Home > The Bachelor (Chandler Brothers #1)(31)

The Bachelor (Chandler Brothers #1)(31)
Author: Carly Phillips

A swell of emotion rose in Roman’s throat. “I owe you for that.”

Chase waved away the words. “I didn’t do it so one day you could owe me. Payback is the last thing I want. If I still wanted to travel, I could get on a damn plane now. My life is fine. So if you can’t do this thing and be satisfied,” he said, speaking of the coin toss, “then don’t do it.”

“Hey, I have every intention of doing my duty, but damned if I can see myself tied to just any woman in this town. Not when …”

“Not when there’s only one you want.”

Roman reached for the bottle again, then shoved the liquor away instead. “Exactly,” he said, facing Chase’s words head-on.

He pushed himself out of the chair and walked over to the window. He gazed out at the scenery that had always given his father such great pleasure—he knew this because all three kids had taken turns sitting on their father’s lap as he typed in an article, took ads on the phone, or just hung out with his children, all with this view behind him. Computers replaced the old Smith Corona typewriters now, and the trees were larger, the roots buried deeper, but otherwise things hadn’t changed. Young as he’d been when his father was still alive, Roman’s memories were vague. But they existed on the fringe of memory and gave him comfort, even now.

“It’s obvious she’s interested in you too, so what’s the problem?”

Roman inhaled. “I don’t want to hurt her and everything about this coin toss and my plan reeks of her dad, Russell Bronson.”

“Damn.” Chase pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I’ll take that as an agreement.”

“So who’s in the running instead?” Chase asked.

Roman watched as a breeze blew through the branches on the not-yet-budding trees. Only the yellow forsythia and the newly green grass added color to the setting below. As he stared down, a distant memory came into focus, of a family picnic he’d had here, one planned by his mother in an attempt to get his workaholic father out for fresh air and time with the kids. He could almost smell the chicken sandwiches his mom had made and hear his father’s voice as he coached Rick on how to hold a bat while Raina pitched the ball.

When it came to his own child, Roman couldn’t imagine any woman other than Charlotte playing the role of wife and mother—but neither could he picture himself settling down into the family role at the expense of the career he’d built and loved. But a child was in his future. And he didn’t want to make that child with any woman other than Charlotte.

“No one else is in the running.”

Chase came up behind him and slapped him on the back. “Then I suggest you figure out a way to convince the lady she can accept a long-distance marriage, little brother.”

Now, that was a challenge, Roman thought. Charlotte wasn’t ready to hear the words marriage or babies coming from his lips. Hell, he wasn’t sure he was ready to say them either. But he had to begin somewhere. “What’d you tell me when I wanted to do my first interview and I chose the mayor?” He’d been sixteen and convinced he could take on the world as a reporter.

“Start slow and learn as you go. Same words Dad told me. You impress me. I can’t believe those words penetrated that thick skull of yours.” Chase grinned.

“You mean since I parked outside the mayor’s office until he’d answer my questions, instead of going to the president of the PTA like you suggested?” Roman laughed at the memory.

“When it comes to Charlotte, I’m going to follow your old advice,” he said to Chase. “But don’t let it go to your head.”

Roman would start slow. Spending time and getting to know her again would be a pleasure. He didn’t have to worry about seduction. The attraction handled itself whenever he and Charlotte were together. If things worked out, he’d have the career he loved, and the woman he’d always wanted, not just in his bed, but in his life.

He started for the door.

“Where are you going?”

He turned back to Chase. “To make sure I get under Charlotte’s skin and into her life—to the point where she never wants me out.”

* * *

Charlotte closed the store for the day at five. Saturday night was officially upon her. She rubbed her eyes and glanced up at Beth, who was twirling a pencil between her hands. “What are you thinking?” Charlotte asked her friend.

“Nothing.”

“Baloney. You’ve been avoiding any serious talk with me for the last two weeks. You need a friend and I’m it. So please, let me help you.”

Beth shook her head. “I wish I could, Charlotte, but you wouldn’t understand.”

Charlotte wondered if she should be offended. “Do I look that unfeeling to you?”

“No, just set in your beliefs. Any relationship that resembles your mother and father immediately gets your stamp of disapproval. I’m just not up to hearing it.”

Charlotte’s heart hammered in her throat as she walked over to her best friend. “I never meant to pass judgment. I just hurt for you. If anything I said or did came off harshly, I’m sorry. But Beth, you’re a beautiful woman, engaged to a man you love, and you’re still miserable. Why?” Charlotte swallowed hard, not wanting to sound disapproving. “Because you’re here and he’s in the city?”

Beth shook her head. “Not just that.”

“Please explain things to me. I promise to listen, not judge.” Charlotte tugged on Beth’s hand and led her to the chairs in the waiting area. “I’ll get us something to drink and you can talk to me, okay?”

Seconds later, a can of soda popped for each of them, Charlotte joined Beth. She curled her legs beneath her. “So you two met over Christmas?” She brought Beth’s memories back to the beginning.

“Yes. Norman had his annual party and David was in town visiting the Ramseys—Joanne is his mother’s sister. Anyway, we were introduced, started talking … I fell for him that night. I just knew he was the one.”

“What’d you talk about? How did you know he was the one?” Charlotte leaned forward, dying to hear that her suspicions about David were wrong, that he and Beth truly had more goals and interests in common than she’d seen so far.

“His job, mostly. He has famous clients, but he also had everyday women who needed a change to make the most of their potential.”

“Sounds interesting,” Charlotte lied. “And when he walked you home, did he kiss you under the stars?” For Beth, Charlotte wanted the happily-ever-after story she’d yet to come across on her own.

“No. Actually, he was a gentleman. He kissed me on the cheek and …”

Charlotte placed her hand over Beth’s. “And what?”

“Gave me his card. He said if I was ever in New York, to look him up. That he was certain he could maximize my beauty.”

Charlotte’s stomach plummeted, her fears coming to life. “Beth—I’m going out on a limb here, so hit me if you have to—why did you feel like you had to maximize what was already beautiful? None of us are perfect, honey.”

“Well, I wasn’t attracting the right man as I was,” she said defensively.

Hot Books
» House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1)
» A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
» From Blood and Ash (Blood And Ash #1)
» A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime
» Deviant King (Royal Elite #1)
» Den of Vipers
» House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2)
» The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #
» Sweet Temptation
» The Sweetest Oblivion (Made #1)
» Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels #6)
» Wreck & Ruin
» Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2)
» Twisted Hate (Twisted #3)
» The Play (Briar U Book 3)