The Bachelor Read Online Free PDF Page A

himself back into the chair. “Yeah, just wish the reason were different.”
    “Your mom’s a tough one. She’ll be fine. Norman and I sent over enough prepacked meals to get her through the week.”
    “You’re the best.”
    She grinned. “Don’t I know it. So what can I get you? Cheeseburger deluxe?”
    Roman laughed. “You’ve got a memory like an elephant.”
    “Only when it comes to my favorite customers.” She shot Roman a wink, then turned to Rick. “Steak and mashed potatoes, that
     I know. Soda tonight, Officer?”
    Rick nodded. “I’m on duty.”
    “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 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