The Bachelor (Chandler Brothers 1)

“I’ll have the same.”

“So what are you up to while you’re home?” Izzy asked.

“One day at a time. Tonight I’ll see if Chase needs any help while I’m around.”

She stuck her pen behind her ear. “You Chandler boys work too hard.”

Rick shrugged. “It’s the way we were raised, Izzy.”

“That reminds me. Put a burger up for Chase. He’ll be here any minute,” Roman said.

“I’m here now.” His older brother came up behind Izzy.

“Perfect timing. One cheese, one burger, and a steak. You have a seat and I’ll bring your drinks.” Isabelle started to leave.

“Coke for me, Izzy.” Chase shrugged off his jacket and hung it over the back of the chair, then settled into his seat. “So what’d I miss?”

“Rick was telling me how happy he was with his life,” Roman said wryly.

“He ought to be. You’d be amazed, the predicaments the women in this town find themselves in just so they have an excuse to call and have the cop come to their rescue,” Chase said. “We could donate a full page of the paper and online to Officer Rick’s exploits.”

Roman smirked. “I’m sure he doesn’t find it a hardship, do you?”

“No more than Chase finds it tough fending off the women with picnic baskets who try to coax him out of the office and onto his back. I mean onto the picnic blanket.” Rick laughed and eased back in the vinyl-covered chair, satisfaction etched on his face. “So many women, so little time.”

Roman laughed. “But there’s a bigger choice outside of Yorkshire Falls. How come you never made the move?” He always wondered why his middle brother was content policing the small town when he could make better, more varied use of his talents in a big city.

Lord knew, during the summers Roman had spent reporting for Chase, he’d felt confined by the small and often trivial stories he’d been assigned, while the outside world pulled at him, beckoning him toward bigger and better … what, exactly, he hadn’t known at the time. He still wasn’t sure what the draw was, but he wondered if his brother ever felt similar dissatisfaction, or the pull to move on.

“Roman? Roman Chandler? Is that you?”

Apparently he wouldn’t be getting his answers anytime soon. He pushed his chair back, glanced up, and found himself face-to-face with one of his old high school girlfriends.

“Beth Hansen?” He rose from his seat.

She squealed with excitement and wrapped her arms around his neck. “It is you. How are you? And how’d I miss the fact that you were home?”

“With my mom out of commission, things are a little slow on the gossip mill.” He returned the friendly hug and stepped back to look her over.

Professionally touched-up blond hair fell to her shoulders, well styled and making her look more chic and less like the relaxed, California-type girl he remembered. And was it his imagination, or had her breasts grown tremendously since he’d been gone?

“I heard about Raina. Is she okay?” Beth asked.

He nodded. “She will be, if she takes it easy and listens to the doctor.” And she’d be even better if Roman married and impregnated a woman as soon as possible. No way could Roman think of his mission in terms less than clinical, not when love and desire had nothing to do with it.

He appraised Beth once more, this time as a potential candidate. He’d always liked her, which would help in accomplishing his goal. They’d been good friends, nothing more, but back in high school, he’d asked her out anyway. They’d gone out a few times and had had sex in the backseat of Chase’s car—because she was willing and he’d been horny. But mostly because he’d been in desperate need of ego-soothing after Charlotte Bronson’s rejection. If he didn’t “do it” for Charlotte, he’d decided he was damn well going to “do it” for Beth.

And that had been all male ego, he admitted now. But he and Beth had stayed together till graduation because it was fun and easy, going their separate ways after. Neither had been hurt and their camaraderie obviously remained.

“Give Raina my love, okay?” Beth asked.

“Will do.”

“So how long are you here for this time?” Her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Beth didn’t attract him like Charlotte had, but she had a good heart. Was she still interested? Roman wondered. And if so, would she settle for a friendly but loveless marriage? He leaned closer. “How long do you want me here?”

She laughed and punched him in the shoulder. “You’re still such a tease. Everyone knows you don’t stick around any longer than you have to.”

From behind him, Chase cleared his throat, a noise that sounded more like a warning. “Give Beth congratulations, Roman. She’s gotten herself engaged to a big-city doctor. A plastic surgeon.”

Roman gave his brother a grateful smile for the heads-up before he made a bigger ass of himself by actually making a move on Beth.