The Bachelor by Carly Phillips

of his brothers had mentioned it earlier, Roman recalled now. He grinned, raised a hand to slap Fred on the back, but
     refrained. He didn’t want the big man to reciprocate the gesture. “Well, good for you. Congratulations.”
    “Thanks. Listen, I’ve got to talk to one of the councilmen before things heat up again. I’ve got a few jobs on hold pending
     a permit … well, you don’t need to know details. See you around.”
    “Sure thing.” Roman pinched the back of his neck. Exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him.
    “How’d your first day back in the trenches go?”
    He turned to see Chase standing beside him. “What’s wrong? Is it Mom?” He hadn’t expected to see Chase again tonight.
    “No.” Chase laid a quick, comforting hand on Roman’s shoulder, then withdrew it.
    “What, then? You don’t trust me to do my job?” Which wouldn’t be unfair, Roman thought. He still didn’t have an answer to
     the Carltons’ beagle’s problem.
    Chase shook his head. “I just figured you’d be antsy sitting at one of these things and thought I’d relieve you in case it
     ran long.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I overheard you and Fred. Looks like you’ve got yourself a candidate.”
    “From what Fred said, Sally was interested in you first.”
    “Trust me, the field is open. I wouldn’t hold it against you for stealing her away from me,” Chase said wryly. “Sally’s too
     serious for me to even think about. She’s the type to be dreaming about a house and kids after one date.” He shuddered.
    “If she likes a loner like you, she’s not gonna be interested in an outgoing guy like me.” Roman grinned, only too happy to
     rib his brother about his lone wolf qualities. Rick had been right in saying women were drawn to their older brother’s brooding
     silence.
    But Chase stared him down, obviously unwilling to buy in to Roman’s excuses. “Sally’s ready to settle down. Everything she
     wants right now would make her the perfect candidate for you. So why’d you tell Fred she’s not your type?”
    “Because she isn’t.”
    “Forgive me for pointing out the obvious, but isn’t that what you want? Sally’s interested in you and you don’t return the
     sentiment. See if she’ll accept your arrangement.”
    Roman glanced over his shoulder again and took in Sally Walker, an innocent, blushing type of woman. “I can’t.” He couldn’t
     marry Sally. Sleep with Sally.
    “I suggest you be careful, little brother. If you pick out a lady who actually is your type, you might not be in such a rush
     to get the hell out.” Chase shrugged. “Just something to think about.”
    Leave it to Chase, Roman’s father figure, to point out the obvious. Also leave it to Chase to remind Roman of his priorities.
     His wife hunt. His brother was right. Roman needed a woman he could leave behind, not one he’d be drawn back to over and over
     again. Yet another reason Charlotte was all wrong for him. He wished like hell he could get her out of his system once and
     for all. But damned if he knew how. Touching her, tasting her, only made him want her more, not less.
    An hour later, Roman headed home, Chase’s words in his mind, but Charlotte in his subconscious. In bed later that night, he
     woke more than once in a heated sweat, Charlotte Bronson the cause.
    Ten years, and the flame burned hotter than ever. Which only proved one thing: Temptation or no temptation, Roman couldn’t
     afford to get involved with Charlotte. Not now. Not ever.
     
    The sun woke Roman early the next morning. Despite a splitting headache, he stretched and climbed out of bed with a renewed
     sense of determination and purpose. After a quick shower, he headed for the kitchen. Food wouldn’t kill the pain, but at least
     something to eat would fill his empty stomach. He reached into his mother’s pantry, pulled out a box of Cocoa Puffs, poured
     a bowl of cereal, added mini-marshmallows, then drowned the mixture with