Kendall: The Lonely Spinsters Club, #1

By Deb Hanrahan

She doesn't have time for a relationship, but maybe she'd be up for a one-night stand. After all, he's just a stripper so no need to worry about the future… or a broken heart. Kendall's story explores the complicated lives of women in BOOK 1 of the romantic comedy series THE LONELY SPINSTERS CLUB.

 

Kendall Keogh has it all; a soaring law career, a bank account filled with cash, and an apartment overlooking the Chicago River. However, according to Grandma Bev, Kendall will never be truly happy until she has a man. Kendall dismisses her grandmother's unwanted advice, especially now that she's about to become a partner at Leder & Lincoln. Her life couldn't be better, at least that's what she thinks until she hosts her cousin Ruthie's bachelorette party.

 

What starts out as a fun girl's night quickly turns into an evening of debauchery when Officer Giovanni and Officer Lucas, two strippers posing as cops, knock on Kendall's door. Kendall can't keep her eyes off the dark and stoic Giovanni, and after a few too many Moscow mules, she fantasizes about being with him. Despite her feelings, they part ways before she can gather the courage to make a move.

 

Through the scheming of Kendall's recently divorced cousin Freya, the unlikely couple finally gets their chance. But when Kendall finds out Gio wants a relationship, she must reconsider her priorities as well as her lifelong definition of success.

 

Please note: this book was initially published under the name Daphne Hargrow.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Philyra Publishing
• Release date: Nov 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9780990331285

Deb Hanrahan

Dearest Reader,  Thank you so much for checking out my profile. As you may have noticed, I like to write in different genres. I currently have three YA books and three Women's Fiction/Romance books published. I initially published the latter under the pen name Daphne Hargrow. But as you already know, life gets busy, so I thought it best to merge the two names. After a long break, I am back at it. I plan to have LSC: Hester out this summer and a new romance titled The Stars Awaken out by Christmas.  - Deb Hanrahan

Book preview

Chapter One

KENDALL STRUGGLED TO pull up her new pair of black Lululemon leggings. She tugged and wiggled and danced until the top panel of the waistband stretched across her soft tummy. Even though each leg hole was in place, the crotch still clung to the top of her thighs, leaving a sagging gap between her legs. With one final effort, she extended her right leg and inched the stretchy fabric up as far as it would go. Then she repeated the motion on her left leg before hiking the stiff elastic above her stomach.

Success. The small fit, barely. After a few washings, they’d probably stretch out a bit.

She slipped a fresh gray tank over her stiff, black sports bra, pulled her toffee-colored bob away from her face with a thick headband, and approached the full-length mirror hanging on the back of her bedroom closet door. Ew. Her new workout gear felt good, but it certainly didn’t look good. The snug-fitting pants forced the soft, fleshy part of her tummy up and over the waistband. Talk about a muffin top.

Kendall pinched her shoulder blades together and sucked in her gut. That’s a little better, but she certainly couldn’t maintain that pose for an entire Zumba class.

Ha, Zumba. Who was she kidding? It had been at least a year since she had set foot in a gym. Maybe she should try a yoga class instead. Her cousin, Freya, had been teaching yoga for close to ten years, and she has an amazing body. How hard could it be? A little stretching. A little balancing. Forget Zumba. Yoga was Kendall’s new plan. Hopefully, the gym had an early class.

She retrieved her phone from the mid-century modern table next to her bed, opened the gym’s app, and scrolled through the schedule. A ninety-minute Bikram Yoga class started at nine. Yikes, ninety minutes! Could she do anything physical for ninety minutes? Would she even have enough time?

Kendall stared up at the white bedroom ceiling as she did the math. Ruthie’s bridal shower started at twelve-thirty, so she should be at Freya’s no later than eleven-thirty. To make that happen, she’d have to leave her apartment by ten-thirty. So if she went straight to her cousin’s house from the gym, she’d fit the class in.

Kendall checked the time. Already eight. She returned her phone to the nightstand, opened the tiny drawer, and pulled out a bottle of antacids. At that moment, her phone vibrated, and the screen lit up with a call from her co-worker, Josh.

Rrrr, of course, he didn’t read my email. Just ignore it. Kendall flipped her phone over to hide her screen, wrapped her arms around her waist, and waited for Josh to give up. But he didn’t. In fact, the annoying device vibrated with more urgency than normal.

Don’t answer; don’t get sucked in. Finally, the deafening noise stopped. Okay, good. But then it started again. Shoot. She reached for her phone and answered it. Josh, everything okay?

Where are you? Barios called Leder this morning. He has questions about the merger. Leder couldn’t find you, so he came looking for me, but I don’t have any answers for him.

I told him I’d be out of the office today. I told everyone. Remember? I have a family thing.

That’s today?

Are you kidding me? I sent an email out yesterday afternoon reminding the entire staff I wouldn’t be available at all today.

Right. It’s coming back to me now. But listen, can you at least call him? The old man is breathing down my neck. And I don’t want to give him the wrong info.

She glanced down at her over-stuffed leggings and sighed. Let me pull up the files, and I’ll call him in fifteen minutes.

Thanks, Ken. I’ll tell Leder to expect your call.

Kendall hung up. There’s always next weekend.

She shuffled around her queen-sized bed, over to the wall-sized window, and looked down at the Chicago River. The sun glistened across its bluish-green surface. Mmm, so pretty. If only she had time to sit on the balcony and sip her coffee.

Another activity for next Sunday’s to-do list. Of course she’d have to wake up an hour earlier if she wanted to lounge on the balcony and attend a yoga class before going into the office. But making time for herself would be worth a lost hour of sleep. Wouldn’t it?

Enough about next weekend; she had to focus on today. Okay, so what if she skipped Freya’s house and went straight to the restaurant? Then she’d have enough time to go to the gym and at least use the machines. But, if she did that, she would have to wear one of her own outfits to the bridal shower.

She turned away from the picture-perfect day. As she hurried past her bed, she tossed her phone onto her smooth white comforter and stepped into her huge walk-in closet. Starting at one end, she filed her fingers across each piece of clothing in her wardrobe: black pants, gray pants, black dresses, gray dresses, black blazers, black skirts, gray skirts, black tops, gray tops, and white tops.

Nope. Her mother would kill her if she wore any of this today. She had specifically asked Kendall to wear something pretty and feminine, which meant no black or gray. So, no matter what, she had to make time for Freya’s. No gym—

Before Kendall finished her thought, her phone vibrated again. She retrieved it and sat on the corner of her bed. Her mother. She must be psychic.

Hi, Mom.

Are you at work?

Shoot, I still have to call Leder. No. I’m home.

Good. I was hoping you didn’t forget about the shower.

How could I forget? The wedding is all everyone has talked about this entire past year.

Don’t be like that. This is a big deal. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a wedding in the family. Kendall’s mom let out a long, exaggerated sigh.

What? Here we go.

I just got off the phone with Grandma, and well... you know.

Grandma is from a different generation. Please don’t let her get to you. It’s not your fault I’m not the one getting married.

Are you sure about that? I wasn’t the best example.

As I’ve said a billion times before, I don’t blame you. You’re the parent who stayed. But listen, Mom, I can’t talk right now. I have to get to Freya’s before the shower to borrow something to wear.

"For today! Oh, Kendall, you’ve known about this for this entire past year. You couldn’t have gone shopping?"

I don’t see the point in spending money on a new dress when I have a ton in my closet.

If you were attending a funeral today, you’d be set. And, no offense, honey, but Freya is much... taller than you. I doubt you’ll fit into any of her clothes.

Kendall squeezed her eyelids shut and clenched her jaw as that familiar acid taste tickled the back of her throat. She reached into the drawer of her bedside table and popped a second pill.

Hello? Kendall, are you still there? Did we get cut off?

Mom, I have to go. I’ll see you at the restaurant. Kendall disconnected the call and flopped onto her back.

Dealing with Grandma Beverly would definitely be the worst part of this day. Kendall hadn’t seen that grumpy old crone since Christmas Eve. Surely she had all kinds of diatribes saved up for her oldest single granddaughter.

Hopefully, Aunt Vicki sat the cousins at a different table from the family’s judgmental matriarch. Then again, Aunt Vicki probably hadn’t considered the torment the unmarried granddaughters would endure today. After all, her darling little Ruthie was getting married. Ruthie, the youngest and most beloved of the five cousins. Ruthie, the precious little princess, the golden child.

Poor Hester; she was the firstborn and yet lived in Ruthie’s shadow. Even though Hester was smarter and maybe even a bit prettier than Ruthie, she couldn’t seem to hold her mother’s interest for as long as Ruthie could. But Hester didn’t seem to mind taking the back seat. In fact, she seemed to prefer it. Hester was her baby sister’s biggest fan, aside from Aunt Vicki, of course.

At least Freya would be there today. Not only did Freya feel the same about Ruthie as Kendall did, but she also felt the same about Grandma Bev. She’d help Kendall get through this event. As Kendall sat up, she noticed her old beat-up pair of Adidas sitting at the edge of her closet. I should’ve bought a new pair of shoes too.

She stood, smoothed out the imprint her body had made in the bedding, and moved to the quartz-top desk angled in front of the window wall. She opened her laptop and retrieved the necessary files before calling the office. As she talked to the firm’s soon-to-be-retired senior partner, the emails rolled in. With the Barios-Lacey merger happening late next week, she should really go to work instead of a party.

After easing Leder’s worries, she ended the call and tried to skim the endless flow of incoming emergencies. This morning was shaping up to be another regular Sunday.

Over three hours had passed before she could disconnect from her work. And now, because of her poor time management, Kendall was beyond late and couldn’t spare a moment to change out of her workout clothes. So she threw on her gym shoes, grabbed a long black cardigan from her bottom drawer, and a pair of black flats from her closet. Then she headed out to her cousin’s house.

Even though the traffic was light, the drive from River North to Hinsdale took longer than forty minutes. Kendall pulled her black Mini Coupe into the brick-paved driveway and parked next to Freya’s white Escalade. She grabbed her flats from the passenger’s seat and hurried up the winding walkway that bordered an expansive, manicured lawn. A sizeable blooming lilac bush stood alone in the center of the grass. Its sweet scent forced Kendall to pause. She closed her eyes and deeply inhaled. Ah, the smell of my childhood.

Lilac bushes of all sizes and shades of purple had decorated the family’s lake house. Some of Kendall’s best memories had happened there on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan. She spent many weekends and summers there with her Aunt Susan, Uncle Rich, and her cousins.

During the day, Kendall, Freya, and Freya’s younger sister Willow would dig in the sand and play in the water. After dark, they would sit around a fire and make s’mores. At bedtime, the three girls would share a bed and talk until they fell asleep. Kendall liked to pretend she was one of them. Three sisters, instead of two. Or better yet, three sisters instead of one lonely-only.

Kendall had always been a little jealous of Freya and Willow’s relationship. As children, they had a bond sealed with knowing glances, private jokes, and a secret language.

Are you coming in or what? A sultry voice interrupted Kendall’s reminiscing.

Kendall opened her eyes to find Freya’s statuesque frame leaning against the oversized door jamb. Her silky platinum hair was pulled back into a low, tight ponytail. Her face was painted with the colors of the desert, and her lean body was covered with a full-length apricot sundress.

How long have you been standing there? Kendall hurried toward the entrance.

Long enough to worry. I thought those leggings might be cutting off the blood supply to your brain.

Kendall looked down at herself. They’re too tight?

Freya held up her hand, measuring an inch with her index finger and thumb.

I read the reviews before I ordered them, and I thought a small would fit.

Just because you can squeeze into it doesn’t mean you should wear it out in public. Freya gave a crooked smile as she straightened herself.

That bad? As Kendall crossed the threshold, the two women hugged.

Nah, I’m just giving you a hard time. Freya pushed back while still gripping Kendall’s shoulders. You look fine. They’ll stretch out after you wear them a few times. Why are you so late?

Yeah, sorry about that, but I had to call the office. I’m bummed because I wanted to go to the gym today, but I got sucked into work. That’s why I’m still wearing this.

So, you’re finally going to take care of yourself.

That was the plan. I wanted to take a Zumba class, but I changed my mind and thought I’d try the Bikram Yoga—

No, no, no. Not a great class for beginners. Bikram Yoga is hot yoga. The room temperature can be as high as one hundred degrees. Freya dropped her hands from Kendall’s shoulders. She closed the door and sauntered across the marble floor of her foyer toward the back of her house. You need to start with a beginner-level class or you’ll never go back.

Kendall followed her cousin into the kitchen. Good thing I missed it then.

Do you want a glass of iced tea? Or, perhaps, a cocktail? You might want to anesthetize yourself. Aunt Vicki put us all at the same table.

With Grandma?

Uh-huh. Our moms wanted the family to sit together.

As tempting as a cocktail sounds, I’ll pass. Alcohol might make me say something I’d regret later. But I’ll take an iced tea.

I brewed a fresh batch this morning. Freya pulled a crystal pitcher from the fridge and poured Kendall a glass. Then she poured herself one but added a shot of vodka.

"What are you worried about? Kendall asked. Grandma never gives you a hard time. She only torments the members of The Lonely Spinsters Club."

You haven’t heard?

Heard what?

Freya put the tall glass to her lips and tilted her head back. Her hand trembled as she drained half the glass. When she looked back at Kendall, her large blue eyes welled with tears.

Freya, what happened?

The LSC is about to get a new member. Her eyelashes fluttered as a single tear escaped.

What do you mean?

Jim... Freya cleared her throat and took another swig. Jim and I are splitting up.

Her words punched Kendall right below her ribcage, forcing her breath to stick in her chest. After seven years of marriage, her cousin—and best friend—was getting a divorce! How could this happen? Freya and Jim were the perfect couple. They had it all: the house, the boat, the cars.

But I thought you were trying to have a baby, Kendall said.

I thought we were too. Freya dragged the edges of her index fingers under her eyes. But I guess it didn’t happen soon enough for Jim.

Is that the reason you’re calling it quits?

One of them. Who knows what that asshole is thinking.

I’m so sorry to hear this.

Freya cleared her throat and straitened her stance.

Kendall placed her hand on top of Freya’s and gently squeezed. I hate to heap more bad news on you, but... you can’t join our club. Even though you’re returning to single status, you’re no longer a spinster. You’re a divorcee. So you’ll need to start your own club.

Freya furrowed her brow and glared at Kendall before she burst out laughing. Why couldn’t Jim have waited until after this blasted wedding to... Freya jerked her hand out from under Kendall’s. She lifted her beverage and drained the rest of the spiked tea. Then, without hesitating, she reached for the bottle of vodka.

Whoa, hang on, Kendall pulled the bottle away. You need to stay clear-headed enough to help me get ready. I’m sure there will be booze at the shower.

You’re right. You can’t wear that. Your mom will kill me.

Why would she kill you?

Auntie Donna called me this morning. She’s concerned about your wardrobe situation. I assured her I’d take care of everything. I already pulled a few outfits for you.

Oh man! I can’t believe my mom called you. Did she ask you about sizes too?

Yes, as a matter of fact, she did. She wasn’t convinced I’d have something that’d fit you. So, after some debate, we ended up Face Timing. Together, we picked out a few fit-and-flare dresses. They might be long, but otherwise, they should work.

You don’t think they’ll be too tight?

Kendall, despite how your mom makes you feel, you’re not fat. You’re curvy and maybe a little doughy around the middle. But that’s an easy fix. You just need to spend some time at the gym. Come on. Freya headed out of the kitchen and back toward the foyer, motioning for Kendall to follow.

Yeah, well, that fix isn’t as easy as you’d think with my work schedule. This past New Year’s, I had promised myself I’d leave early from the office once a week and abstain from working both weekend days. But it’s already April, and I haven’t been able to keep my resolution once. That place always sucks me in. Leder keeps dangling the partnership over me.

They’ve been teasing you with that moldy carrot for the last year and a half. That old thing should’ve rotted away by now. Freya slid her manicured fingers along the railing as they ascended the winding staircase. I hope those musty old men aren’t dicking you around.

"They wouldn’t dare. Leder and Lincoln need me. I’m the only senior female associate left at that firm. Plus, I consistently have the most billable hours. I’m definitely the first in line to fill Leder’s position once he retires.

But even with my seniority, I can’t ease off. One misstep and they could give the promotion to Josh. As far as billable hours, he’s right on my heels. Sure, he’s a great guy and an excellent attorney, but that partnership is mine.

Is Josh tall?

Yeah, I guess, said Kendall.

What does he look like?

Wide shoulders, blond, clean-cut. What does that have to do with anything?

Does he have big hands? Freya asked.

I’ve never noticed.

"You know what they say about