Выбрать главу

“With what? You’re going to need supplies and if the weather forecast is correct, an A.C. unit. No way will you be able to sleep in this place without air.”

She tried to inhale but choked instead. Rick was right. The air was stagnant and oppressive. Concern and a wave of depression settled over her. “Oh, geez. I really didn’t anticipate all these extra costs.” She mentally calculated the money in her account. Unfortunately she’d need more than she had in the bank just to live the next month or so here.

“I take it you thought you’d arrive, list the house, sell, and be on your way?”

Kendall nodded. “A little overly optimistic, huh?”

“A little.” He grinned. “But I like your attitude. Why deal with problems until they crop up?”

“You’re just being nice to me. You don’t want to call the new girl in town a ditz or an impulsive idiot.”

His sexy grin turned into a scowl as his lips took a downward turn. “Hey quit being so hard on yourself.

You’ve been through a lot. Now do you have an immediate plan?”

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

For money, she did have her credit cards, and Brian would be more than happy to overnight her jewelry and supplies. If she could find a store to place them on consignment, maybe she could scrounge up some extra cash. Okay, so she had a plan. Of sorts. She glanced at Rick. “Just point the way to town and I’ll . . .”

“Fly there on your magic carpet?”

She let out an exhale and added fixing the car to her list of expenses. “I don’t suppose I could bum a ride?” She bit down on her lower lip, realizing that for a man who was tired of women who wanted something from him, Kendall was probably more trouble than she was worth.

“I’m heading toward town myself. And before you ask, yes I can give you a lift back home afterward.”

Home. Had she ever really had one? Not wanting to delve into deep thoughts right now, she flashed him a grateful smile instead. “You’re a regular knight in shining armor, Rick Chandler.”

He grinned. “What can I say? I never could resist a damsel in distress.” A mixture of humor and unexpected sadness touched his voice despite the sexy outward smile. Was the sadness related to his past marriage, she wondered.

Once again, when it came to this enigmatic man, Kendall wondered why. What made him tick, what happened in his past that drove him to avoid another marriage yet make it a habit of rescuing women in need? Knowing his pull and effect on her, she was glad she wouldn’t be around long enough to find out.

WARNER BOOKS EDITION

Copyright © 2002 by Karen Drogin

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

Warner Books, Inc.

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Visit our Web site atwww.twbookmark.com .

An AOL Time Warner Company

First eBook Edition: July 2002

ISBN: 0-7595-8787-6

Contents

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

Acknowledgments

Special Thanks

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Epilogue

Special ebook Feature: Insights and Excerpts of Carly Phillips The Infinite Appeal of Small Towns

A Step in the Right Direction

The Heartbreaker— Excerpt

The Playboy— Excerpt