Chase was the ultimate bachelor who’d already helped Raina raise his younger siblings after their father’s death twenty years ago. Having done his familial duty, he’d been exempt from most of their mother’s matchmaking schemes—so far.
Rick wasn’t as fortunate. “You’d think Mom had her hands too full with her renewed social life to bother with mine.”
After years of being a widow, his mother had begun dating. Weird term for a woman of her age, Rick thought. But that’s what she was doing, dating Dr. Eric Fallon. Her loneliness had been a concern to all three sons and Rick couldn’t be happier that she’d finally moved on. He’d just hoped she’d be too absorbed in her new life to bother digging into his.
Chase shrugged. “Mom’s never too busy to meddle. Look at what she’s juggling now: the good doctor, angling to get a baby from Roman and Charlotte,” he said, speaking of their youngest brother and his new wife. “And being director of your social life.” He picked up a pencil and twirled it between his palms.
Rick rolled his shoulders, trying to loosen the tightness from too much time spent on patrol. In their small town, hierarchy didn’t mean squat, and the guys all pitched in for shift duty.
“At least Eric’s keeping her busy,” Chase said.
“Not busy enough. Maybe it’s time to give her a job. You ought to offer her employment.”
“As what?” Chase’s tone didn’t hide his shock.
“Gossip columnist seems appropriate to me,” Rick cracked, getting a smile out of his brother too.
But Chase sobered quickly. “No way am I bringing her into the office. Next thing I know she’ll be interfering with my social life too.”
“What social life?” Rick asked with a grin. Chase was so damn private Rick couldn’t help but give his more serious sibling a hard time.
Chase shook his head. “The things you don’t know about me.” A wry smile twisted his lips as he folded his arms across his chest. “For a cop, you’re awfully dense.”
“Because you keep everything to yourself.”
“Exactly right.” Chase nodded, satisfaction glittering in his blue eyes. “I like my privacy so I vote we let Mom focus on your love life for a while longer.”
“Gee thanks.” Speaking of Raina reminded Rick of her meddling and took him back to his last stop of the day. “You seen Lisa Burton lately?” he asked his brother.
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“In Norman’s this morning, eating breakfast. Why?”
He shrugged. “Just wondering. I had a false alarm at her house this afternoon.”
Chase perked up, his journalistic instincts obviously kicking in. “What kind of false alarm?”
“The usual kind.” No point in telling Chase the school teacher was into S&M with her scrambled eggs now. She was probably embarrassed enough and Rick wasn’t the type to kiss and tell. Chase had taught him to respect women whether they’d earned it or not. “Unfounded noises outside.” He shrugged. “The place was secure.”
“Probably just an animal of some kind.”
Rick nodded. “Did she seem keyed up to you?”
Chase shook his head. “Not at all.”
“Good.”
“Speaking of dinner—” Chase rose from his seat.
“I didn’t.”
“Well I am. You ready to head over to Mom’s?”
Rick’s stomach grumbled, reminding him he was just as hungry as his brother.
“Sounds like a good plan to me. Let’s go.”
“Rick, wait.” Felicia, the on-call dispatcher, walked into the room. “There’s a woman in a vehicle stopped on Route 10 leading into town. Phillips came in late. Can you handle it while he’s briefed for his shift?”
Rick nodded. “Why not?” It would delay dealing with his mother and her pointed questions about his social life. He turned to his brother. “Tell Mom I’m sorry and I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
“I won’t mention that smirk on your face or the relief you’re obviously feeling at being given a reprieve.
But if she’s got a woman there waiting, you’re going to pay,” Chase said.
Felicia strode up to Chase, confident and feminine even in her blue uniform. “I get off in five minutes.
Take me with you to your mother’s and I’ll save you from her matchmaking clutches.” She batted her lashes over her hazel eyes.
Rick watched, amused. Felicia had a good heart and an even better body, all rounded curves and femininity beneath her clothes. A blind man couldn’t miss the fact that she was a knockout.
“So what do you say?” she asked Chase.
He grinned and lay an arm around Felicia’s shoulders, his fingers dangling precariously close to those curves Rick had noticed before.
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“Now you know I can’t take you home with me, sweetheart. Tongues would be wagging and by tomorrow we’d be front page of The Gazette, ” Chase said, speaking of his newspaper.
Felicia let out an exaggerated sigh. “You’re right. One night with the oldest Chandler and my reputation would be ruined.” She lay a hand on her forehead in an obviously dramatic gesture. “What was I thinking?” She laughed, then stood up straight, smoothing her blouse. “Besides, I have a date. We’d better let Rick get to that stranded car,” Felicia said. “See you around, Chase.”
“See you,” he said, then turned to Rick. “And you’d better hightail it over to Mom’s as soon as you can.”
Rick shook his head. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Mom considers home neutral territory. She wouldn’t set you up while she’s around to suffer the consequences.” He grabbed for his car keys.
“Where Mom’s concerned, I wouldn’t get too complacent,” Chase warned.
Rick acknowledged his brother had a damned good point when ten minutes later he realized he was on his way to another emergency call to rescue yet another damsel in distress. Based on prior experience, Rick had his doubts this was a routine stop, but rather a mother-initiated setup.
Despite the annoyance building inside him, he had to admit this time he was disappointed in the lack of creativity. Until now, the predicaments had been fresh innovative ways to get Officer Rick Chandler’s attention. Running out of gas, if that’s what had happened, ranked way down on the originality scale.
He drove to the outskirts of town and walked to where the driver of the fire-engine-red car awaited help. As he neared, he caught sight of frilly white lace that couldn’t be anything other than a wedding veil dangling over the door. He rolled his eyes heavenward. First a dominatrix and now a bride. The dress backed up his suspicion that he was probably in for a setup. Brides didn’t just happen through Yorkshire Falls and there was no wedding scheduled in town today. The nearest costume shop was located in Harrington, the next town over, and Rick wouldn’t be surprised if this woman had stopped there first.
Apparently she had more creativity than he’d given her credit for, but she hadn’t done her research.
Rick Chandler loved rescuing women but a bride of any kind rated last on his list. Last time he’d responded to a similar S.O.S., he’d been home from college and on the force about two years. One of his best friends and a girl he’d had deep feelings for, Jillian Frank, had dropped out of college because she’d gotten pregnant and her parents had thrown her out of the house. Rick had stepped in without thinking twice. He had those damn Chandler genes. Loyalty ran strong, the need to protect even stronger.
He’d started by giving Jillian a place to live but ended up marrying her too. He’d planned to give the baby a name and he’d provided Jillian with a home. He thought they’d be a family. Considering he’d always been attracted to her before she went away to school, doing a good deed for a friend hadn’t been too much of a hardship.
Falling in love had been a natural progression—for him. As they’d lived together during her pregnancy, he’d let down his guard and given his heart—only to have it trampled when the baby’s father returned a few weeks prior to her due date. His once-grateful wife walked out, leaving Rick with divorce papers and wiser for the experience.