The Bachelor (4 page)

Rick folded his arms across his chest. “I’m already a satisfied man.”

After all Rick had been through, Roman hoped his brother meant what he said.

“Hi, handsome. What can I get for you?” a high-pitched female voice asked.

Roman rose to give Isabelle, Norman’s sixty-year-old wife and everyone’s favorite waitress, a swift hug. She smelled like
a unique mixture of home cooking and the good old-fashioned grease Norman used in the kitchen when she wasn’t looking.

He stepped back. “Good to see you, Izzy.”

She smiled. “Your mother’s over the moon that you’re home.”

He settled himself back into the chair. “Yeah, just wish the reason were different.”

“Your mom’s a tough one. She’ll be fine. Norman and I sent over enough prepacked meals to get her through the week.”

“You’re the best.”

She grinned. “Don’t I know it. So what can I get you? Cheeseburger deluxe?”

Roman laughed. “You’ve got a memory like an elephant.”

“Only when it comes to my favorite customers.” She shot Roman a wink, then turned to Rick. “Steak and mashed potatoes, that
I know. Soda tonight, Officer?”

Rick nodded. “I’m on duty.”

“I’ll have the same.”

“So what are you up to while you’re home?” Izzy asked.

“One day at a time. Tonight I’ll see if Chase needs any help while I’m around.”

She stuck her pen behind her ear. “You Chandler boys work too hard.”

Rick shrugged. “It’s the way we were raised, Izzy.”

“That reminds me. Put a burger up for Chase. He’ll be here any minute,” Roman said.

“I’m here now.” His older brother came up behind Izzy.

“Perfect timing. One cheese, one burger, and a steak. You have a seat and I’ll bring your drinks.” Isabelle started to leave.

“Coke for me, Izzy.” Chase shrugged off his jacket and hung it over the back of the chair, then settled into his seat. “So
what’d I miss?”

“Rick was telling me how happy he was with his life,” Roman said wryly.

“He ought to be. You’d be amazed, the predicaments the women in this town find themselves in just so they have an excuse to
call and have the cop come to their rescue,” Chase said. “We could donate a full page of the paper to Officer Rick’s exploits.”

Roman smirked. “I’m sure he doesn’t find it a hardship, do you?”

“No more than Chase finds it tough fending off the women with picnic baskets who try to coax him out of the office and onto
his back. I mean onto the picnic blanket.” Rick laughed and eased back in the vinyl-covered chair, satisfaction etched on
his face. “So many women, so little time.”

Roman laughed. “But there’s a bigger choice outside of Yorkshire Falls. How come you never made the move?” He always wondered
why his middle brother was content policing the small town when he could make better, more varied use of his talents in a
big city.

Lord knew, during the summers Roman had spent reporting for Chase, he’d felt confined by the small and often trivial stories
he’d been assigned, while the outside world pulled at him, beckoning him toward bigger and better … what, exactly, he hadn’t
known at the time. He still wasn’t sure what the draw was, but he wondered if his brother ever felt similar dissatisfaction,
or the pull to move on.

“Roman? Roman Chandler? Is that you?”

Apparently he wouldn’t be getting his answers anytime soon. He pushed his chair back, glanced up, and found himself face-to-face
with one of his old high school girlfriends.

“Beth Hansen?” He rose from his seat.

She squealed with excitement and wrapped her arms around his neck. “It
is
you. How are you? And how’d I miss the fact that you were home?”

“With my mom out of commission, things are a little slow on the gossip mill.” He returned the friendly hug and stepped back
to look her over.

Professionally touched-up blond hair fell to her shoulders, well styled and making her look more chic and less like the relaxed,
California-type girl he remembered. And was it his imagination, or had her breasts grown tremendously since he’d been gone?

“I heard about Raina. Is she okay?” Beth asked.

He nodded. “She will be, if she takes it easy and listens to the doctor.” And she’d be even better if Roman married and impregnated
a woman as soon as possible. No way could Roman think of his mission in terms less than clinical, not when love and desire
had nothing to do with it.

He appraised Beth once more, this time as a potential candidate. He’d always liked her, which would help in accomplishing
his goal. They’d been good friends, nothing more, but back in high school, he’d asked her out anyway. They’d gone out a few
times and had had sex in the backseat of Chase’s car—because she was willing and he’d been horny. But mostly because he’d
been in desperate need of ego-soothing after Charlotte Bronson’s rejection. If he didn’t “do it” for Charlotte, he’d decided
he was damn well going to “do it” for Beth.

And that had been all male ego, he admitted now. But he and Beth had stayed together till graduation because it was fun and
easy, going their separate ways after. Neither had been hurt and their camaraderie obviously remained.

“Give Raina my love, okay?” Beth asked.

“Will do.”

“So how long are you here for this time?” Her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Beth didn’t attract him like Charlotte had, but she had a good heart. Was she still interested? Roman wondered. And if so,
would she settle for a friendly but loveless marriage? He leaned closer. “How long do you want me here?”

She laughed and punched him in the shoulder. “You’re still such a tease. Everyone knows you don’t stick around any longer
than you have to.”

From behind him, Chase cleared his throat, a noise that sounded more like a warning. “Give Beth congratulations, Roman. She’s
gotten herself engaged to a big-city doctor. A plastic surgeon.”

Roman gave his brother a grateful smile for the heads-up before he made a bigger ass of himself by actually making a move
on Beth.

“I hope he knows what a lucky guy he is.” Roman grasped her hands, noticing for the first time the huge rock on her finger.
“Wow. I hope his heart is as big as this ring. You deserve it.”

She looked at him through honest eyes. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

If that was the sweetest, her fiancé had to work on his delivery, Roman thought.

“Listen, I’ve got to go take my seat. Don’t want to lose our table.” She gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek. “Don’t be
a stranger while you’re in town, okay?”

“Okay.”

He slipped back into his seat, hoping his brothers would forget that he’d obviously been scoping out Beth as a potential candidate.
He watched as she walked away and settled into a table out of earshot before glancing back at Rick and Chase.

The brothers looked at each other, neither breaking the silence until Rick let out a smothered laugh. “You hope his heart
is as big as that ring?”

Roman grinned. “What other comparison was there?” Without stating the obvious, he thought.

“For a minute there I thought you were going to mention the size of her … Never mind.” Rick shook his head, an amused grin
still on his face.

“You know I have more class than that.”

“Think they were worth ten grand?” Chase asked. “Not that her fiancé charged her or anything.”

“They were … impressive,” Roman said.

“Obviously impressive enough to make you consider taking the plunge.” One side of Chase’s mouth lifted in a smirk.

So much for hoping they’d back off. They’d always been good-natured jokers, that much hadn’t changed. “So I considered her
for a minute. I was falling back on the good times we had, not the size of her … You get the picture.”

The brothers all nodded in agreement.

Izzy stopped by with their drinks, ending that conversation.

“How ’bout Alice Magregor?” Chase asked as soon as Izzy was out of earshot. “She came by the paper the other day with a home-cooked
meal in a picnic basket and a bottle of Merlot. When I wasn’t interested, she asked about Rick. There’s an obvious sign she’s
looking to settle down.”

“With you two,” Roman muttered. There wasn’t a single available woman in Yorkshire Falls who hadn’t attempted to bait and
entice both Chase and Rick with her wares— baked and otherwise. “Wasn’t Alice the one with the big hair?”

“That was her,” Rick said.

“I don’t remember her being interested in more than hairstyles and makeup,” he recalled. And even if her hair had calmed down,
he didn’t remember anything they had in common. “I need intelligent conversation,” Roman said. “Can she hold up her end, or
is she still into the superficial?”

Chase groaned. “Roman’s right. There is a reason she’s still single in a town that pairs up right after graduation.”

Roman grabbed the cold, damp glass. “I’ve got to get this right the first time.” He leaned his head backward, feeling the
blood rush to his temples, before he lifted his head and met his brother’s gaze. “I need to pick someone Mom will like too.
She wants a grandchild for emotional reasons, but she also wants to feel a part of things again. I mean, the people in this
town were good to her after Dad died, but let’s face it, she became the widow no one knew what to do with.”

“She epitomized every wife’s greatest fear,” Chase added.

“Speaking of Mom … I just want to make sure you two remember the deal. Either of you blow the whistle on this plan and snitch
to Mom, and I’m on the first plane out of here, leaving you two to hold the bag. You got it?”

Rick let out a low growl. “You sure know how to take all the fun out of winning the coin toss.”

Roman never let his glare waver until Rick finally conceded. “Yeah, yeah. My lips are sealed.”

Chase shrugged. “Mine too, but you do realize she’s going to be forcing women down all three of our throats until Roman unveils
the bride.”

“That’s the price you pay for being single,” Roman reminded them.

“Then we’d better get serious before Mom’s up and around town again. Marianne Diamond?” Chase asked.

“Engaged to Fred Aames,” Rick said.

“The fat kid everyone made fun of.” Fat Freddy, Roman remembered now.

“Except you. You beat up Luther Hampton for stealing his lunch. I was too proud of you to give a shit that you’d gotten suspended,”
Chase recalled.

“So what’s Fred up to now?” Roman asked.

“Well, he’s not Fat Freddy anymore, that’s for sure,” Chase said.

“Well, good for him. Overweight’s unhealthy.”

“He followed in his old man’s footsteps. He’s got his own plumbing business. Everyone in town likes him and you started the
trend.” Rick sucked down the last of his soda with a loud slurp.

Roman shrugged. “I can’t believe you two remembered that.”

“There’s other things I remember too,” Chase said, a combination of humor and seriousness in his big-brotherly gaze.

“Dinner, boys.” Izzy had arrived with their meals. The mouthwatering aromas of Norman’s burger and fries reminded Roman his
stomach was empty. He snagged a fry before she’d had a chance to put the plate in front of him and popped it into his mouth.
“My compliments to the chef. His staple items are the best.”

“Enough with the fancy words. Just make sure you finish what’s on your plate. That’s the only compliment Norman needs.” She
said she’d be back with refills on the drinks, and disappeared once more.

“Now, where were we?” Chase asked.

Roman took a bite of his burger without waiting for Chase to finish with the ketchup. He chewed and swallowed.

“Discussing women.” Rick dove right in to the topic at hand.

“But looks like you’re in for another reunion first,” Chase said before any of them could offer another candidate.

Roman turned in his seat and saw a woman walking down the aisle of the restaurant, a vision in a tangerine-colored skirt and
low-necked tank, with lustrous black hair falling past her shoulders.

A rush of familiarity hit him in the gut at the same time Rick leaned close and whispered in his ear.

“Charlotte Bronson.”

The moment Roman focused on her face, he knew Rick was right. The warmth spreading through him made sense now, he thought,
studying her. Her body was no longer a girl’s but that of a woman—lush, full, and oh-so-tempting. Her porcelain skin was still
as radiant, her smile as vibrant, as he remembered, and the tug of a full-fledged grin pulled at his mouth. She’d always made
him smile just by being in a room, and that hadn’t changed. But she had. More cosmopolitan clothes and a more confident stride,
she’d obviously grown into herself.

His high school crush had become one hell of a beautiful woman. His mouth grew dry and beneath the table, he had one hell
of an erection he’d never be able to hide. This woman always had the damnedest effect on him, Roman thought, and his pulse
kicked into high gear as he waited for her to stop at his table.

All the while, Rick muttered in his ear, reminding Roman of why he’d hated having big brothers. “Five, four, three, two …”

And just when she’d have to stop and acknowledge him, she cut a sharp right turn and headed for the table where Beth had settled
in to wait.

He groaned and turned back to face the firing squad he called his siblings.

“Looks like she’s going to make you work for it, little brother.”

Hadn’t she always?

Chase laughed. “Bet you’re not used to being ignored. It’s got to be hell on the ego.”

“Shut the hell up,” Roman muttered. He hadn’t forgotten that one night in high school. Though he’d always considered Charlotte
the one that got away, he’d never forced the issue between them. It wasn’t that he was afraid of hard work or even another
rejection. He’d always had the inclination to pursue her; he’d just never had the time.

Things had changed. Back for a prolonged stay, Roman was no longer content to let her deliberately ignore him. It was time
to push the issue.

Roman
had
returned. Charlotte’s stomach churned; disbelief and shock rippled through her. Her initial glimpse through the store window
and the hunch she’d tried to ignore hadn’t prepared her for the impact of seeing him again.