“I know.” She bit down on her lower lip, gnawing the plump skin between her teeth. “And I wish my father had been as honest with my mother.”
Her words caught Roman off guard. He knew only what the rest of town knew—that Russell Bronson had breezed out of Yorkshire Falls, abandoning his wife and young child. He returned at intermittent intervals, stayed for a while, only to take off again. Roman also knew the abandonment caused both women much pain. Something he never wanted or intended to do.
He reached out and touched Charlotte’s cheek. “It’s not the same thing.”
“That’s because I’d know going in there’s no long-term commitment involved. Otherwise it’d be exactly the same.”
Her voice was husky and emotion-filled, reaching deep down and touching Roman’s heart. It had been a long time since anyone or anything struck such an emotional chord inside him. Not since his father’s death and the early years of his mother’s grief, and Roman instinctively rebelled against the welling feelings.
Unfortunately, the chord, once struck, reverberated with intensity and truth. And he didn’t like being lumped in a category that held the town’s deadbeat dad and wandering husband, the man who’d hurt Charlotte badly.
“I’d never dishonor my commitments that way.” But as Roman spoke, he realized that was exactly what he’d planned to do.
Get married, impregnate his wife, and get out. Exactly what Charlotte’s father had done to her mother. Roman had just been too self-absorbed by the life change ahead of him to consider what his actions would or could do to the woman he involved.
He shook his head, disgusted. Even if his motives were unselfish, for his mother’s good and not his own, his actions were destined to hurt someone just the same. He swallowed a curse. Seen through Charlotte’s eyes, Charlotte’s past, his plans were disgraceful.
But the family obligation and his mother’s need remained. Roman could only hope his same plan, as selfish as he now realized it was, would be viewed differently by a woman who didn’t fear abandonment, who understood the way things had to be going in, and who wanted a child but not necessarily the typical family scenario too. Charlotte wouldn’t understand or accept. Another woman might. But if Roman didn’t get Charlotte out from under his skin as soon as possible, his promise to his brothers was in jeopardy.
“I know you’re not sticking around,” she said. “I knew that when I … when I approached you. But getting you out of my system—that has nothing to do with long-term. I don’t want a commitment from you. I wasn’t asking for one.”
“But you’d resent me in the end. It’s not in you to accept less, and I can’t give more. I’m not the kind of man you need. The stay-around-forever kind of guy.” He shook his head. “Us getting involved would be foolish. And painful.” For both of them. “No matter how much we wish otherwise.”
She inclined her head and her cheek came to rest in the palm of his hand. “I know you wouldn’t. Dishonor your commitments, I mean. You Chandlers are too forthright.”
If she only knew, Roman thought. Charlotte must never ever know about the coin toss and the damn deal. “We’re the town’s most upstanding citizens,” he said wryly.
“That’s the reason you’re here spilling your guts why you turned me down. It’s more than I once did for you,” she admitted softly. “You’re a hell of a man, Roman. More than I ever gave you credit for.”
“Don’t make the mistake of painting me as a good guy,” he warned her.
She tipped her head back, looking at him through thick lashes. “I wouldn’t call you an angel, but you are looking out for me. I appreciate that even if I don’t like what I’m hearing.” A regret-filled smile tilted her lips.
“I can’t say I like it either.” Any of it. Despite his words of warning and protest, Roman desperately wanted to kiss those lips one last time. A final good-bye.
She must have read his mind, because she lifted up onto her tiptoes at the same time he lowered his mouth to hers. But a simple kiss wasn’t enough to satisfy his craving and he held her face in his hands, cradling her for deeper access to her mouth.
It was meant to be a farewell kiss, strong and hot enough to fill a lifetime of memories. He slipped his hands around her waist and began to bunch the material of her dress, pulling the soft cotton upward inch by inch until he could finally feel the bare skin on her midriff.
His fingers gripped her warm flesh, and as she let out a soft sigh, his heart thudded harder in his chest.
And all of a sudden he knew—he couldn’t say good-bye any more than he could choose another woman as his wife to bear his children. Before he could process that thought, a loud knock sounded at the door, startling them both.
She jumped back and reality returned along with a banging that wouldn’t cease.
Roman expelled a frustrated groan. “Tell me you’re not expecting company.”
“I’m not.” She averted her eyes, unable to meet his gaze. “I wasn’t expecting you either, and there’s no one else who’d come by this time of night without calling first.”
“Good.” He wasn’t in the mood to deal with other human beings. “Go away,” he called out and got one of her elbows in his ribs.
“I said I wasn’t expecting anyone, but it could be important.”
He let her go, shock still rippling through him at the conclusion he’d come to after that kiss.
“Open up, Roman. It’s the police.” Rick’s voice traveled to them.
Despite the somber mood that had settled between them, Charlotte failed to stifle a laugh and Roman wasn’t
