Roman’s sharp intake of breath sliced into her heart, but she refused to let it change her intentions. In her mind, she saw herself as she’d been when she’d run out from behind the bleachers, laughing, happy, and excited from her run-in with Roman. Looking forward with aroused anticipation to the night ahead, when she could get him alone. And before her now, she saw her mother, with similarly flushed cheeks and a carefree expression—all because Russell Bronson had deigned to return.
The parallels between herself and her mother were strong. So strong, she could begin to see how Annie’s life began and ended with Russell. A lifetime in limbo. No way would Charlotte allow herself to end up like her. She looked back and forth between the two men with the power to rip her heart to pieces if she let them. She couldn’t afford to soften toward either one right now.
Much as she didn’t want to hurt Roman, he represented everything she feared. How had she let herself forget that? “You know, now that I think about it, you two have so much in common it’s uncanny.”
Russell glanced at Roman, or, more accurately, Charlotte thought, Roman’s hand on her shoulder. “I’m not sure that’s true.”
“Oh, I am. How long are you in town for this time? A day? A weekend? Or maybe longer, since you have a few months before pilot season starts.”
“Charlotte!” Her mother spoke up, giving her daughter a warning touch on the arm.
Charlotte covered her mother’s chilled hand with her own. The last person she wanted to hurt was Annie. “See? He doesn’t have an answer, Mom. He’ll leave when he gets bored.”
Charlotte glanced up at Roman, then turned away when a lump rose to her throat. “How about you?” she asked without meeting his gaze. “Raina looks healthier by the day.” She pointed to where his mother sat on a beach blanket with Eric Fallon, watching them. So were Fred Aames, Marianne Diamond, Pearl Robinson, Eldin Wingate, and everyone else in town. Charlotte hated being the center of notoriety. “You can take off anytime now too. I told you, you both had a lot in common.”
Before she could lose control of herself or what remained of her composure, she pivoted and took off. Away from her mother, her father, but most of all, away from Roman.
CHAPTER TEN
Roman watched Charlotte go. Away from the field, her father, and away from him. Her pain was his pain, and he shoved his hands in his pockets and groaned in frustration. He couldn’t let her run off alone. Not when she was so upset. He’d just seen firsthand the devastation her father’s return had caused.
“Someone ought to go after her,” Annie said. Clearly she wasn’t referring to herself, since she gripped Russell’s arm more firmly.
“Someone should,” Russell added. “But she won’t listen to anything I have to say.”
“Is it any wonder?” Roman raised an eyebrow at her parents. “I’m not here to pass judgment”—Lord knew he didn’t live a blameless life—“but did either one of you consider talking to her privately instead of making a public spectacle of this family reunion?” Feeling precious minutes slipping away, Roman glanced out toward the field. Relief passed through him when he realized Charlotte was taking the long route home, on foot.
Russell shrugged helplessly, regret obvious in the green eyes that looked so much like Charlotte’s. “Annie felt sure she wouldn’t come over if we told her on the phone and thought she wouldn’t walk out on us in a crowd.”
“And you don’t know her well enough to say differently.”
Russell shook his head. “But I want to. I always have.”
Roman’s mother and Eric chose that moment to join them. Roman had been surprised to see his mother at the baseball game, but since she’d been with Eric again, and sitting on a blanket the whole time, he figured she was feeling up to it. And maybe even feeling a bit better.
“I hope we’re not interrupting,” Eric said.
“Apparently, in this group, the more the merrier,” Roman muttered. He had little time left before he’d have to break down Charlotte’s door if he wanted to get her alone. “Russell, can I have a word with you?” he asked, shooting his mother a pointed, knowing glance.
“Annie, come have some lemonade. I made it myself and it’s delicious.”
“But …” Panic flared in Annie’s eyes, as if she were afraid in the five minutes she’d be gone, Russell would disappear again.
Watching Annie gave Roman better insight into Charlotte’s fears. She wasn’t anything like her insecure mother, yet he could see how she’d instilled a fear in Charlotte—the fear of becoming as needy and sadly pathetic and isolated as her own mother.
He wanted to shield her from pain and take care of her forever, but Charlotte would freeze him out before she’d let him close enough to hurt her. And the thought shook him straight to the core.
Because he loved her.
He loved her. The truth settled in his heart, warming places that had always been cold.
He admired her fierce desire to maintain herself and her individuality, to not end up like her mother. He admired the business she’d built on her own, in a town that hadn’t been prepared, yet she’d won the people over anyway. He loved how she saw the best in him even when he didn’t deserve it. He loved everything about her.
Viewing her deepest pain up close forced him to acknowledge his feelings. Feelings that had to come second to Charlotte’s needs or he’d risk losing her forever. He’d tell her, but the timing had to be right.
It was beyond him how he’d know when that was. Roman’s family was hardly setting an example of functional relationships. Chase was hanging out with the single guys from the paper, drinking beer, talking sports, and sleeping with the occasional good-time woman and never getting involved. Rick rescued women, and right now he was playing Prince Charming to Beth Hansen until she got over her broken engagement and was ready to move on. Then he’d move on as well to the next woman in his life.
Roman shook his head, knowing he didn’t have the role models to look to for answers. He was on his own.
“No buts,” Eric cut in, speaking to Annie, his voice somehow soothing yet authoritative at the same time. “I have to insist you taste Raina’s drink. Besides, Raina isn’t supposed to spend too much time on her feet, and I’d appreciate you taking her back to the blanket until I can get there.”
“Go on, Annie.” Russell patted her arm and eased himself out of her grasp.
Once the trio had disappeared, Roman faced Charlotte’s father. “I don’t have much time.”
“I realize that. But you should know life is more complicated than any of you”—Russell swept his arm around, gesturing to the ball field and hence the people of the town—“can understand.”
In his pained expression, Roman didn’t see the self-absorbed actor who’d abandoned his family for fame and fortune. Instead he saw an aging man who’d lost much. Roman let out a groan. “It’s not any of us who needs to understand. It’s your daughter.” He pinned Russell with a steady gaze. “If you really care, I hope you’ll take the time during this trip to prove it.”