Kitabı oku: «Most Eligible Texan»

One

An entire morning of pleasure reading plus an extra-large pumpkin-spice latte with a healthy dose of whip? Hell yes, sign her up.

Rachel Kincaid spotted The Daily Grind across the street and nearly skipped to the door. She had two weeks before she had to dive back into her textbooks and this was her first time out alone since giving birth eleven months ago.

Part of her felt guilty for leaving her precious Ellie, but on the other hand, she knew her baby was in the best hands back at the Lone Wolf Ranch under the care of her friend, Alexis Slade, and the host of staff members they had. The chef had taken quite a liking to Ellie and was always fussing over her.

Alexis had graciously invited Rachel and Ellie to stay in her Royal, Texas, home and Rachel desperately needed the gal-pal time. Alexis and her grandfather Gus had gone out of their way to make the two of them feel like part of the family.

Rachel stepped up onto the curb and pulled her cell from her boho-style bag. She’d just shoot off one quick text to make sure everything was okay. Although she was most definitely looking forward to this break, she was still a fairly new mom and a bit of a worrier when it came to her baby girl.

Just as she pulled up the text messages, Rachel plowed into the door.

No, not a door. A man. A broad, strong, chiseled man.

Large hands gripped her biceps, preventing her from stumbling backward. Rachel jerked her gaze up at the stranger she’d slammed into.

Familiar dark blue eyes stared back at her, no doubt mirroring her own shock.

“Matt?”

“Rachel?”

The last time she’d been in Matt Galloway’s arms had been at Billy’s funeral, and that had been just over a year ago. Other than a handful of texts immediately following, she hadn’t heard a word from her late husband’s best friend.

The pain from the void thudded in her chest. Matt had been her friend, too, and she’d wondered where he’d disappeared to. Why he’d dodged her for so long.

“What are you doing in Royal?” she asked, pushing aside the heartbreaking thoughts.

Last she knew he was still in Dallas making millions and flashing that high-voltage smile to charm the ladies.

Matt released her and stepped back.

“Hiding out,” he stated with a laugh. “I’m taking a break from the city for a bit and staying out of the limelight.”

Rachel couldn’t help but smile. “Ah, yes. I recall you being dubbed Most Eligible Bachelor in Texas. What’s wrong, Matt? Don’t want all the ladies chasing you anymore?”

Matt never minded the attention he received from beautiful women. In fact, Rachel had been interested in him at one time, but then Billy had asked her out, whisked her off her feet and, well...that was all in the past. She was moving forward now.

“Come in,” he said, gesturing toward the door. “I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”

“Just like that? As if the past year of silence hadn’t happened?”

The words escaped her before she could stop herself. But damn it, she’d needed him and he’d vanished. Didn’t she deserve to know why?

Honestly, such a heavy topic was just too much to handle this early in the morning running on little sleep and no caffeine.

“You know, never mind,” she amended, waving her hand through the air as if she could just erase the words. “It’s good to see you again, Matt.”

She wasn’t sure what to feel or what memory from their past to cling to, as there were a great many. From meeting him and Billy for the first time at a college party, to the fun times they all had together, to the tragic death that had forever changed the dynamics between them.

Rachel pasted a smile on her face, though. She needed a day out, and running into Matt might just be what the doctor ordered. Even though he’d hurt her, she’d missed him, and she knew Matt well enough to know he had a reason for staying away. She just couldn’t fathom what could keep him at such a distance for so long.

“I don’t do coffee,” she stated as she passed him to enter The Daily Grind. “But you can buy my glorified milkshake.”

Matt placed a hand on the small of her back, a simple gesture, but one that had her inwardly cringing. Not because she didn’t want Matt to touch her, but because the electric tingle that spread through her was so unexpected. No other man had touched her in so long...

She wasn’t affected by him, she told herself. He was her friend, for pity’s sake. No, the reaction only came from seeing him again and the lack of human contact...the lack of male contact.

Ugh. This was so silly. Why was she letting such a simple gesture from Matt occupy so much of her mind?

“You’re going to get something pumpkin-spice with whip, aren’t you?”

Rachel smacked his chest as she made her way toward the counter. “Listen, I won’t judge you and you won’t judge me. Got it, Mr. Eligible Bachelor?”

Matt shook his head as he placed his order for a boring black coffee. Once Rachel placed her own order, the two of them found one of the cozy leather sofas in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass window.

The shop wasn’t too busy this morning. A few people sat on stools along the back brick wall, and the bar top that stretched along the brick had power stations, so those working had taken up real estate there.

Even though they were seated in the front of the coffee shop, Rachel and Matt had just enough privacy for their surprising reunion. She still couldn’t believe he was here in Royal. Couldn’t believe how handsome and fit he still looked. Okay, fine. He was damn sexy and she’d have to be completely insane to think he’d ever be anything but. The past year had been nothing but kind to Matt, while she figured she looked exactly how she felt: haggard and homely.

Rachel eased back into the corner of her seat and smoothed her hands down her maxiskirt. She wasn’t sure what to say now, how to close the time gap that had separated them for so long.

More importantly, she wasn’t sure how to compartmentalize her emotions. Matt had been her friend for years, but seeing him now had her wondering why she felt...hell, she couldn’t put her finger on the exact emotion.

“What are you doing in Royal?” Matt asked, resting his elbow on the back of the couch and shifting to face her. “You’re not hiding from some newly appointed title by the media, too, are you?”

Leave it to Matt to fall back into their camaraderie as if nothing had changed between them over the last year. She’d circle back to his desertion later, but for now she just wanted a nice relaxing chat with her old friend.

“Afraid I’m not near as exciting as you,” she stated with a smile. “I’m visiting Alexis Slade, my friend from college.”

“I’m familiar with the Slade family. Are you alone?”

“If you’re asking if I have a man in my life, no. I’m here with my daughter.”

Matt opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, the barista delivered their orders and set them on the raw-edged table before them. Once they were alone again, Rachel reached for her favorite fall drink.

“I didn’t mean to pry,” Matt muttered around his coffee mug. “I don’t have any right to know about your personal life anymore. How are you, though? Really.”

“I’m doing well. But you’re not prying. We’ve missed a good bit of each other’s lives.” She slid her lips over the straw, forcing her gaze away when his dark blue eyes landed on her mouth. “Ew, what is this?”

Rachel set her frosted cup back on the table. “That’s not a pumpkin-spice latte.”

Matt laughed. “Because that’s not what you told them you wanted.”

“Of course it is,” she declared, swiping at her lips. “I always get the same thing at any coffee shop, especially in the fall. I’m a creature of habit and I’m pumpkin-spice everything.”

“That I definitely recall.” The corners of his eyes crinkled as he laughed. “But at the counter you ordered a large iced nutmeg with extra whip and an extra shot.”

What the hell? Bumping into Matt had totally messed up her thought process. Maybe it was the strength with which he prevented her from falling on the sidewalk, or the firm hand on her back as he’d guided her in. Or maybe she could chalk this up to good old-fashioned lust because she couldn’t deny that he was both sexy and charming.

And her late husband’s best friend. There could be no lust. Not now. Not ever.

“I’ll go get you another.” He came to his feet. “Tell me exactly what you want.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m just not used to leaving the house alone—I guess it threw off my game.”

Yeah, she’d go with the excuse that she was used to carrying a child and a heavy diaper bag. No way would she admit that Matt’s touch, Matt’s intense stare, had short-circuited her brain.

He pulled out his wallet. “Better tell me your order or I’ll make something up. Do you really want to risk another bad drink?”

Rachel laughed. “Fine.”

She rattled off her order and watched as he walked away.

Nerves curled in Rachel’s belly. She shouldn’t feel this nervous, but she did. At one time, Matt had meant so much to her—he still did. Yet she had no clue what to talk about and she certainly didn’t want the awkward silence to settle between them.

One thing was certain, though. Matt hadn’t changed one bit. He was still just as sexy, just as charismatic as ever. And he was the Most Eligible Bachelor in Texas. Interesting he came back into her life at this exact time.

* * *

Matt took his time getting Rachel’s drink. He opted to wait at the counter instead of having the barista deliver it. He needed to get control of himself, of his thoughts. Because Rachel Kincaid, widow of Billy Kincaid, was the one person he’d thought of a hell of a lot over the years...and even more so this past year. Yes, he’d deserted her, but he’d had no other choice.

And now she’d want answers. Answers she deserved, but he wasn’t ready to give.

He’d thought for sure the absence would get his emotions under control. He’d been hell-bent on throwing himself into his work, into a new partnership with his firm, and forging more takeovers in the hopes that he’d get over the honey-haired beauty that had starred in his every fantasy since they’d met.

Unfortunately, that hadn’t been the case. Perhaps that’s because he’d kept track of her. That sounded a bit stalkerish, but he’d needed to know she was alright. Needed to know if she was struggling so he could step in and help. From what Matt could tell, Billy’s parents, plus his brother and his wife, had made sure Rachel had all she’d needed. Insurance money only went so far, but Billy came from a wealthy family.

Rachel had sold her Dallas home, though. She’d moved out and now she was here. So what was her next move? Did she have a plan? Was she going to return to Dallas?

Insurance money would run out at some point and so would her savings. Matt couldn’t just let this go, not when she might need him. She’d be too proud to ever ask for help...all the more reason for him to keep an eye on her.

So many questions and he’d severed all rights to ask when he pushed her from his life. But for his damn sanity and out of respect for Rachel, he’d had no other choice.

Matt had known she’d had a little girl. She was a few months pregnant at the funeral and had already started showing. He recalled that slight swell against him as he’d held her by the graveside.

He’d honestly had no idea she’d be here in Royal, but like the selfish prick he was, he wasn’t a bit sorry he’d run into her. Now was the time to pay his penance and admit he’d dodged her, admit that he needed space. But one thing he could never admit was his attraction. That was the last thing Rachel needed to be told.

“Here you go,” the barista said with a smile as she placed the new frothy drink on the counter.

Matt nodded. “Thanks.”

The second he turned back toward Rachel, the punch of lust to his gut was no less potent than it had been the first time he’d seen her all those years ago. She’d always been a striking woman, always silently demanded attention with just a flick of her wavy blond hair, a glance in his direction. Hell, all he had to do was conjure up a thought and she captivated him.

And nothing had been as gut-wrenching as watching her marry his best friend...a man who hadn’t deserved someone as special as Rachel.

Rachel was, well, everything. But she wasn’t for him.

Matt wasn’t sure what was worse, staying in Dallas dodging paparazzi over this damn Most Eligible Bachelor in Texas title or being in this small town face-to-face with the one woman he could never have—the only woman he’d ever truly wanted.

A group of college-aged kids came through with their laptops and headed to the back of the coffee shop. Their laughter and banter instantly thrust him back to that party where he had first met Rachel. He’d flirted a little and was about to ask her out when Billy slid between them and whispered, “Mine,” toward Matt before whisking her away.

If only Matt had known how things would go down between Billy and Rachel...

“One extra-shot pumpkin-spice latte with a side of pumpkin and pumpkin whip on top.” Matt placed the drink in front of Rachel and made a show of bowing as he extended his arm. “Or something like that.”

Rachel’s laughter was exactly the balm he needed in his life. “Thank you, but that wasn’t necessary.”

“Was the bow too much?”

He took a seat next to her and couldn’t take his eyes off the way her pretty mouth covered the pointed dollop of whip or the way she licked her lips and groaned as her lids lowered. Damn vixen had no idea what she could do to a man. He wondered how many others she’d put under her spell.

“So, tell me all about this newly appointed title.” She set her drink on the table and tore the paper off her straw. “Are we going to get bombarded by squealing fans or camera flashes?”

“I sure as hell hope not.” Matt grabbed his mug and settled back into the corner of the sofa. “And I’d rather not discuss all of that. Let’s talk about you. What are you doing here in Royal? Other than staying with the Slades.”

Rachel held on to her cup and crossed her legs. The dress she wore might be long, but the thin fabric hugged her shapely thighs and shifted each time she moved. And from the way she kept squirming, she wasn’t as calm as her smile led him to believe.

“I’m working on finishing my marketing degree online and figuring out where to go from here.”

Matt didn’t like that there was a subtle lilt leading him to believe she wasn’t happy. The thought of her not moving on to a life she deserved didn’t sit well with him. Not one bit.

“How much longer do you have?” he asked.

Rachel slid her fingertip over the condensation on her glass. “One more semester and I’m done. The end can’t come soon enough.”

And being a single mother no doubt added to her stress. Surely she wasn’t strapped for cash. Her in-laws alone should’ve covered anything she needed that Billy’s finances couldn’t.

She’d been working on her degree when they’d met, but once she and Billy married, Billy had talked her out of finishing. Matt was damn proud she was doing this for herself.

He had so many questions, yet none of them he should ask just yet. Even though she smiled and laughed, he’d seen the hurt in her eyes, the accusation in her question when they’d been outside. Rachel deserved her answers well before he was allowed to have his.

Matt wasn’t going to leave Royal without making sure Rachel and her daughter were stable and had what they needed, at least until she got on her feet.

Well, hell. Is that why they were here? Because she didn’t have a place to stay? What about the home she and Billy had?

“How long are you hiding from your fan club?” she asked, pulling him back to the real reason he was in town.

Matt clenched his jaw. He wasn’t about to get into all the issues he had going on. The disagreements with his partner, the negotiations he had still up in the air, the fact he wanted to sell his 51 percent and start his own company. There really was no way to just sum up in a blanket statement all he had going on.

He would much rather keep their unexpected reunion on the lighter side. And now that they were both in Royal, Matt sure as hell planned to see her again. Fate had pushed them together for a reason and he couldn’t ignore that.

“I’m going to be here awhile. My grandfather’s old estate is on the edge of town. It’s sat empty for several years. Figure I should think about having it renovated and perhaps selling. For now, I’m staying at The Bellamy.”

The five-star establishment had been recently renovated into a luxurious hotel. Matt had requested the penthouse and had paid extra to have it ready on the same day he’d had his assistant call for the reservation. Money might have gotten him pretty much everything he wanted in life, but there was still a void. Something was missing and he had no clue what it was.

Rachel slid those plump lips around her straw again and Matt found himself shifting in his seat once more. He’d been in her presence for all of ten minutes and it was as if no time had passed at all. He still craved her, still found her one of the most stunning women he’d ever known. Still wondered what would’ve happened between them if Billy hadn’t been at that party.

Actually, there wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t wonder. If he were being honest, most of the women he’d hooked up with were just fillers for the one he truly wanted.

Matt set his mug on the table, then leaned closer to her. “Listen, Rachel...”

“No.” She held up her hand and shook her head. “Let’s not revisit the past. Not quite yet.”

He stared at her for another minute, wanting to deal with the proverbial elephant in the room, and yet needing to dodge it at the same time.

Finally, he nodded. “Since we’re both in town for a while, I’ll treat you to dinner tonight.”

Rachel laughed. “I’m not the carefree woman I used to be, Matt. I’m a single mother with responsibilities.”

“Bring your daughter.”

Where had that come from? He’d never asked a woman and her child on a date. Had he ever even dated a woman with a kid?

He hadn’t. But none of that mattered, because no other woman was Rachel. Besides, he wanted to see Billy’s daughter. His best friend might not have been the world’s greatest husband, but he was a good friend and his child would be the last connection to him.

Rachel’s smile widened as she reached out and gripped his hand. “It’s a date.”

Matt glanced down at their joined hands and wondered why he’d just jumped head first into the exact situation he’d been running from. If he stayed around Royal too long with Rachel, he didn’t know how long he could resist her...or if he’d even try.