The Bachelor (Chandler Brothers 1)

“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 office 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 with as much disgust for the nick-name as he’d had then.

“Except you. You beat up Luther Hampton for stealing his lunch and making fun of him. 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.