The Reluctant Bachelor (16 page)

“Thanks, but we both know that’s not true.”

They fell silent once more until Rick chuckled. “I like this much better. I’ve never been able to talk about things with someone like I can with you. It was true before, but it’s even more so now.”

She returned his smile. “I’ll always be your friend. No matter what.”

And maybe that was what he needed to hang on to.

He nodded and returned to looking out the window. He’d go back to Lake Mildred and make the best of this situation. Put aside his feelings for Lizzie and try to figure out how he felt for the last three contestants. The finale loomed, and he needed to know who would make the best partner in his life.

* * *

R
ICK
WASHED
ANOTHER
dish and handed it to his mom, who dried it. He glanced out at the dining room, where the three remaining contestants sat talking to Dan. “So what do you think?”

Mom put the dish up in the cupboard, then reached for the next plate he handed her. “I like them.”

He turned off the faucet. “But?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think. What counts is how you feel.”

How he felt.
Right.

He returned his hands to the soapy water and wiped the remains of their dinner from a bowl. “How did you know that you wanted to marry Dad and not Mr. Henderson?”

She chuckled softly. “Did your father tell you about that?” She took a glass from the counter and dried it. “Your dad was the only one who got my pulse humming. That made me feel alive. Loved. Wanted.” She stood on tiptoe and put the glass in the cupboard, then turned to him. “That’s what I want for you boys. A wife who makes your life more than you imagined.”

Rick glanced toward the dining room again. “There is someone, Mom, but...I don’t know.”

“You don’t know that you love her?”

He shook his head. “It’s complicated.” He handed her some dripping silverware. “She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever known. But I don’t think we can be together.”

She put the towel with the silverware on the counter and approached him. Put her hands on his cheeks. Forced him to look down at her. “Nothing is impossible if you know what you want. Do you love her?”

Lizzie walked into the room with more dirty dishes, and Rick moved away from his mom. He pointed to the coconut cake displayed under the glass dome. “We’re just finishing up the dishes. Then we’ll have dessert in the family room.”

“Great.” She smiled at his mom. “Dinner was fabulous, Mrs. Allyn. Rick obviously learned how to cook from you.”

“He begged me to show him how to make his favorite pancakes when he was four.” She glanced at Rick with a grin. “Been teaching him my secrets ever since.”

“Your hard work paid off.” Lizzie put the dishes on the counter and returned to the dining room.

Rick followed her with his eyes before turning to his mom, whose smile had faded. “Oh, honey. What have you done?”

Rick frowned. “I haven’t done a thing. We’re just friends.”

He turned back to the dishes and rinsed off a platter. When he tried to hand it to his mom, she reached up and hugged him instead. “Is she what your heart wants?”

“More than my heart, Ma.” He peered into his mom’s eyes. “What am I gonna do?”

* * *

R
ICK
GLANCED
AROUND
the dining room table at his family, then at his three dates. He stood and held out his hand to Becky. “Want to go for a little walk?”

Becky nodded and took his hand. He hated to do this. Didn’t want her to go home yet, but he knew that more time wouldn’t change how he felt. He helped Becky into her coat, then took her hand again and led her outside. He waited a moment for Charlie to check lights and turn on the handheld. He gave a nod, so Rick walked with Becky to the end of the dock.

The thick layer of ice that once crusted the lake had thawed into a cracked surface that would soon melt. Winter would be a memory.

He turned to his date. “Becky...”

She took a deep breath. Held it in. Then let it out in a big sigh. “I know what you’re going to say.”

“I wish things could have been different. You’re amazing.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “There’s some guy out there who’s going to be a very lucky man someday.”

She backed up slightly so that his hand fell to his side. She turned and looked out at the lights from the houses across the lake. “Time will heal. There are other fish in the sea. It’s not you, it’s me.” She turned back. “Any other clichés you’d like to add to your speech?”

“Becky, I—”

“Don’t.” She took another step back and crossed her arms over her chest. “I thought we had something special.”

He closed his eyes. He knew what she meant. Knew what she was thinking. Hadn’t he been saying similar things when Brandy had left him? “I don’t think I’m the right man for you. You need someone—”

“Don’t tell me what I need, because you have no clue.” She shook her head. “If you did, you wouldn’t be saying these things to me.”

Rick winced. Gone was the sweet, funny Becky. Replaced by a hurt, angry one. “I’m sorry.”

“I bet you are.” She turned and left, brushing past Charlie and his camera.

Rick glanced at the cameraman. “That went well.”

“You know women.”

Rick nodded, but in truth he was learning he knew very little. He’d thought Becky would be gracious. Maybe tear up a little but otherwise accept his goodbyes.

He knew nothing.

E
LIZABETH
WATCHED
FROM
the kitchen window as Becky stormed to the waiting limousine and slammed the door shut once inside. She consulted her clipboard before Rick could return and they planned their next steps. So the hometown dates would be Brandy and Melissa. Chicago and Tennessee. City and country.

Rick opened the back door and shut it quietly behind him. Elizabeth walked over and rubbed his shoulder. “She take it hard?”

He nodded but didn’t explain. He looked around the empty room. “Melissa and Brandy?”

“I sent them back to the house to pack.” She held up the clipboard. “We really need to go over these plans.”

“Not tonight.” He walked past her into the family room, turned off lamps and checked the fireplace to make sure that the fire had been put out. When he looked back up at her, she walked toward him. He backed away. “Seriously, Lizzie. It’s been a long night. I’ve had to break another heart. I’m in no mood to talk about schedules and dates and finales, okay?”

She tilted her head to the side and watched him. “This is about more than Becky going home.”

He walked out of the family room and into the kitchen. Elizabeth followed him closely. “Rick, talk to me.”

He turned and faced her. “Why?”

“Because I thought we were friends.” She looked into his eyes. “Was I wrong about that, too?”

“What we are seems to go back and forth from colleagues to friends to more.” He started to put dishes from the dish rack away in the cupboards. “You made it clear that we need to keep our distance. And yet here you are. Alone. With me.” He turned and faced her. “So what is it that you want? For me to open up and talk or to stay away? Because, frankly, I’m getting whiplash with your mood swings.”

“Mood swings!”

He shrugged. “You have a better word for it?”

You bet there’s a better word.
“How about I’m trying to help you? I’m trying to find you a wife.” Didn’t he get it?

“And keep your job while you’re at it.”

“I never made it a secret that my whole life is this show.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Especially now.”

He stalked toward her. “And maybe my job is to show you that there’s more.”

He pulled her into his arms and looked down into her eyes. She wanted this. She didn’t want this. Finally, he released her.

Elizabeth bit her lip and struggled to pull her emotions together. She bowed her head and stared at her feet while Rick finished putting dishes away and started to turn lights out in the kitchen. They stood in the dark, silent room. He walked to the back door and opened it. “Goodbye, Lizzie. I’ll see you in Chicago.”

“Why are you so upset?”

He handed her the car keys. “Drive carefully. It’s starting to snow.”

“I care about you, Rick.” More than she should, if she wanted to admit it. She walked closer and took the keys from his hands. “But you’re right. I need to stay away from you.”

“Fine.”

“Fall in love, Rick. Just not with me.” She gave him one last look, then stepped out into the cold night.

* * *

R
ICK
LOCKED
THE
FRONT
door and stood quietly for a while. He turned to head to bed, when he saw movement on the porch. The sheriff had mentioned that there had been a break-in a few streets over on Lawn. Well, it wasn’t happening on his watch. He whipped open the door. “Gotcha.”

Dan and Brandy jumped apart. Rick stared at them, then walked back into the house and slammed the door.

“Ricky, wait.”

He turned to his brother, who stood alone in the foyer. “For what? So you and Brandy can stage a repeat performance?”

“We weren’t doing anything.”

Rick doubted his words. “Then why act guilty?” He returned to the kitchen and locked the back door.

Dan followed him. “I think I love her.”

Rick stared at his older brother. Was he kidding him with this? “I chose her tonight because I thought she and I might still have something.” He held up his hands. “But she wants to be with you instead? How did I end up here again?” He shook his head and closed his eyes. Five years was definitely not long enough. “I should have known. Should have seen.”

“We didn’t even see it until tonight.” Dan took a few steps toward his brother, then stopped when Rick backed away. “I thought it was just me. That she couldn’t...” He groaned. “I’m not the marrying type, but when I look at her, I see her in a white dress in a church. Heaven help me.”

“This isn’t helping me.”

Dan shook his head. “My plan was to wait until the end. When you picked Melissa.”

“What makes you think I was going to pick her?”

“Because she’s perfect for you. We all see it.”

Rick nodded, not because he agreed but because he didn’t know what else to do. “I’m glad you’re deciding my life for me.”

“Someone has to. Because you seem to be completely willing to sail through without going after what you want.” Dan stood taller, reminding Rick of his father. “I know what I want. And I’ll go after it. But I’ll wait. And then she’ll be mine.”

“And she feels the same way?”

Dan nodded. “I think so. It’s what we were talking about when you interrupted.”

Rick leaned against the kitchen counter and gazed at his feet. “How did you know you wanted her?”

“When you know, you know.”

* * *

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
, Rick knocked on the door to Lizzie’s hotel room. She’d called him an hour earlier, requesting a meeting. Didn’t say why. And he didn’t ask. But his damp palms and the warmth spreading across his chest made him think that his life could change when she opened the door.

The door opened, and she ushered him inside. Before she could say anything, Rick started. “Lizzie, I don’t know why I’m here, but I have to tell you something.”

A second knock at the door stopped him from telling her. He’d been so sure about what he had to say, but Brandy walking into the room changed that. He shook his head and started to leave. “I don’t need to be here for this.”

Lizzie blocked the doorway. “Oh, yes, you do.” She pointed to the bed. “Sit.” She turned to Brandy and pointed at the chair by the window. “You, too.”

He had no choice but to obey with that authority in her voice. He sat on the edge of the bed and turned to face Lizzie rather than looking at Brandy. Ever since seeing her with Dan last night, he’d felt as he had five years ago. Betrayed. Bewildered. And wondering what was wrong with him. Was he really that bad a catch that she would keep choosing someone else? He’d thought they had something again. And again he’d been wrong. So wrong.

Lizzie looked at them both, then sighed. “Does someone want to tell me what happened after I left last night? Or do I have to fill in the blanks myself?”

Rick glared at Brandy. “Why don’t you ask her? She’s the one who’s been lying this entire time.”

Brandy stood and faced him. “It wasn’t lying.”

Rick stood, as well. “Then what else would you call sneaking around behind my back?”

“We didn’t do anything!”

Lizzie stepped between them and held up her hands. “Stop. Both of you.” She snapped her fingers, and they both sat again. “Brandy, do you want to continue on the show?”

Rick jumped to his feet. “Why should it be her choice? I’m the one looking for a wife here. She’s the one who lied and cheated. Again.”

Brandy looked over at him, then down at her hands, remaining silent. Lizzie looked at Rick until he sat back down on the bed. She buried her face in her hands. When she looked up at them, she seemed tired. Ready for this to be over. Rick knew exactly how she might feel.

Lizzie looked at Rick. “If you want to send Brandy home and bring Becky back, we can reshoot the last episode. Make it look as if you had in the first place.”

He shook his head. “I sent Becky home because I didn’t see a future with her.” He turned and glanced at Brandy. “I saw one with you, though. Always thought that’s the way it was supposed to be.”

“Rick, I’m sorry—”

He held up his hand to stop whatever she might say next. “What if the reason I saw you in my future was because it was supposed to be you with Dan, and not with me?”

Lizzie turned to him and opened her mouth but stayed silent.

He continued, “I’m not saying I’m not hurt. And a little angry. I still feel like you lied to me.”

“I didn’t think the feelings I had for Dan could go anywhere. I didn’t know he felt the same way.” Brandy closed her eyes. “I like you, Rick, but maybe I should drop out. Give you a chance to find real love.”

Lizzie threw her hands up in the air. “So where does that leave us? Is Brandy going home? Is Becky coming back? How do you want to handle this?” Lizzie looked between them both. “I’d like to hear some suggestions because I’m out of them.”