She remembered those explosive moments on the roof. “It won’t work.”
“Sure it will. Because we’re smart, and we want it to work. We spark off each other, we like each other, we respect each other, we have a good time being with each other. Neither of us wants to blow that to hell because we haven’t worked this out.” His voice was suddenly softly persuasive. “Tomorrow, when you get up, we’ll pretend tonight never happened. It didn’t, you know. Nothing irrevocable. It will be a little stilted at first, but as time goes on, we’ll fall into the rhythm. Then it will feel natural and right. Doesn’t that sound like what you really want?”
She could feel the relief pour through her. Not to have to lose Lynch, not to have to have face a massive adjustment or decision that might compromise her independence. “It sounds like a reasonable solution,” she said slowly. “But is that what you want?”
“Yes, partly. But you’d never believe me if I told you that would satisfy me. I’m an extremely selfish and horny bastard.” He smiled. “I want it all. And I’ll get it eventually, when the time is right.” He straightened. “But don’t think I’m going to be pining for you and make you uncomfortable. As I said, I have a voracious appetite. There will be other women who are less interesting, but also less complicated than you.” He added softly, “Status quo, Kendra.”
She nodded. She found she didn’t want to think of that particular aspect of status quo. “Of course, that’s reasonable. It’s not as if we— We’re both free to—” She moistened her lips. “I don’t know how this is all going to work out. I don’t know why you’d want it to.”
“Think about it. I hate to lose. I’d particularly hate to lose someone in whom I’ve invested so much time and effort. I’d lose a friend, a companion, a potential lover. It would be foolish not to make the effort.”
“I guess it would.” She found herself smiling. “And no one could ever call you a fool, Lynch.”
“Wrong. If you remember, I was calling myself that on the roof tonight.” He turned away. “Go to bed, Kendra. I have just a few more things to clear out of the bedroom. I’ll try not to make too much noise.”
“Do you want any help?”
“No, I think distance is a good idea.” He headed for the bedroom. “By tomorrow, I’ll be ready. See you in the morning.”
She hesitated, then turned and went to her bedroom and closed the door.
It hadn’t turned out as she’d thought it would when she’d come down to talk to Lynch. She had lost both control of the situation and focus the minute she’d seen him. What had she expected? He always knew what he wanted and how to go about getting it. She had always regarded that as an invaluable asset in him.
And now was she the target?
No, she would have been incredibly easy for him tonight if that was true. He was the one who had rejected her.
I want it all.
And what did Lynch consider as all?
Well, she was too tired and spent with emotion to try to guess or analyze what a complicated man like Lynch would want from her. It was time to get some sleep and forget about Lynch until she saw him in the morning.
*
EGGS. PEPPER. CHICKEN.
Kendra was aware of the odors emanating from her kitchen before she was even fully awake. It had been a restless night for her, and she wondered if Lynch had fared any better. As she tried to decide if his cooking breakfast for her was the result of more or less sleep, she caught a whiff of chili sauce.
She knew that recipe. It wasn’t Lynch cooking.
She tore off the covers and bounded into her living room. Olivia was standing over her kitchen stove.
“Olivia, what on earth are you doing?” she asked.
“Omelets,” she said matter-of-factly.
Lynch emerged from the spare room, smelling of aftershave. “I invited her. I knew Olivia was an early riser, so I gave her a call. I thought she’d be concerned about what was going on with you. It was her idea to make breakfast for us all.”
Kendra nodded. Smart. Lynch had obviously brought Olivia in as a buffer. And it was working. Any awkwardness between them was rapidly dissipating with her friend’s presence there.
“Great,” Kendra said. “Olivia’s a better cook than I’ll ever be.”
Olivia turned from the stove. “Well, Lynch helped identify the ingredients for me. Your gift of sight has made you terribly lazy about organizing your pantry and refrigerator.”
“Many apologies,” Kendra said. “I guess he filled you in on everything that’s going on.”
“Oh, yes. And so has your mother. I got an e-mail from her yesterday.”
“Naturally.”
“She said that if I can talk you into going to Hawaii with her, she’ll bring me along, too.”
“I’m not going to Hawaii.”
“She knows that. She’s just covering her bases.”
Kendra turned to Lynch. “Sleep well?”
“As well as I thought I would,” he said noncommittally. “You?”
“The same. But at least I put my time to good use.”