Unknown - [Carly Phillips] The Bachelor (The Chandler Brothe(Bookos.org) (1)

He’d already realized he hadn’t been living—when he’d connected with Charlotte this weekend. And as his mother spoke, he realized why. In an effort not to repeat the painful grieving process he’d seen his mother go through, Roman had opted to run, to travel, keeping his distance—from the town, his family, and Charlotte. Charlotte, the one woman who he’d always known, or at least sensed, could tie him to Yorkshire Falls and keep him here.

The one woman who had the power to hurt him, to make him feel the very pain he feared, should she die or leave him in any way. But his one night with her proved he couldn’t live without her either.

She was worth any risk.

“I’ve lived and I’ve loved. Not everyone can say the same. I’ve been lucky,” his mother said.

A wry smile twisted Roman’s lips. “You could have been luckier.”

A combination of sadness and happiness, of obvious memories, settled in her eyes. “I won’t lie. Of course I’d rather we’d have grown old and raised you boys together, but then I wouldn’t have this chance with Eric.” Her concerned gaze met his. “You’re sure you aren’t upset about that?”

“I think he’s good for you. Nothing about that upsets me.”

She smiled. “You do realize you can’t run away from life forever.”

He wasn’t surprised she’d read his thoughts. His mother had always been perceptive. He’d inherited the trait that had helped shape his career, but it was a pain in the ass when used against him. And it was that perceptiveness which left him too open to seeing and feeling his mother’s hurt.

“Well, I suppose you can keep running, but think about how much you’d be missing.” She patted his hand in the motherly gesture he knew so well. “And you’re too smart to continue on with something that’s an escape and not a solution. So, having said all that, where does Charlotte fit into your life now?

And don’t tell me she doesn’t.”

She’d returned to her mission. “You know me better than to think I’d tell,” Roman said.

She raised her gaze toward the heavens. “Girls. Why couldn’t God have given me one girl with my boys, so I could understand what just one of you were thinking?”

“Come on, Mom. You know you like to be kept guessing. It keeps you young.”

“I’d rather drink from the Fountain of Youth,” she muttered. “Speaking of girls, you told me you were going to visit an old friend who’d moved to Albany last night, but Samson tells me he saw Charlotte leaving in your car.”

“For a man who’s the town recluse, he’s too full of information.” Roman wondered who else had seen them leave. Not that it mattered. He intended to make an honest woman out of her, no harm to her reputation involved. Unless marrying a Chandler who had a rumored fetish for women’s panties was a problem.

As amazing as it seemed, even to him, he was ready to make a commitment now—one that offered more than he’d envisioned after losing the coin toss. But before he approached Charlotte with the idea, he needed to convince her that he could and would make a good father and husband, that he wanted Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

more than a long-distance marriage of convenience. Exactly how much more, how much he was willing to sacrifice in his career, his travel, he still had to think through. He had commitments, people relying on him, and a real enjoyment of his job he didn’t want to lose when this leave of absence was through.

But his goal now was personal. His mother’s grandchildren would be the by-product of that goal, but not the reason for Roman’s marriage. He felt light-headed and dizzy, much like the day of his first AP

assignment.

“You could have told me you were going away with Charlotte,” his mother said, interrupting his thoughts.

“And have you questioning the poor woman? I figured I’d spare her.”

An amused gleam lit her gaze. “Well, I can still do that despite your intent to keep me in the dark. But I won’t. She has enough on her hands now.”

His inner alarm went off. If Alice had been crazy enough to crawl into his bed, who knows what else was going on in this town? “Why’s that? Another panty theft?”

His mother shook her head. “No, and Rick’s plenty annoyed that no one got you off the hook last night, that much I can tell you. Not that the police consider you a suspect, but with Alice and the ladies in town still in an uproar—”

“Mom, what’s wrong with Charlotte?” He interrupted her rambling.

“Sorry. I got carried away.” She flushed.

He didn’t like the sound of her voice or the frown on her lips. “What’s going on?”

She sighed. “Russell Bronson’s back in town.”

Roman muttered a curse.

“Behave yourself,” his mother said, but the sympathetic look on her face told him she understood just why he was upset.

The timing of Charlotte’s father’s return couldn’t be worse. Just because Roman had come to terms with himself, his past, and his future didn’t mean Charlotte had. He’d been struggling with himself from the moment he’d come back to town and lost the coin toss. Despite his attempts to stay away, Charlotte was the only woman he wanted in his life. The only woman he wanted to sleep with, the only one to have his children.

Originally he’d made that choice due to losing the coin toss. It’d been a selfish, unemotional decision because he’d still been running. Still thinking of himself more than Charlotte, no matter how much he’d attempted to convince himself otherwise. He’d had a need. She’d been the one he’d chosen to fill it. So simple. So stupid. She deserved so much more—a man who loved her, who’d be there for her, and who would give her the family life she’d been denied as a child. Roman wanted to be the man to provide her with all those things. But she’d never believe him, especially not now.

Raina rested her chin on one hand. “Do you have a plan?”

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

If he did, he wouldn’t share it with his mother. But as things stood now, his mind was as blank as his laptop screen on a bad day.

“Well, I suggest you come up with something,” she said in the wake of his silence.

He shot his mother an annoyed look. “That much I already figured out. But unless Russell’s not the scum of the earth the town thinks he is, I’m in trouble.”

“I don’t know what Russell is.” His mother shrugged. “He’s been gone too long. You’re the reporter, you ferret out the facts. Just remember, there are three sides to every story: his, hers, and the truth.”

Roman nodded. He just hoped the truth was enough to secure their future.

Charlotte floated into work Monday morning, light on her feet and happier than she’d been in ages. For as long as the euphoria lasted, she intended to enjoy it and not dissect all the reasons why she shouldn’t get too used to Roman or his attention. He’d asked her to keep an open mind and he made her feel too good to argue. He made her think anything was possible after all. Even them. She shocked herself with her new, enlightened attitude, but he’d given her no reason to doubt him.

“I smell coffee,” Beth said, coming out of the back room.

“You smell chai tea. Norman hasn’t progressed to iced lattes, but he has gotten this tea in and it’s delicious. Hot, cold, doesn’t matter. I went for hot today. Here, taste.” Charlotte handed Beth her own cup. “It’s very sweet,” she warned Beth in case she was expecting a more bitter taste.

Beth took an experimental sip. Her eyes opened wide. “It’s like a mix of honey and vanilla. Yum.”