“How will I ever know?” she asked, taking him off guard. “How will I ever know if you’re with me because you want to be, or you’re with me because you promised your brothers you’d be the one who gave your mother a grandchild?” She shook her head. “This whole town knows Chandler family loyalty is strong. Chase is the prime example, and you’re following his lead.”
“I’m proud of my big brother. It’s not a bad lead to follow. Especially if it takes me in the right direction.” There wasn’t anything more he could say. He’d already told her he was only going to state his case once. Nothing he said now would change her mind unless she wanted to believe.
“Take a chance on me, Charlotte. Take a chance with me.” He held out his hand. His future stretched before him—would it be full or as empty as his palm was now?
His guts shook with real fear as he watched her clench her fists tight. She couldn’t even meet him halfway.
“I … I can’t. You want me to trust while I know damn well you Chandlers are confirmed bachelors. None of you wanted commitment. You had to toss a coin to decide who’d have to give up his life for the family this time.” She rose to her feet. “And I can’t even claim to be a prize you won, but a penalty for losing everything you held dear.”
She’d put up walls he doubted he could breach. At least not now. He stood and grabbed her hand one last time. “I’m not your father.”
“From where I stand, I don’t see much difference.”
And that was the problem, he thought. She couldn’t see past her family’s troubled history. She was obviously afraid. Afraid of repeating her mother’s life, her mother’s mistakes. He’d damn Annie and Russell to hell and back, only he couldn’t blame them any longer. Charlotte was a grown woman capable of seeing the truth and making her own decisions.
The urge to pull her into his arms was strong, but he doubted it would do any good. “I never figured you for a coward.”
She narrowed her gaze and glared at him. “You’re an equal disappointment.” She pivoted and ran from the kitchen, leaving him behind.
“Son of a bitch.” Roman walked into the outer room and kicked the first garbage can he saw across the room. The heavy metal clunked across the floor and hit the wall with a dull bang.
“I take it things didn’t go well.” Chase met him at the bottom of the steps that led to his upstairs office.
“That’s an understatement.” He let out a groan. “This isn’t the way it was supposed to be.”
Chase swung the door shut. “That’ll keep out any more stragglers. So whoever told you life would go easy? You’ve just been lucky for a while. But no more coasting, little brother. You’re going to have to work for this.” He turned and leaned against the doorframe. “If it’s what you want.”
Roman should want to get the hell out of this town and away from the pain and aggravation. From his mother’s heart condition to Charlotte’s broken heart. Unfortunately there was nowhere left to run. The emotions dredged up would follow him wherever he went. This trip back had taught him Yorkshire Falls wasn’t just a place to visit, it was home, with all the baggage that word entailed. All the baggage he’d been running from his entire life.
“You’re damn right it’s what I want. She’s what I want.” Yet after avoiding burden and responsibility for years, now that he was ready to shoulder all the ups and downs of a committed relationship, the woman he desired wanted nothing more to do with him.
“So what do you plan to do about it?”
He had no idea. “I do need to look into D.C.,” Roman told Chase, at the exact moment Rick let himself into the front office, keys dangling from his hand.
“What about D.C.?” Rick asked.
“Roman’s going to look into a desk job.” Chase’s tone held surprise and he pinched the bridge of his nose as he obviously digested the information.
“Don’t get carried away,” Roman muttered. “I’ve been offered a senior editor position at the Post.”
“You’re leaving town?” Rick shoved his hands into his front pockets.
“He might as well. No one here’s going to miss him,” Chase said with a grin. He slapped Roman on the back.
“Shut the hell up.”
Rick laughed. “Charlotte problems? Then I guess she can’t vouch for your whereabouts last night?”
Roman’s head began a steady, dull throb. “Don’t tell me.”
His middle brother nodded. “Panty theft number six. So once again, I have to ask. Just where were you last night?”
Chase and Rick chuckled aloud, always enjoying a laugh at Roman’s expense. He didn’t answer, knew he didn’t need to. But despite the ribbing and laughter, Roman wasn’t fooled. Like him, neither of his brothers were thrilled to know they still had an unsolved crime spree in Yorkshire Falls.
* * *
Charlotte left the Gazette at a run, slowed when she got winded, and began a slow walk back to town. A twisting pain in her stomach made the pickup truck bumping down the road a welcome sight.
Charlotte stuck out her thumb and hitched her first ride ever. Fred Aames, the town’s only plumber, offered to drop her off at her doorstep. She was halfway back to her shop and away from Roman when she realized she hadn’t taken an ad in the paper. She’d just have to call Chase later. No way in hell was she going back to face the Chandler brothers and their stinking coin toss. She wondered if they were laughing about it, then shook her head.
Roman wouldn’t be laughing. He was out a candidate and would have to start over. Find another woman he could screw and leave behind, pregnant.
Her stomach churned and it took all her willpower not to ask Fred to pull over so she could puke in someone’s rhododendrons.
“So did you hear?”
