drawing a deep breath, he opted for the unvarnished truth. “I want you to pretend to be my girlfriend. Keep the tongues in town wagging and the women off my doorstep.” His eyes bore into hers. “What do you say?”
A nervous tick pulled at her mouth. “What I said before. You’re crazy,” she said as her huge eyes stared into his.
Was it his imagination or did hurt flash in the green depths before she masked the emotion. “Not crazy,” he corrected. “I’m just a man who’s had it with unwanted female attention. I also happen to enjoy your company and this arrangement would benefit us both.” Didn’t her body tell her what his already knew? That they were a perfect fit waiting to be soldered together?
He shook his head, reminding himself he’d suggested a fake relationship. But his body wasn’t listening as she bit down on those generous lips.
“I don’t know.”
“You said you’re short on cash. Can you afford a carpenter?” He grasped for the facts necessary to convince her he had what she needed. He was what she needed. “A painter?” he continued. “Anything else that house needs?”
Kendall exhaled a whoosh of air. “Probably not.” Definitely not, she thought. Even if she worked on her jewelry in between fixing up the house, she still couldn’t guarantee enough income to pay for the repairs. Rick was offering to do them—for a price. A price she’d paid before with Brian and had ended up in a wedding dress.
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.