Bachelor by Phillips Carly

Author:Phillips, Carly [Phillips, Carly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Humour
ISBN: 9780446610544
Amazon: 0446610542
Barnesnoble: 0446610542
Goodreads: 662853
Published: 2002-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Roman watched Charlotte go. Away from the field, her father, and away from him. Her pain was his pain, and he shoved his hands in his pockets and groaned in frustration.

He couldn’t let her run off alone. Not when she was so upset. He’d just seen firsthand the devastation her father’s return had caused.

“Someone ought to go after her,” Annie said. Clearly she wasn’t referring to herself, since she gripped Russel ’s arm more firmly.

“Someone should,” Russel added. “But she won’t listen to anything I have to say.”

“Is it any wonder?” Roman raised an eyebrow at her parents. “I’m not here to pass judgment”—Lord knew he didn’t live a blameless life—“but did either one of you consider talking to her privately instead of making a public spectacle of this family reunion?” Feeling precious minutes slipping away, Roman glanced out toward the field. Relief passed through him when he realized Charlotte was taking the long route home, on foot.

Russell shrugged helplessly, regret obvious in the green eyes that looked so much like Charlotte’s. “Annie felt sure she wouldn’t come over if we told her on the phone and thought she wouldn’t walk out on us in a crowd.”

“And you don’t know her wel enough to say differently.” Russell shook his head. “But I want to. I always have.” Roman’s mother and Eric chose that moment to join them.

Roman had been surprised to see his mother at the basebal game, but since she’d been with Eric again, and sitting on a blanket the whole time, he figured she was feeling up to it.

And maybe even feeling a bit better.

“I hope we’re not interrupting,” Eric said.

“Apparently, in this group, the more the merrier,” Roman muttered. He had little time left before he’d have to break down Charlotte’s door if he wanted to get her alone.

“Russel , can I have a word with you?” he asked, shooting his mother a pointed, knowing glance.

“Annie, come have some lemonade. I made it myself and it’s delicious.”

“But . . .” Panic flared in Annie’s eyes, as if she were afraid in the five minutes she’d be gone, Russell would disappear again.

Watching Annie gave Roman better insight into Charlotte’s fears. She wasn’t anything like her insecure mother, yet he could see how she’d instil ed a fear in Charlotte—the fear of becoming as needy and sadly pathetic and isolated as her own mother.

He wanted to shield her from pain and take care of her forever, but Charlotte would freeze him out before she’d let him close enough to hurt her. And the thought shook him straight to the core.

Because he loved her.

He loved her.The truth settled in his heart, warming places that had always been cold.

He admired her fierce desire to maintain herself and her individuality, to not end up like her mother. He admired the business she’d built on her own, in a town that hadn’t been prepared, yet she’d won the people over anyway. He loved how she saw the best in him even when he didn’t deserve it.

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