He caught his mistake at the same time Hannah spat, “I’m not a kid.”
“Right. You’re not. So let’s go home and face the consequences like the adult you are.”
She scowled at him.
“Besides, your teeth are chattering.” And Kendall was worried sick. “And I happen to know your sister bought some hot chocolate she might be convinced to give you. If you apologize.”
“I’ll think about it,” she muttered. But she stood and began walking toward the parking lot.
“Hannah?”
She turned.
“Keys?” He held out his hand.
With an exaggerated sigh, she slapped them into his palm. “Kendall can get the car tomorrow. In the meantime, mind if I give you some advice?”
“Could I stop you?”
He shook his head and laughed. “Kendall loves you. And I think you should give your sister a chance before pulling another stunt like this or hurling accusations.”
“Are you always so full of advice?” she asked.
“Usually. And here’s another thought for you. I’m off work tomorrow. Make sure you tell Kendall I’ll pick both of you up at nine. The DARE program from the high school is hosting a summer car wash here. I’ll bring you over to meet some of the kids.”
“Oh, joy.” She glared at him.
But through the facade, Rick caught a glimpse of a grateful smile and a flash of gratitude in her eyes. He only hoped she saved some of that goodwill for her older sister. Because Kendall had her work cut out for her when dealing with Hannah.
Selfishly, and just for a second, Rick wondered how that would leave any time for him in Kendall’s life now. “Remember, we have a date tomorrow,” he reminded Hannah.
“Yeah right.”
By the time he drove up to Kendall’s house, Rick knew she must be frantic. His hunch proved right when Hannah stomped up the driveway and Kendall flung open the door and pulled her sister into a huge hug of obvious relief.
To Rick’s frustration and dismay, Hannah didn’t return the gesture. Her arms remained stiff at her sides.
“I was worried sick,” Kendall said, stepping back. “You could have gotten yourself killed or killed someone else.” Her voice shook as she spoke.
“Well I didn’t.”
Rick stood behind Hannah, folded his arms over his chest, and waited. When the young girl remained stubbornly silent, he decided to step in. “Anything else?” he asked Hannah.
“I’m sorry,” she said begrudgingly.
Kendall sighed. “I want to believe you. And we’re going to have to set some ground rules, but if you promise not to do anything like this again, talking can wait and you can get some sleep.”
“I’m not grounded?” Hannah asked warily.
“Not this time.”
In Kendall’s eyes, he saw her struggle to remain stern yet somehow let her sister know she cared.
“You’re not going to send me away?” Hannah bit down on her lip, looking more like that lost child than the defiant kid.
Once again Rick had a hunch they’d just been given access to the place where Hannah’s deepest fears resided, and Kendall must have sensed that too. Her eyebrows knit tightly and tension pulled at her jaw. “I’m here for the summer and so are you,” Kendall said.
Rick cringed. Kendall’s words might be the best she could come up with at the moment, but no way would they satisfy Hannah any more than they satisfied him.
Sure enough, the young girl turned and ran for her room. The sound of the door slamming followed soon after. Kendall flinched at the noise before she turned to Rick. “Thank you.”
To hell with distance. He held out his arms and she willingly went into them.
“I’m no good as a parent,” she said, shoulders shaking.
And she shouldn’t have to be. That job rightly belonged to Kendall’s mother and father.
But then life rarely doled out what was fair. “Don’t sell yourself short. I think she just doesn’t trust anyone right now.”
“Especially me. She’s angry and I feel so bad that I let her down.”
He smoothed his hand over the back of her hair. “You’ll just have to earn her trust.”
“How?”
By taking her in and giving her a home, Rick thought. By staying in one place and providing the stability neither of them ever had. But it wasn’t his place to tell Kendall what he thought she ought to do. What he wanted her to do. Those were conclusions she’d have to come to on her own.
“Just be there for her.” He offered the best advice he could.
She tilted her head back. “And you’ll be there for me?” She shook her head. “Forget it. I had no right to ask that.”
He tipped her chin upward with his hand. “No can do. You’re admitting you need me.”
And he had a weakness for females in need. Rick knew enough to learn from past mistakes but obviously not enough because he wasn’t backing off now. Kendall might leave in the end but he cared for her too much to let her down. “What kind of guy would I be if I turned down your request?”
“A smart one?” She grinned.
“What a way to stroke my ego, sweetheart.” He laughed and so did she, melting the ice he wanted to keep around his heart. A little self-protection was in order. “Actually I have a suggestion. A way of keeping our deal intact and giving Hannah some stability at the same time.” Once more he fell back on their arrangement. A black and white, unemotional bargain though at the moment he felt anything but detached.
Her brows knitted as she met his gaze. “What did you have in mind?”
“That we keep up the act in front of the town. Play the part of one big happy family, you, me, and Hannah. It’ll definitely cement the impression that I’m spoken for.” Which he wanted to be, Rick thought. By Kendall only. “And at the same time we’ll give Hannah what she needs, a family and two people who care. I’m sure it’ll help you reach out to her.”
Kendall nodded, eyes wide and hopeful. “That sounds amazing.”
“I agree.” He stroked her cheek with one fingertip.
How could she not realize this deal was merely a means to an end? With everything in him Rick hoped that by acting the part of a family, Kendall would come to see that the reality wasn’t something to fear, rather something to cherish. That together they could create something strong and lasting.
“Thank you for doing this for me,” she whispered.