Kissing Mr. Right (11 page)

Kendall stared, mouth agape, into the darkness where he’d stood moments before. Fumbling for the door handle, she wrenched it open and shot out of the SUV.

“Ty, wait,” she yelled, rounding the Jeep’s bumper just as the front door of his house slammed shut. She thought about following him and pounding on the door until he let her in. But she was too shocked to know what to say.

She climbed back into the SUV and closed the door. His father owned ERB Investments? It didn’t make sense. The holding company was one of the largest in the state, with at least thirty companies in its portfolio. GoldStar had built dozens of subdivisions throughout Denver and its outlying suburbs.

Kendall tapped her fingers against the steering wheel. Ty called his father a crook but had done his best to act disinterested in the land development piece of the Silver Creek story. It didn’t make sense.

He was a member of one of the wealthiest families in Colorado. And now the story they were working on had taken on a deeper meaning, both in terms of her career and what his accusations might mean for the Silver Creek community. Ty might not want complications in his life, but she was about to change all that.

Ty heard the front door of the small office open. His attention remained focused on the computer.

“Hey, what’s going on? You look like hell.”

He dragged his eyes away from the data on the screen. Jenny’s willowy frame filled his door. Her short denim cutoffs barely skimmed the top of her thighs and a tight yellow T-shirt made her red hair look even more vibrant.

“You go to the job site like that and some fool’s bound to drive up on the McPherson’s yard when they pass.”

She shimmied her hips. “Just doing my civic duty. What about you? You look like you didn’t sleep last night.”

“A couple of hours. I’m doing some research on GoldStar’s proposed land development deal up in Silver Creek.”

Jenny’s eyebrows lifted. “Are you going up against your dad? I thought those days were over.”

“They are.” He saved the document he’d been working on and swiveled his chair away from the computer. “Silver Creek is a beautiful area. I don’t want to see GoldStar ruin it. I’m running some data for the Forest Service, that’s all.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I mean it,” Ty growled. “And don’t look at me that way.”

“Someone swallowed a grump-ass pill today.” Jenny planted her hands on either hip. “Don’t project six years of anger and resentment onto me, buddy. Besides, I’m thrilled to see you getting involved with the Silver Creek development, even if you’re doing it to score on the hot news lady. It’s high time you used the degree that put all those fancy letters behind your name. How long are you planning to hide your head in the dirt?”

“Who’s hiding? I’m running a business here. One, I might add, that has kept you gainfully employed for these past six years.”

“I’m eternally grateful,” she said. Her tone softened. “You made a mistake, Ty, and you’ve paid in spades. It’s time to move on.”

“I have moved on. Rocky Mountain Landscapes is my job. I’m good at it, I enjoy it, and I have yet to let down one of my clients. Life is great.” He locked gazes with his old friend for several long moments. “Let it go, Jenny.”

“Fine.” She gave an annoyed sigh. “Speaking of not letting down clients, did you finish the specs for Lakeside Park?”

“Shit,” Ty whispered. “When is the meeting?”

She glanced at her watch. “Two hours. What happened? I thought you were going to work on the plans last night.”

Ty shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He reached for the canvas case where he had stuffed the unfinished plans. “Yeah, well, something, uh, came up. I didn’t get to the drawings.”

Jenny bounded across the room. “You’re blushing.” She plopped into one of the upholstered chairs in front of his desk. “It has to be Kendall Clark. Tell me everything.”

He pulled a roll of plotting sheets from the case and set them on the desk. “You’re nuttier than a fruit cake. Men do not blush.”

Jenny tapped one finger to the center of her mouth. “The last time I saw you blush I was twelve and caught you and Carol Dison in the back of your dad’s Mercedes. As I remember, you were giving the full moon a run for its money.”

“You were such a brat.” Ty laughed. “I spent most of my Christmas vacation earning money to have that car detailed after you told on me.”

“I was an impressionable child,” she protested. “You freaked me out. Carol was making some scary noises.”

“She was a screamer.”

“Is Kendall Clark a screamer?”

Ty thought about the sweet, husky sounds Kendall had made against his mouth when he’d touched her last night. His body grew heavy at the memory. Shit. “I am not going to discuss Kendall with you.”

Jenny smiled knowingly. “It must have been good. You’re as red as a tomato. I’ve decided I like her. She seems kind of prissy on TV, but she was nice when I drove her from Ray’s the other day. I bet she warms up in the right setting, huh?”

“Jenny.” His tone held a warning note.

“All right,” she said, not quite hiding the smile that played at the corner of her mouth. “More importantly, you like her.”

Ty nodded. “I’m taking her to Easter dinner at my parents’ house.”

Jenny’s eyes widened. “Holy crap, she’s meeting the royal family? Forget about the bunny. Your mother is going to lay a chocolate egg on the marble floor.”

Jenny had been referring to the Bishops as the royal family for as long as Ty could remember, so he didn’t take offense. His mother, especially, acted as stuffy as nobility most of the time.

“When was the last time you brought a woman home to meet your parents?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Grad school, I guess.”

“Are you serious about this one?”

Good question. Based on the way he couldn’t stop thinking about her and the fact that his chest clenched every time she was near, the answer was yes.

“Not at all,” he said. “She’s working on a story that involves GoldStar. It was only a matter of time before she figured out my connection to the company. I thought I’d cut to the chase and introduce her to Dad.”

“He’ll charm her.”

“I know.” Ty’s father could take candy from a baby. “I told her he was a crook.”

Jenny whistled softly. “That’s a juicy bombshell to drop in a reporter’s lap, even if she is your girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Whatever you say. Did she press for details?”

“She didn’t have a chance. I stormed off right after I said it.”

“How dramatic.”

“And mature,” he added. A ceramic mug sat on the top of his desk filled with pens and pencils. He pulled a yellow pencil out. “Enough about Kendall and GoldStar. I need to get these plans done before the meeting.”

Jenny cleared her throat. “I’ve got drawings ready for Lakeside,” she mumbled, examining the fingernails of her right hand.

Ty unrolled the unfinished sketches. He looked at Jenny, but her eyes were focused on her hand. It was unusual to see her looking uncomfortable. “What are you talking about?”

“They’re not that good,” she said quickly. “I like to practice so I do plans for each of the big jobs. I compare my ideas to yours. It’s silly but helpful for me to learn that part of the business.” She brought her hand to her mouth, nibbling at the side of one fingernail.

Ty stared at her, dumbfounded. “You’ve done mock-up specs for all of our jobs and never showed me? Why?”

“Why should I? You’ve got the flair for design, the big-time degrees, and the clients love your ideas,” she said matter-of-factly. “Everything I know about this business I learned working for you. Hell, I didn’t even finish college.”

“Who cares? This is landscaping, Castelli. We’re not splitting the atom.” When she didn’t respond, he shook his head. He was used to Jenny selling herself short because she’d dropped out of high school when she got pregnant, but it still annoyed him. “Are you going to sit there chewing your nails to the quick or are you going to get the plans? Time is wasting.”

She dropped her hand from her mouth and stared at her fingers. “Hell, I’d been growing these babies out for two weeks without so much as a nibble.” She glared at Ty. “See what the stress of this job does to me?”

“The plans,” he repeated, removing the blank spec sheets to the side of his desk.

She stood, scowling. “They need a lot of work. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Turning on her heel, she marched out of Ty’s office. Moments later she returned with a roll of paper clutched gingerly between her hands. “Lakeside is pretty straightforward. I bet you could whip something together from scratch in time for the meeting.”

He held up one hand, curling a finger toward his chest. “Give ’em up, baby.”

“Don’t call me baby, you jackass. I’ll sue you for sexual harassment.”

“Quit stalling.”

With obvious reluctance, she dropped the papers on the space he’d cleared. “They’re not—”

“Sit down,” he ordered, “and shut your mouth for one lousy minute.”

She plopped into the chair. “Your people management skills suck.” Unconsciously, her hand strayed to her mouth.

At least biting her nails would keep her quiet. Ty unrolled the sheets of white paper. He studied the drawings Jenny had created. At one point, he glanced up at the woman sitting across from him. He’d known her almost his whole life but felt like he was seeing her for the first time. “Where did you learn how to draw?”

“I got some books out of the library. Cooper and I made it into a game at night. He picked the things I was supposed to sketch. I was really bad at first.” She flashed an uncharacteristically sheepish smile. “I’m still not that great.”

Ty rested his elbows on the edge of the desk and steepled his hands. “Jenny, this is fantastic. You’ve incorporated the important design elements but done it with a sense of fun that is perfect for a community recreation area and playground. The park board is going to go nuts over this.”

Slowly, she brought her hand away from her mouth. “You mean it? You wouldn’t blow smoke up my butt just because we’re friends, would you?”

“I mean it.” He shook his head in wonder. “I’m shocked. Not that you have this kind of talent,” he added quickly. “That you’ve never shared any of your designs with me.”

Jenny shrugged. “I thought you’d blow me off.”

“You should know me better than that.”

“Let me introduce you to a little concept called ‘fear of failure,’” she said dryly. “Oh, wait, I forgot. You wrote the book on that one.”

Ouch. He made sure she didn’t see how close to home that comment struck. “We’re not discussing me right now.”

A huge smile broke across her features. “That’s right. We’re talking about my brilliant design talent. You’ll use my plans?”

“Without a doubt.”

“Promise you’ll call me as soon as the meeting’s over. I can’t wait to hear what they think.”

“You don’t have to wait. I want you in the meeting with me. It’s your work we’re pitching.”

She went perfectly still. “You mean it?”

“Of course.” He tapped his fingers against his chin and studied the plans again. “I can give you a few tips on—” He broke off when he realized Jenny had bolted out of her seat and was heading for the door. “Hey, where are you going?”

She paused in the doorway to his office. “I’ve got to run home and change. I can’t meet the clients looking like Daisy Duke.”

His gaze skimmed over her skin tight T-shirt and skimpy cutoffs. He was used to the way Jenny dressed on the job site, but it probably wouldn’t fly in a meeting with key members of the park board. “Good point. Call me on your cell and we’ll go over the meeting setup so you’re prepared.”

She gave him a quick thumbs-up and disappeared down the hall. Ty took one last look at the design before rolling up the sketches. It still baffled him that Jenny had that much natural talent and hadn’t shared it with him before now.

Summer was around the corner, and the landscaping business was moving quickly into high gear. But he ignored the pile of phone messages and bid requests Jenny had placed in his in-box.

He knew it was a mistake to get involved with his father’s latest development, just like it was probably stupid to let things go any further with Kendall. He’d tried to move past his problems with his parents, but the Silver Creek story was going to bring everything to the surface once again. Plus Kendall had made it clear that her future was in New York, not Colorado, so it would be easier for both of them to cut ties now. But he was already in too deep to walk away.

He turned back to his computer and tapped a key. The Silver Creek development data blinked onto the screen.

CHAPTER TEN

Kendall checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror for the umpteenth time that morning. She pushed a curl off her forehead and jumped when the doorbell sounded from downstairs.

I can do this
, she thought, smoothing her hands over the delicate linen of her pale yellow sundress.

Of course she could.

She’d been managing her way through dinners with families like the Bishops since grade school. She picked up her small purse from the bathroom counter and headed for the stairs.

A warm breeze danced across her bare arms as she pulled open the front door of her condo. The butterflies that had taken up residence in her stomach began a quick two-step at the sight of Ty standing on her stoop. He wore a finely woven slate blue sweater that was tucked into tailored khaki pants. The sweater accentuated the brilliant color of his eyes and molded over the contours of his upper body.

It was odd to see him without his typical uniform of jeans, flannel, and a T-shirt. Kendall caught a glimpse of the man who had grown up in a world of wealth and privilege. It was evident in the easy confidence of his posture. His clothes, although understated, hung gracefully in the way of expensive apparel.

“You look lovely,” Ty said.

She smiled. “Thanks. You clean up pretty well yourself.”

He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “I figured this look would be more your style.”

She thought about the night on his porch and felt color rise to her cheeks. She reached for the bottle of white wine on her entry table, hoping he didn’t notice her blush, and stepped onto the front porch. “I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but I sort of miss the ubiquitous flannel.”

He grinned down at her. “What can I say? Chicks dig flannel.”

With an eye roll, she turned to close the door, but he pulled her against him. His arms wrapped around her and she was enveloped in the scent of soap and man. “Thanks for coming with me today,” he said, pressing a kiss against her temple.

She leaned into him, enjoying the feel of his body against hers. She tilted her head so she could just see his face out of the corner of her eye. “I was sort of surprised to get your message yesterday confirming. I thought you might cancel.”

He leaned his head against hers and sighed. “By the end of today, you might wish I had.” He took her hand and led her down the front walk.

“What does that mean?”

“Did you investigate my father?” He ignored her question.

She glanced over at him. He looked straight ahead, the profile of his strong features giving away nothing. “You know I’ve researched both GoldStar and ERB Investments.”

“Let me rephrase the question.” He opened the passenger door of the truck and turned to her. “Since I told you that GoldStar is my father’s company, have you delved into his personal history?”

She stepped up into the truck’s cab, feeling as if she were walking into a potential minefield. “Of course.”

He nodded, his mouth drawn tight in a grim line.

“Ty, I still don’t understand—”

He held up one finger. “Hold that thought.”

Kendall shook her head as he closed the door and walked around the front of the truck. Rays of sunlight flashed against the shiny silver hood.

Ty climbed in and started the engine, shifting into gear and easing away from the curb. “Pretty impressive, huh?” he asked, his eyes never leaving the road.

“Your driving?”

One end of his mouth curved up. “My dad.”

“Oh.” She thought about what she’d learned of Eric Bishop. “It’s a remarkable success story. A self-made man who started with nothing and built an empire in the span of thirty years.”

Ty made a right-hand turn onto the ramp to the interstate. “It was a little more than nothing.”

“You’re referring to your grandfather’s farm.”

“Yep. Forty acres of prime real estate just inside the Boulder city limits.”

“He called the subdivision Aspen Grove. That was the first piece of land GoldStar developed. He was twenty-five when he inherited the land, right?”

Ty nodded but said nothing. His wide shoulders went rigid. His tension clogged the air of the truck’s interior. She felt her own muscles tighten and willed herself to relax.

“Ty, what is the problem? You tell me your father is a crook but offer no facts to back it up. I’ve looked at both the holding company and GoldStar from every angle I can think of and found nothing illegal or even unethical.”

He glanced sideways, his expression hard as granite. “Keep looking,” he told her with fierce calm.

“Damn it,” Kendall hissed. “Why won’t you tell me what you know?”

“He’s my father.”

“So what?” Her voice echoed in the confined space. She closed her eyes and took a deliberate breath. Shouting would get her nowhere. “Tell me,” she said with a calm she didn’t feel.

Ty was silent for a long time.

Finally, he opened his mouth as if to speak. Kendall watched him, her own breath held in anticipation.

His lips drew together tightly and he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Kendall. I can’t explain my reasons to you right now.”

She tilted her head back against the headrest and stared at the truck’s ceiling. After several minutes she asked, “Why did you invite me to come with you today?”

“I thought it would be fun.”

She arched one brow.

He ran one hand through his hair, giving the thick blond waves a tousled look that was at odds with the neat lines of his fitted sweater. “Ok, maybe fun isn’t the right word. But I do want to introduce you to my family. My father likes to hide behind the holding company, but he can’t resist the spotlight, so you’d have met him eventually. This will give you access quicker than you’d get through the station.”

The warm feeling that spread across her middle because Ty wanted to introduce her to his family almost sidetracked her. Then she thought of what he had and hadn’t told her about his father. “It would help if I knew—”

He reached over and grabbed her hand. “Not today. But I’ll think about it, all right?”

She liked the feel of his rough hand enveloping hers. “You’re the one who brought it up in the first place,” she grumbled.

“I know.” He lifted her hand to his mouth, rubbing his lips softly against the back of her knuckles. “But could you just forget about it for a while?”

“Only for a little while,” she agreed, her shoulders easing as a shiver ran down her arm.

“Thanks.” Turning her hand over, he rubbed his cheek along the delicate flesh of her inner wrist.

They exited off the highway after a half hour. The road turned and climbed. Large trees lined each side of the street, their branches speckled lime green with spring’s first leaves. The neighborhood seemed familiar, although Kendall had never been here before. From the manicured lawns to the four-car garages, the prosperity of the residents was as clear as if tax brackets had been stamped on each mailbox. Kendall sighed and closed her eyes, concentrating on the sweetness of Ty’s touch.

A moment later, the truck pulled to a stop.

“We’re here,” he said, giving her knuckles another kiss.

She turned to look out the window and sat up so fast her seatbelt snapped against her chest. She spun back toward Ty. “This is your parents’ house?”

He leaned his head closer to hers to peer out the window. “Last time I checked, this is it.”

She swallowed hard. “You grew up here?”

“My dad had the house built when I was around nine. Do you like it?”

“I’ve stayed in hotels smaller than this place.”

He chuckled. “It’s doesn’t seem that big on the inside.”

She gave him a doubtful look.

He kissed her bare shoulder. “Let’s go,” he said, pulling the keys from the ignition and opening his car door. “My mother is probably watching out the front window. She’ll wonder what we’re doing in here.”

Kendall glanced once more toward the house. As if on cue, a curtain in one of the first floor windows fluttered. She took a fortifying breath. She’d been friends with children of wealthy families during her years at Graves, but the Bishops gave the word
affluent
new meaning.

The house was two stories, with massive limestone columns on either side of the expansive front porch. Kendall lost count of how many windows ran along the front of the house. Really, calling it a house was an understatement. The Bishops lived in a mansion if she’d ever seen one.

She pulled down the sun visor and checked her reflection in the small mirror. Ty opened her door just as she finished applying a fresh coat of gloss to her lips.

“Ready?” he asked, offering his hand.

“Ready.” She wiped her damp palms against the upholstered seat and placed her fingers in his.

As they walked up the cobblestone path that led to the house, she tried to tug her hand away. She didn’t want to give his parents the wrong impression about their relationship.

He released her fingers but looped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. “Don’t worry,” he said. “They’re going to love you. You’re just their type.”

Her stomach heaved.

She knew exactly what type Ty was talking about: Kendall Clark, lovable staple of Denver’s evening news. Right now she felt more like the insecure twelve-year-old with secondhand clothes and dime-store shoes. She’d worked long and hard to distance herself from what these people would call her “poor, white trash family.” But at times like this the truth of her life came hurtling back at her, almost knocking her down with its intensity.

She was a fraud.

Ty felt Kendall’s back grow more rigid with each step they took toward the house. Her feet dragged so much he thought she might stop in her tracks. He turned to see what the problem was, struck by the level of reluctance in her gaze.

“Hey.” He rubbed what he hoped was a soothing hand along her back. “My problems with my dad are between him and me. Don’t worry about it.”

“It’s not that,” she said, her voice brittle. “It’s me. I don’t think—”

Whatever she was going to say was cut off when his mother opened the front door. “Tyler John,” she called as she stepped onto the portico. “Where have you been? I expected you a half hour ago.”

Ty sighed and waved. He steered Kendall up the path, worried she would bolt and run if he let her go. His mother walked to the edge of the porch as they approached. She stood on tiptoe, straightening his hair with her fingers.

“You need a haircut,” she said with a frown.

Slowly, Ty pulled her hand away from his head. He bent forward and kissed her cheek. “Happy Easter, Mother.” He straightened as his mother’s gaze shifted. “Remember, I told you a friend was coming with me for dinner. This is Kendall—”

His mother swatted him on the arm. “Oh, my goodness,” she breathed, her eyes alight with recognition. “You didn’t tell me you were bringing a local celebrity. I thought it would be one of the floozies you usually date.”

“Christ, Mom.”

She swatted him harder. “Language, young man.” Turning to Kendall, she said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, dear. I watch the evening news on Channel 8 most nights.”

“That’s so nice to hear, Mrs. Bishop,” Kendall said in her television anchor voice. “Thank you for including me in your family’s Easter celebration.”

“Please call me Libby,” his mother said. “Come and meet everyone.” She took Kendall’s hand in hers and led her into the house.

Ty followed the two women through the front door and tried to see his mother through Kendall’s eyes. Libby Bishop was a petite woman, almost a full head shorter than Kendall. She reminded Ty of Candace Bergen without the sense of humor. Her blond hair was perfectly styled in the same neat shoulder-length cut she’d worn since Ty and his siblings were in high school. Even in her mid-sixties, her skin was creamy with only faint lines around the corners of her eyes when she smiled. She didn’t smile often.

Today she wore a calf-length skirt in a muted floral print and a fitted silk blouse. Ty hadn’t noticed when he’d hugged her moments ago, but he’d wager his mother was wearing a strand of pearls around her neck. Libby grocery shopped wearing pearls.

Two sets of heels clicked in front of him on the polished marble of the two-story foyer. Kendall had compared his parents’ home to a hotel. Ty thought of it as a mausoleum. It was beautiful, cold, and almost completely devoid of life.

Or at least love. That’s how it had felt to Ty growing up.

Voices echoed from the back of the house. He followed his mother and Kendall through the oversized doorway that led to the large family room. Charlie sat on the large leather couch positioned toward the back of the room while Clare stood near the fireplace, a glass of wine dangling between her fingers.

As he entered behind the two women, both his siblings turned to pierce him with similarly disapproving gazes.

Shit.

He shouldn’t have brought her here today, to be subjected to his parents’ scrutiny.

Not that they’d have anything to complain about. It was Ty who made trouble, who was the problem as far as his family was concerned. His stomach turned to lead. His misguided plan to introduce Kendall to his family was about to blow up in his face.

He concentrated on the back of her head as it tilted to take in the room’s elegant but tastefully understated décor and the picture window that faced the elaborate gardens in the back of the house.

“Tyler is here,” his mother announced, restating the obvious.

“About time you showed up, little brother,” Charlie called out, not bothering to get up from the sofa.

His mother sent a warning look to Charlie. “And he brought a friend. This is Kendall Clark.” She gave Kendall a warm smile. “The one with the large mouth is Charlie.” She nodded toward the fireplace. “That’s our daughter, Clare. Sweetie, you should switch to water until dinner. Too much wine will go to your head.”

His sister walked toward the window, draining her glass in the process. “Whatever you say, Mother.”

This was going to be worse than he’d thought.

Kendall’s eyes widened fractionally. Libby’s loud
tsk
filled the silence before she turned to Kendall. “Would you like a drink?”