The Bachelor (Chandler Brothers 1)

She’d gathered every ounce of courage she possessed to turn back toward him and reenact her fantasy. To reach out for him first. To accept and give in to his kiss despite knowing he could hurt her badly. And he had. The man had given her ego a huge bruising she wouldn’t soon forget. Now she knew how he’d felt all those years ago. Payback sucked royally, she thought.

And yet she couldn’t deny his lingering appeal. She let her gaze wander across the packed room. He was scrumptiously alluring in black jeans and a white pullover shirt. He stood out from the crowd, and not just by defying convention and not wearing green. Her eyes were drawn back to him again and again. Apparently the problem wasn’t mutual, because he hadn’t once glanced her way.

Instead he drifted from single female to single female, plying his charm, easy grin, and sex appeal. It galled Charlotte to see that he had an extremely receptive audience. She was merely one of many. And it hurt.

She arrived back at her station to find she had company. Raina Chandler sat behind the long table serving as a makeshift bar. “Hi, Raina.”

The older woman graced her with a huge, welcoming smile.

“Let me look at you.” Charlotte stepped back and took in the older woman’s appearance. She was slender as always and a makeup-induced glow radiated in her cheeks. From looking at Raina, Charlotte couldn’t tell she’d been in the hospital. “You look wonderful!”

“Thank you. I’m trying not to let my health get me down.” Raina’s glance darted sideways, then back again.

“Well, I haven’t seen you all week. I hope that means you’re taking good care of yourself. One hospital trip is one too many.”

Raina nodded. “I’m learning to be more cautious,” she acknowledged. “Now back to you. I’ve come to relieve you. Go mingle.”

“Oh, no.” Charlotte shook her head. “I’m not going to let you stand on your feet and handle punch bowl duty. You need rest.”

Raina waved a hand in the air, dismissing the possibility. “I’m not your replacement.”

Charlotte glanced around, but she didn’t see anyone with her. “Who is? Not my mother, I hope?”

“Last I saw, your mother was doing quite nicely. Socializing, even.”

“Dennis Sterling?” Charlotte asked, unable to hide the hope in her voice.

“Unfortunately, Dennis is going to be late.”

Charlotte sighed. As the town’s only veterinarian, any animal emergency fell into Dennis’s lap.

Raina patted her hand. “Don’t worry. If the man’s interested, once he takes a look at your mom tonight, he’ll be persistent.”

“Isn’t she gorgeous? I picked her dress myself.”

“Your taste is impeccable, as always. You look beautiful too.”

“Thank you.” Knowing she’d picked out this outfit with Raina’s youngest son in mind, Charlotte felt the heat rise to her cheeks. Especially since she’d decided to go with something daring, an outfit she’d purchased during her New York City days.

Maybe he’d been able to resist her enough to pull away, but not before she’d felt his body’s reaction to her. The man wasn’t immune. And tonight she needed the ego boost of having his appraising eyes focused on her. Unfortunately, that blue gaze wasn’t nearly as interested in her tonight as she’d hoped.

“I understand you and my youngest had a run-in,” Raina said, as if she could see into Charlotte’s innermost thoughts.

The flush turned into a full-fledged burn in her cheeks. Who could possibly have seen her with Roman? she wondered, this afternoon’s events playing out in erotic detail in her mind. “I … uh … we …”

“Met up again in Norman’s a few nights ago. Rick told me.” Raina ignored Charlotte’s exhale of relief and merely patted her hand once more. “You never know what might develop after years apart. I’m here to give you a chance to put that sexy outfit to good use. Sam’s going to watch the punch bowl, aren’t you?” Raina reached behind her and pulled the town’s ultimate loner into view.

“Hi, Sam.” She was surprised he’d ventured into a crowded function, but free food and drink might explain that.

“I wanted to ask you how you two were acquainted,” Raina said.

“She’s just a sucker for an old man,” he muttered. Charlotte nodded. She’d always had a soft spot for the loner.

“And Sam sometimes does errands for me.” Mailing letters and such in return for cash that enabled him to buy food, she thought, but she didn’t say that out loud.

He was a proud man few in town bothered to know or understand. But even as a little girl, she’d remembered seeing her mother reach out to him. Charlotte was saddened, on her return to Yorkshire Falls, to see Sam’s solitary life had stayed the same, and she’d gone out of her way to help him without directly offering charity.

“Well, now he’s going to watch the punch bowl,” Raina said.