The Bachelor Project

by Victoria Chancellor

  Unfortunately, his body wasn’t listening to all the reasons he couldn’t get involved with Robin. If he sat beside her for another five minutes, smelling her light perfume, listening to her soft, intelligent voice, he was going to take her by the shoulders and seal his lips over hers. To hell with good intentions, small town life, family connections and employer responsibilities. To hell with being chief of police.

  “Ethan, what’s wrong?”

  His eyes jerked open as he felt her put her soft but strong hand on his forearm, just as she’d done earlier this evening when he’d been in such a crabby mood. Lord, she was driving him crazy! He shook his head as he jumped up from the sofa.

  “I’ve got to go,” he said, hoping she didn’t hear the panic in his voice. He walked to the mantel and reached inside the flowery little ceramic jar Aunt Bess kept there. Success and freedom! “Here’s a key. Feel free to look around all you’d like. Measure, match, do whatever you need to do. I trust your judgment. I need to…”

  “What?”

  He couldn’t lie to her, so he simply didn’t tell her the truth. “I just need to go somewhere. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Ethan!”

  “Sorry, Robin. I’ve got to go.”

  He glanced at her briefly, just long enough to see the shocked and worried expression on her pretty face. Dammit, he didn’t want to do this to her. But more important, he didn’t want to reveal his true feelings. She’d already let him know she wasn’t ready for a romantic relationship, and he could certainly understand her position. She wanted to be friends. She was working for him. He couldn’t abuse her trust by showing how much he wanted her.

  He let himself out, then shut the door as quietly as possible. There was only one place to go at a time like this. He needed a testosterone-rich environment—one without any female distractions. A place where no one would ask him what color was his favorite, what style he preferred or what he thought about every tiny detail.

  Chapter Eight

  “Oh, God, I’ve done it again,” Robin whispered. This time not with family or a lover, but with a client. She’d been so certain she could keep her relationship with Ethan professional. She’d reveled in the opportunity to spend time with him without the uncomfortable attraction that had sizzled between them at first. Never in a million years had she suspected that she’d push him away.

  Robin sat on the couch long after Ethan had hurried out the front door. She’d sat in the quiet house and listened to him start the engine of his Bronco, then back out of the driveway. The tires hadn’t actually squealed when he drove away, but close.

  He couldn’t wait to get away from her. He couldn’t stand to be in the same room with her. In the same house with her. She felt so stunned, so confused, that she sank down onto the sofa. She doubted her legs would support her another minute.

  She hadn’t felt this way in weeks, not since…Gig.

  Her head snapped up. Could she compare the two men? Certainly not in most regards. She and Gig had known each other socially for years. They’d been a couple for months and months. She’d known him as an easygoing and charming man, living up to his heritage and upbringing in one of Houston’s “good” families.

  Toward the end, when they—mostly she—were planning the wedding, the honeymoon and the move to his town house, everything had changed. Several scenes with her ex-fiancé flashed unbidden and unwelcome in her mind. Angry, upsetting confrontations in which he’d claimed she was smothering him. Mean, heartless accusations that he needed time apart from her.

  Just like Ethan, tonight, when he’d rushed out of his own home.

  Had she ruined a relationship she’d begun to treasure? Had she irrevocably crossed the line from friendly to personal, from concerned to smothering?

  Burying her face in her hands, Robin let humiliation wash over her. She was an adult, not some needy child, but she’d acted like one—again. Sitting on the sofa in the house of a man she’d known less than two weeks, she felt so alone. She wanted to be back in Houston, where she could run to her Great-aunt Sylvia the way she had so many times before. She wanted to curl up on the fancy brocade love seat, hug a cushy velvet pillow, and wait for the tea and cookies her great-aunt served for all types of emotional crises.

  But she wasn’t in Houston. She was in Ranger Springs, all grown up…in theory. Great-aunt Sylvia was a couple of hundred miles away, blissfully unaware that her great-niece was reverting to her childish need for someone to love.

  Not that she was in love with Ethan, Robin reminded herself. Nothing of the sort. He was just her only friend in town at the moment. As her only friend—and a client, to boot—Ethan had become the person she’d focused on. They’d shared meals, laughs and conversations about their likes and dislikes. She’d needed his opinion on this decorating project, so they’d spent hours together this past week.

  It wasn’t that she’d had to convince herself their time together was necessary; the idea that she’d been leaning on him hadn’t entered her mind.

  Had she permanently destroyed their working relationship? She sincerely hoped not. She needed to finish this job. She needed to keep Ethan’s friendship. And the only way to have both was to apologize and explain—no matter how painful that might be.

  SCHULTZ’S ROADHOUSE wasn’t too crowded when Ethan stepped inside the smoky interior. This wasn’t one of his favorite places, but it was just what he needed tonight.

  Most of the patrons were pretty harmless, but occasionally a drifter or temporary laborer had too much to drink and caused a ruckus. Ethan had arrested his share of drunks, DWIs, and disorderly conducts here.

  The regulars at the bar turned to look at him, nodded a greeting, then went back to their drinks. A few men at one of the tables smiled and motioned him over, but he shook his head. He remembered meeting them at the feed store, but he wasn’t in any mood for company.

  No, all he wanted to do was nurse a beer while his blood cooled. Maybe watch a sports update on ESPN. Maybe forget he’d left Robin sitting alone in his house.

  He walked to the end of the bar and pulled out a stool. “Give me a light draft, Olive,” he said to the weathered, experienced bartender. She’d worked at Schultz’s for longer than he’d been in town.

  He didn’t want to make conversation or deal with any drunks tonight. He’d used up every ounce of self-control and congeniality this past week by being around Robin way too much for his peace of mind.

  “Here you go, Chief,” Olive said, placing a frosty mug in front of him. “Heard you might be going out with that cute young lady from Houston.”

  He took a sip of beer. “Nope.”

  Olive shrugged. “Guess I heard wrong.”

  Ethan ignored the attempt to get a gossip update. All he wanted to do was scowl into his beer and ignore his troubles. He had a feeling Robin wasn’t going away anytime soon, which meant she’d be asking more questions, digging for more opinions, as soon as she found him again. But she wasn’t going to find him here. For a while at least, he’d be safe.

  “You just look like a man with woman trouble.” Ethan shook his head and chuckled into his beer. “I thought I’d put all those troubles behind me, Olive.”

  “You know what they say, Chief. Third time’s a charm.”

  “CHIEF, THERE’S SOMEONE here to see you,” Susie said over the intercom.

  “Who is it?”

  “Robin Cummings,” his dispatcher and receptionist said in a tone that sounded just a bit smug. Just a bit too inquisitive. Had she noticed Robin in his car on Saturday when they’d driven to San Marcus?

  Dammit, he wasn’t ready to face Robin after the way he’d acted last night. He still hadn’t decided what he was going to tell her about his behavior. Not that he needed to come up with an excuse. He wanted to be honest, but he wasn’t sure Robin was ready or willing to listen to the truth.

  “Chief, can I send her back?”

  “Sure, Susie.”

  Ethan braced himself to face Robin. He s
traightened the collar of his uniform shirt, smoothed back his already tidy hair and sat up straighter in his office chair. Then, before he could think of anything to say, she walked into his corner office.

  The morning sun caught her in a soft, fuzzy shaft of light. She looked beautiful, but also vulnerable. Had his desertion last night hurt her so much?

  “Hello, Robin,” he said as he rose from his office chair and walked around the desk. “How are you?”

  “Fine.” She looked up at him, her expression clouded. “How are you?”

  “I’m okay. A little embarrassed by my behavior last night.” He motioned for her to have a seat in one of the three leather-and-wood chairs facing his desk, then he sat down beside her.

  “Really? Me, too.”

  “You? I’m the one who acted like an ass.”

  “With reason, I’m positive.”

  “I’m not sure there’s ever a good reason for being rude.”

  “I didn’t think you were rude. I knew you had your reasons.” She smiled slightly. “I didn’t understand what they were at the time, but I was certain something was wrong.”

  “You’re giving me too much credit. The fault was mine.”

  “No, I don’t think so. I—”

  “Chief, I need your signature on this transfer—” Rick Alvarado, one of Ethan’s officers, walked into the office without looking up. When he did, he stopped and stared. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you had a visitor.”

  “That’s okay.” Ethan stood up. “Let’s see what you have.”

  He paged through the forms that he’d been expecting from another jurisdiction, then signed his name. “Here you go, Alvarado.”

  Rick jerked his too-appreciative gaze away from Robin. “Thanks, Chief.” He looked back at Robin and nodded. “Ma’am.”

  “Miss, actually,” she said with a smile.

  “You’re new in town, aren’t you?” Rick asked.

  “Yes, I am.” She offered her hand. “Robin Cummings.”

  “Pleased to meet you. I’m—”

  “Late for patrol duty,” Ethan injected. Didn’t Alvarado have something better to do than hang around and act like a blabbering idiot? You’d think the guy had never seen a young, attractive woman before!

  “Nice to meet you,” he said on the way out.

  “Same here,” Robin replied. She turned to Ethan as soon as the hallway was clear. “You’re testy today.”

  “I sure am. Must have something to do with last night.”

  “Oh,” she said. “About last night—”

  “Not here,” he said. “It’s nearly lunchtime. Let’s go someplace where we can talk without interruptions.”

  She glanced around the brightly lit office, hesitated just a moment, and answered, “All right.”

  They made it halfway down the hall before Susie found them. “Chief, are you leaving?”

  “Right. Lunch.” He tried to steer Robin out the door before anyone asked any more questions, but from the curious look on his dispatcher’s face, he wasn’t going to get his wish.

  “You’re the interior decorator from Houston, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I am. Robin Cummings.”

  “I’m Susie O’Donald. I just love decorating. I tape my favorite shows that are on during the day, and play them back over the weekend. I have this older house, and I practice the painting techniques. One room is sponged, one is stenciled and I’m working on a striate effect for the wainscoting in my entryway.”

  “Susie, don’t you have to get back to the phones?”

  “In a minute, Chief Parker. Rick is covering for me while I take a little break.”

  “We need to go,” Ethan said, impatient to get away before anyone else discovered him with Robin. No telling what kind of stories about him would be circulating tomorrow.

  Probably something close to the truth.

  “Where did you have in mind?” Robin asked, as he took her elbow. He led her down the hallway at as brisk a pace as possible without making her run to keep up.

  “There’s a beautiful spot you should see while you’re here in town. You probably don’t have any scenery like it back in Houston.”

  “I’m sure we don’t.” She paused as they exited the rear door to the municipal building. “Are you going to drag me on foot to this special place?”

  Ethan let go of her elbow and ran a hand through his hair. “Sorry. I just wanted to get out of there before someone else interrupted us.”

  “Before someone else saw me, you mean.”

  “I’m not ashamed to be seen with you.”

  “But you don’t want to explain my presence to anyone else.”

  He nodded. “I keep my private life private.”

  “I understand. I didn’t mean to put you in an uncomfortable position.”

  He looked at her in the sunlight, her hair, touched by gold highlights, dancing in the breeze. She looked lovely. Slightly defiant, proud, but also vulnerable. She’d never looked more appealing.

  Maybe being alone with her wasn’t such a good idea.

  “It’s not your fault.”

  She turned her head to the side. “Are we talking about last night—or being seen with me inside your offices?”

  ROBIN STOPPED and eyed the cruiser with skepticism. “I’m not sure I want to get away that badly.” She’d never been in a police car before, and she was fairly certain she could forgo the experience now.

  “I need to take the car because I’m on duty. If something comes up, I’ll have to respond.”

  “Then maybe we should talk later.” The concept of being in danger with the chief of police wasn’t on her agenda for this interlude in a small town. If she wanted to live dangerously, she’d drive alone in certain parts of Houston in her parents’ Mercedes.

  “I don’t plan on chasing any bad guys or speeders,” he said as he opened the door for her. “But if I do get a call, I promise I’ll let you turn on the lights and siren.”

  “Gee, thanks,” she said as she slid into the passenger side. Before he had walked around the car, she’d fastened her seat belt. As Ethan started the engine, she looked around the inside of the vehicle. There were enough gadgets, gauges and gizmos to pilot the space shuttle.

  “Not what you expected in a small-town cop car, is it.”

  “Not exactly.” Robin chuckled as she shook her head. “Not that I’ve given the interior design of police vehicles much thought.”

  They pulled out onto the main road, which intersected both the state highway and the town square. Robin was surprised that Ethan drove toward town, since the place he wanted to show her was scenic—which to her meant rural. But she didn’t say anything as they drove by the hardware store where she’d spent so much time lately, or the pharmacy with its old-fashioned soda fountain, or the Four Square Café where she’d eaten lunch several times this past week. They drove past older houses, then passed another intersection where a farm-to-market road angled off to parts unknown. Soon the terrain changed from nearly flat to rolling hills. Pastures replaced front yards, and scrubby mesquite trees took the place of live oaks. Ethan turned off the narrow road onto a gravel path that wound through the hills.

  They slowly descended the trail as the midday sun beat down on the hood of the patrol car. Ethan took a sharp left into a stand of weeping willows and cottonwoods. Edging the car completely into the shade, he rolled down the windows, then turned off the engine. Man-made sounds were replaced by the buzz of insects, the rustle of leaves and the murmur of running water.

  “Is there a stream nearby?”

  “Yes, just below the bank. The scenery is great. Would you care to walk down there?”

  “Sure.” She didn’t wait for him to walk around and open the passenger door. Ethan reminded her of the gallant sort of gentleman she’d rarely encountered in real life, but had fantasized about when she was younger and more idealistic. If she wasn’t careful, she’d mistake his natural inclinations for something more private. She’d confuse
their professional relationship for a personal one, and she couldn’t allow herself that folly.

  “Your purse is safe here,” he said. “No one else is around, and I can hear the gravel if another car approaches.”

  “Okay, lead the way.”

  She followed him across solid ground liberally dotted with wildflowers and wild grasses. The dappled sunlight skipped across the dark earth as the willows and lanky cottonwoods swayed in the breeze. A moment later, Ethan pulled aside a curtain of willow branches, and Robin stepped through…into another beautiful world.

  A shallow stream ran over a bed of gray-and-brown rocks, some of them jutting out of the water and along the banks. Hills sloped down, covered with red, yellow and white wildflowers. Across the stream, a small, quaint stone house sat abandoned, its walls twined with flowering vines.

  Robin wandered toward the water, picking out a flat-top rock to settle upon. Ethan followed, standing over her. She didn’t look up, but she saw his shadow on the uneven stones and tufts of grass near the streambed.

  “Thank you for bringing me here. It’s beautiful.”

  “I thought you’d like it, since you have a good sense of color and…things.”

  Robin smiled. “Balance and harmony. This place has a wonderful sense of calmness that we can only try to achieve inside our homes.”

  “About that design business.” Ethan settled on another rock, one that didn’t look all that comfortable. “I really do want you to finish decorating my house. I just got a little crazy last night.”

  “I think I know why, too.”

  “You do?” He sounded surprised. Maybe a little shocked.

  Robin nodded. “That’s why I came to talk to you. After you left, I tried to understand what had happened. If I’d heard your phone ring, or your police radio call, I would have assumed you were needed for some emergency. But you were just sitting there—then you said you had to leave.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. I felt really bad about leaving you alone. My behavior was inexcusable, but I would like to try to explain.”