By early evening, his mother had dozed in front of the television and Roman had finally been able to leave the house knowing she was resting and he didn’t have to worry about her trying to overdo.
Because it was late, he walked quickly through town until color in a storefront window—lots of vibrant color—caught his eye, causing him to stop and check out the change. He squinted for a better look, Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
bringing him nose to glass with women’s lingerie.
Frilly, sexy nighties, garters, and whatever else the opposite sex wore to attract a man—and he’d seen plenty of those getups in his time—decorated the display. The items in the window were sensual and decadent, including enticing animal prints.
Apparently some things in his small hometown had changed. As he wondered who was responsible for knocking conservatism to its knees, last night’s conversation with his brothers came back to him. Is Charlotte Bronson back in town? he’d asked them.
Owns a little business on First. . . . Stop by and see for yourself. His brothers’ replies had been deliberately vague, definitely amused, Roman thought now.
He allowed himself another glance at the provocative panties in the window and shook his head hard.
No way Charlotte Bronson owned this shop. The Charlotte he remembered had been more quiet than outgoing, more innately sensual than overtly sexy. The combination had always intrigued him, but regardless, her personality type didn’t strike him as one who’d open such an enticing and erotic shop. Or would she?
A horn honked, jerking Roman back into reality, and he turned to see Chase’s truck pull into an empty spot down the street. He glanced at his watch. Rick would already be inside. Plenty of time to check out the shop after he met up with his brothers. He headed into the restaurant and strode to the back, bypassing the tables by the windows up front.
Roman met Rick by the old jukebox machine, which featured the jazzy reggae beat of the newest hit on the charts. He glanced around, taking in the familiar atmosphere. “Except for the music, nightlife in Yorkshire Falls is as exciting as ever.”
Rick shrugged. “Did you really expect things to change?”
“I guess not.” Even the decor was the same, he noted. Thanks to Norman senior’s obsession with bird-watching, the restaurant’s motif was comprised of wooden hand-painted birdhouses lining the walls, while pictures of varying species in their natural habitat hung in between.
The place had been and still was home to the older teens seeking independence from their parents, the singles in town, and the families needing a bite after Little League practice. Tonight, the patrons included the Chandler brothers. After living out of hotels for weeks on end and rarely seeing his New York apartment, let alone his family, Roman had to admit coming home felt good.
“Just tell me the burgers are as good as I remember and I’ll be a happy man.”
Rick laughed. “Takes so little to make you happy.”
“What would it take to make you happy, Rick?” Years had passed since Rick’s marriage ended in a devastating divorce, his wife leaving him for another man. To his credit, Rick had remained the happy-go-lucky brother, but Roman often wondered what pain he hid inside.
Rick folded his arms across his chest. “I’m already a satisfied man.”
After all Rick had been through, Roman hoped his brother meant what he said.
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“Hi, handsome. What can I get for you?” a high-pitched female voice asked.
Roman rose to give Isabelle, Norman’s sixty-year-old wife and everyone’s favorite waitress, a swift hug.
She smelled like a unique mixture of home cooking and the good old-fashioned grease Norman used in the kitchen when she wasn’t looking.
He stepped back. “Good to see you, Izzy.”
She smiled. “Your mother’s over the moon that you’re home.”
He settled 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.”
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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?