The Playboy (24 page)

“Rick always was a charmer,” Raina said.

Rick shook his head, feeling a flush rise to his cheeks. Wasn’t he too old for his mother to make him blush? Obviously not. Shit.

“Now, now, no interruptions,” Mrs. Pearson said, but she had a smile on her face, enjoying her return to the spotlight, no matter how brief. “So it turns out that young Rick had gone to the doctor for a checkup earlier in the week. Doc Little, you all remember him from before he passed on?”

There was a murmur of assent and “God rest his soul” from around the room.

“Well, it seems Doc Little told Rick his ears were so clean he could see all the way to China. Rick, being a smart boy, lined up the kids and was collecting pennies—from anyone who wanted to see what China looked like firsthand.”

The guests cheered for Mrs. Pearson as she passed the microphone to Ms. Nichol, another elementary school teacher, who resembled Lucille Ball.

“I hope they’re not going to go grade by grade,” Rick said.

“Oh, no. Just the highlights,” Raina reassured him with a pat on the hand.

“Swell.”

Kendall laughed and the
This Is Your Life
show continued. Rick endured a not-so terrible story from the still redheaded Ms. Nichol, a reminder of his middle school hijinks from another teacher, and embarrassing high school tales about how Coach had caught him making out with girls behind the bleachers.

He had to hand it to his mother. She’d managed to lighten the night and even make him forget what this date stood for, at least for a little while. Catching her knowing smile, he knew she’d planned this on purpose. Before he could decide whether that was a good thing, Kendall grabbed his hand. Warm and soft, her skin slid against his, reminding him of how much he’d missed being with her.

Leaning over, she whispered in his ear, “I’m getting more information out of this show than I have out of you.”

“I’ve never excluded you.” When it came to Kendall, he’d felt more, given more of himself than ever before. And on the heels of the anniversary of his biggest disaster, it scared him.

Kendall scared him. Not an easy thing to admit. So no, Rick thought, except for that one memory that touched a nerve because Kendall, like Jillian, would leave, he hadn’t excluded Kendall at all. If anything she’d gotten too close.

Before Kendall could reply, his mother spoke into the microphone. “As you all know, I have the best boys. Even if they haven’t given me a grandchild yet.” Behind her, Eric cleared his throat, obviously not pleased she was using a public forum to air this particular grievance.

Neither was Rick. Difference was, he’d grown used to her complaint. His mother met his gaze and patted his cheek. “But seriously I have wonderful sons. They take care of me in my time of need.” Her hand came to rest on her chest.

And her gaze darted to a point far away—like a suspect with something to hide. But that thought didn’t make one bit of sense.

“So,” Raina continued, jarring his thoughts, “it’s a pleasure for me to pass on my favorite story about my middle son.”

“Can I leave now?” Rick asked wryly.

“Only if you want to be hauled back and shackled with your own cuffs,” someone yelled out.

Kendall smothered a laugh but a loud hiccup came out instead.

“Okay, okay. Get on with it,” Rick said.

He put an arm around his mother’s shoulder, grateful she cared enough to make his birthday something special and grateful she was still around to celebrate with him.
Still around.
The thought chilled him. So did the one request Raina had in life that went unfulfilled.

Grandchildren. Something he’d almost given her back when he’d married Jillian. Raina, bless her generous heart, had welcomed and planned for Jillian’s baby as if it were Chandler flesh and blood. Unlike Jillian’s parents who’d disowned her, Raina took Jillian into her heart. And just like Rick, Raina had had her heart broken. But she’d never once looked back, not even when discussing her desire for grandchildren. Never blamed him, or forced the issue when he didn’t want to talk about it. Because she was his mother and she loved him unconditionally. Yet here they were many, many years later and Raina still didn’t have the grandchild she desired. Not even from Roman, who’d married a few months ago.

Grandchildren, he thought again and his gaze drifted to Kendall.

“Well, my story dates back to when Rick was three.” Raina’s voice and his childhood memories brought a welcome respite from the thoughts stirred up by this birthday cum anniversary.

“I thought we were all the way past his high school days,” Roman said.

Like Rick, he obviously knew where their mother was headed and it wasn’t pretty. Rick shot his youngest brother a grateful look though they both knew Raina wouldn’t be deterred. They were right.

She ignored Roman and continued, twisting in her seat, facing the crowd for maximum impact. “Guess what my adorable child wanted to be for Halloween?”

“I take it it wasn’t something as basic as a ghost or goblin?” Kendall leaned into him, her breasts heavy against his arm.

He swallowed a groan, then shook his head. “Just listen.”

“Chase, Rick, and I were in the car when Rick announced he wanted to be a fairy godmother for Halloween.”

The crowd erupted in hoots of laughter and applause. That damn heat worked its way back to his cheeks. Dammit, he was getting too old for this. But he couldn’t help but laugh at the story, as did Kendall. She laughed hard, not stopping even when Rick poked an elbow lightly in her ribs.

“I’m sorry,” she said between gulps of air. “I just can’t imagine it.”

He rolled his eyes. “Me neither, but she swears it’s true.”

“Oh, yeah?” A sexy grin tipped her lips as she met his gaze and a heavy beat of sensual awareness pulsed between them. Completely inappropriate considering how much company surrounded them but altogether right just the same.

“Tell us more about the fairy,” a voice sounding like Samson called from the crowd.

Rick shook his head. There was nothing to do but grin and bear it. With Kendall keeping him hot and his thoughts occupied with taking her to bed, he could handle anything.

“Well since you asked . . .” Raina chuckled. “Rick’s grandmother had read him Cinderella and he’d taken a shine to the fairy who granted any wish. I knew darn well John would enroll him in military preschool if there were such a thing, so I swore him to complete secrecy and promised him packs of baseball cards if he never told his father.”

A round of applause followed. Rick exhaled a sigh, amazed that his younger antics amused these people and touched that they’d all shown up on his behalf.

“Okay, show’s over.” Eric took the microphone from Raina’s hands. “My . . . patient . . . needs her rest. There’s Norman’s best food on the island in the kitchen. Make yourselves at home. Eat, drink, and be merry.” He raised a glass to Rick. “Happy birthday, son.”

Rick blinked, unsure he’d heard the man correctly, thinking he’d meant
son
more as a warm term than a literal statement. But a glance into his eyes and Rick knew—that word held a wealth of meaning, for both his mother and for him. On the subject of Raina, Eric Fallon had nothing to worry about. Rick, like all her sons, wished Raina health and happiness. She’d found the latter with Eric. After twenty lonely years, Eric had given her something special and Rick felt he owed the man for that.

Though he didn’t have a glass, he met Eric’s gaze and gave him an approving nod. One full of man-to-man understanding. Rick hadn’t had a father in years, but if anyone deserved his mother, Eric did.

Rick stepped forward to shake the other man’s hand, then turned to Raina. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too. And, Rick—” Something suspiciously like moisture had pooled in her eyes.

“What is it?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it again before gesturing over to where Kendall stood. “Just that she’s waiting. And I know you care for her. That look in your eyes? You didn’t even have that around Jillian.”

“Well, at least I know the outcome ahead of time. Now don’t you have to rest?” Though she didn’t look quite as tired as he’d expected she would. With a weak heart, something worse than a heart condition as she’d explained to them months earlier, she tired easily and was at serious health risk. But she certainly didn’t look at risk now.

“You know no such thing,” Raina said, referring to Kendall. “When you want something badly enough, you have to go for it.” She patted his cheek. “Think about it. Now Eric’s right. I need my rest.” She took hold of the older man’s arm. “He said I could stay the night at his house so the party could continue here. He even offered to let me sleep in his bed.” A bright blush spread across her cheeks. “I mean borrow his bed while he sleeps on the couch while the party goes on till all hours here.” She turned pleading eyes on Eric. “Get me out of here before I make a fool of myself.”

“Already happened, sweetheart.” Eric shook his head and laughed. “But your wish is my command. Let’s go before you do get yourself in trouble. Make that more trouble. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her, Rick.”

“I have no doubt you will.” Rick inclined his head, giving his subtle blessing, then watched as the older couple worked their way through the crowd and out the door.

What a night and it wasn’t half over. Kendall still looked busy with her sister, so Rick headed for the soft drinks on the side table in the corner. Pouring himself a cola, he raised his glass and hummed. “Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me. Happy birthday . . . ”

“Always sing to yourself?” Kendall came up behind him, snaking her arms around his waist.

Her chest pressed against his back and her warmth seeped inside him, softening his heart yet hardening his body to the point of burning need.

He laughed. “Caught in the act.”

“I loved that story about the fairy godmother.”

“You and everyone else in the room,” he muttered. “Had for a pack of baseball cards.” She pivoted around so she was facing him, her arms still tight around his waist. “I didn’t know you could be bought, Officer Chandler,” she said in a husky voice.

“Those were the good old days. And it wasn’t the cards, it was the gum.”

“I thought you said you didn’t remember the incident?”

She lifted her brows, causing a wrinkle of skin between them, and his desire to kiss her grew stronger. “I don’t remember. But assuming it’s true and not a figment of my mother’s overactive imagination, I was all of three years old. What do you think held greater appeal, the cards or the gum?”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Good point. And one that tells me you can be bribed.”

“Into felonies now are we?”

She set her lips in a pout that incited his already aroused hunger. “No, actually I’m into you.”

A low growl came from his throat. “Now that I like.” Kendall forced a smile. She didn’t know how well he’d like it if he realized what was going on in her head. After a night of insight into Rick’s past, she’d discovered how much she didn’t know about him. How much she wanted to know. When she’d told him earlier that she was getting more information out of the show than out of him, she hadn’t been kidding. He hadn’t told her about his birthday. Hadn’t mentioned it at all.

Rick Chandler, an open, lively, talkative man, had kept silent. And she hated it. He knew more about her life than she did about his. Until tonight she hadn’t realized how purposefully he’d acted.

The show had piqued her curiosity about Rick and it was time she found out how much this man was willing to reveal. “So back to bribery. Do you mean to tell me there’s
nothing
I could offer that would entice you to reveal hidden secrets?”

Despite the party and the crowds, his gaze settled on hers, hot and with complete understanding in the darkened depths. “Oh, I’m sure there’s something you can offer that would make me throw my principles to hell and back.” He never broke eye contact, mesmerizing her, tantalizing her with his heated stare.

“Are you sure you won’t jeopardize your job?”

“Something tells me it’d be worth it. What are you offering in exchange for information?” He leaned closer.

His breath was warm on her cheeks, her body on fire with want and desire. But he still hadn’t promised to talk. Hadn’t said he’d reveal what she wanted to know. His life. His past. His marriage. He’d so obviously perfected the art of keeping his distance while giving the perception of closeness at the same time, she wondered if he knew how to act differently. To open up and risk being hurt.

Did she?

She shivered beneath his gaze, knowing that until now, his distance had been enough. Probably because distance had been safer for her as well. Still was. So why fight it, she wondered. Why push him for information?

Without warning, the microphone shrieked again and a female voice intruded on the crowded party, and on Rick and Kendall’s hot exchange. “I wanted to wait until Raina left before finishing up the last of Rick’s surprises for the evening.”

“What’s going on?” Kendall turned around for a better look and Rick stiffened beside her.

“Lisa,” he muttered. “Dammit, I’ll be right back.” “Oh, no. Not without me.” Kendall wanted to hear this exchange firsthand. She followed Rick through the crowd.

Unfortunately, Lisa continued talking. “
This Is Your Life, Rick Chandler
wouldn’t be complete without a summary of his later years. I notice no one mentioned Jillian Frank.”

Silence descended upon the room. Rick came up beside the other woman. “Give me the microphone and stop embarrassing yourself.”

She lowered the instrument but didn’t release her grasp. “I’m a schoolteacher. Very little embarrasses me.” She then raised the mike and spoke again. “I just wanted to wish Rick a happy anniversary too.”

Kendall sucked in a deep breath. “What?” She hadn’t meant to speak out loud but she was obviously discovering why Rick hadn’t mentioned his birthday to her earlier. The day was too painful. Her heart clenched, twisting with a pain of her own.

Hannah came up to Lisa. “You are so pathetic.” Kendall knew things could unravel fast from here. Apparently so did Rick because his gaze searched out Roman’s, and seconds later Roman and Charlotte herded a grumbling Hannah away from Lisa.