Most Eligible Texan

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.

Two

“From the way you’re eyeing those photos, maybe you should consider bidding on your own bachelor.”

Smiling, Rachel glanced up from the glossy images all spread out across the farm-style kitchen table to look at Alexis. Each picture featured a single man in Royal who had agreed to step up to the plate and be auctioned for a good cause. All funds would go toward the Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation, but each woman writing the check would be winning a fantasy date with one hunky bachelor.

Rachel and Alexis were still searching for someone who could be the “big draw” or headliner.

“I think I’ll just stick to the marketing and working behind the scenes and not worry so much about getting my fantasy date.” Rachel blew out a breath and flattened her palms on the spread of photos. She did some quick figures in her head of what she could donate and still live off of until she completed her degree and got a paying job. “Don’t worry, I’ll still write a check for the cause. There are so many great guys who agreed to help... I’m just not sure which one we should use as the main event.”

Alexis dropped to a chair next to Rachel and started sliding the images around. She picked up one, then set it aside, picked up another, dismissed it, too. There were so many options, from doctors to lawyers, ranchers to pilots. Royal had quite the variety of upstanding men. How were all of these hotties still single?

“The problem is these guys are all fabulous,” Alexis stated, her blue eyes searching all of the options. “You can’t go wrong with any of them. We do need the final man to be someone spectacular, someone the ladies won’t mind writing an exorbitant amount for.”

A small white paper with handwritten notes was paper clipped to the top right corner of each picture. The brief stats gave basic details of the bachelor: name, age, occupation. The overwhelming response from handsome, eligible men to help with the charity auction was remarkable. The Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation would no doubt get a fat check afterward.

Gus and Alexis had done all the grunt work lining up the bachelors and it was Rachel’s job to make sure word got out and women flocked with full purses to the biggest event of the year.

“We need to get these framed,” Rachel murmured, thinking aloud. “They need to be propped on easels and in sturdy wood frames to showcase all this glorious masculinity.”

They’d have to strategically set them around the outdoor garden area at the Texas Cattleman’s Club so the women could come early and get an idea of who they wanted to bid on. Once Rachel went to the site, she could better plan all the details of how to arrange things.

She had already made a mock-up of the programs that would be handed out at the door. The program featured the bachelors with their regular posed image, plus she’d requested something playful or something to show their true personality.

“I have a spreadsheet of the order I think they should go in,” Rachel stated. “Sorry, I know that’s not quite marketing, but I was up late last night and started thinking of the best way to advertise and then I started numbering them and—”

“I get it. Your OCD kicked in and you ran with it.” Alexis reached for her girlfriend’s hand and squeezed. “I’ll take any help I can get, and having you stay here is just like being in college. Well, with a child and less parties, but I love having you at the ranch.”

Rachel loved being here, as well. She had been feeling adrift, but when Alexis had invited her to Royal, she figured this was just the break from life she needed. Who knew? Maybe Royal would become home. The big-city feel with the small-town attitude of everyone helping each other was rather nice.

Plus, there was the bonus of her best friend living here. Ellie seemed to have taken to Alexis and Gus.

“Lone Wolf Ranch is gorgeous,” Rachel said, beaming. “I’m still excited you asked me to help with this auction. I think it’s going to pull in more money than you ever thought possible.”

Alexis pulled her hand away and blew out a sigh. “I don’t know. I’ve set a pretty large goal. This fund-raiser means more to me than just money. I want to honor my grandmother’s memory and make my grandfather proud of me at the same time. They did so much for me growing up.”

Rachel knew this was so much more than a show or a popularity contest. Alexis lost her grandmother to pancreatic cancer and all of the funds from The Great Royal Bachelor Auction would go straight to the foundation in loving memory of Sarah Slade.

“She would definitely be proud of you,” Rachel stated. “You’re doing great work.”

“I think you’re doing most of it. I’d seriously be overwhelmed without you.”

Rachel pulled all of the photos into a stack and neatened them up with a tap onto the table. “I’d say we make a great team.”

The back door opened and Alexis’s grandfather, Gus Slade, stepped inside. He swiped the back of his arm across his forehead and blew out a whistle.

“An old man could get used to walking in his back door and seeing two beautiful ladies.”

Rachel flashed him a grin. If Gus was about thirty years younger, she’d make him the headliner for the auction. The elderly widower was quite the charmer and his dashing good looks and ruggedness would make him a surefire hit. No woman could resist his thick silver hair and broad shoulders. The weathered, tanned skin and wrinkles around his blue eyes only added to his masculine appeal. Why couldn’t women age as gracefully?

“Where is the youngest lady?” Gus asked as he headed to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.

“Ellie needed a nap,” Rachel replied. “She was rather cranky.”

“She’s a sweetheart,” Gus defended. “I get a little cranky when I need a nap, too.”

Rachel’s heart swelled at how easily Alexis and her grandfather just took in two stray guests as if they were all one big happy family. Rachel had only been in Royal a short time, but she already felt like this was home. She hadn’t really had a sense of belonging since Billy’s death. Staying in Dallas in their home hadn’t felt right. Especially considering the house they’d lived in had been purchased without her approval. He’d surprised her with it and she’d never really liked the vast space. The two-story home had seemed too staid, too cold.

She’d sold that house not too long ago and moved to a small rental house, much to the shock of Billy’s family. Speaking of, life had been even more stressful with her in-laws hovering and making it a point to let her know they’d be willing to keep Ellie for a while so Rachel could finish her degree.

Then Billy’s brother and his wife offered to take Ellie to make Rachel’s life “easier.” What the hell? She didn’t care about easy. She cared about her child and providing a stable future.

Ellie was the only family she had and Rachel wasn’t going to be separated from her for any amount of time. She’d give up her degree first. Ellie was her world...a world Rachel hadn’t even known she’d wanted until the time came.

Billy hadn’t wanted children and they’d both been taken by surprise when Rachel had gotten pregnant. Rachel had slid into the idea of motherhood and couldn’t imagine a greater position to be in. Billy, on the other hand, hadn’t gotten used to the idea before his death. In fact, that was one of the things they’d argued about right before he’d left that fateful day.

Rachel didn’t have many regrets in life, but that argument still haunted her.

“Well, I hope you both are saving your appetites for a good dinner tonight.” Gus’s statement pulled Rachel from her thoughts. “I’ve got the chef preparing the best filets with homemade mashed potatoes and her special gravy, and baby carrots fresh from the garden.”

All of that sounded so amazing. Any other night Rachel would welcome all those glorious calories. In fact, she’d enjoyed each meal their chef prepared over the past several days. If she hung around much longer she’d definitely be packing on the pounds.

“I actually have plans.”

Alexis and Gus both turned to her like she’d just announced her candidacy for president. Rachel couldn’t help but laugh at their shocked faces.

“I ran into an old friend earlier at Daily Grind and he asked to see me tonight. I’ll be taking Ellie, so don’t worry. You won’t be babysitting.”

Alexis waved her hands and shook her head. “Hold up. Forget the babysitting, which I’d happily do. You said he. You’re going on a date?”

Rachel cringed. “No, not a date. Matt is an old friend.”

“Matt who?” Gus asked, his brows drawing inward like a concerned parent.

“Galloway.”

Gus’s features relaxed as he nodded. “Businessman from Dallas, also a member of TCC. So, he asked you on a date?”

“No, it’s not a date,” she repeated, feeling like perhaps she shouldn’t have disclosed her plans.

“Matt Galloway. Oh, I remember him,” Alexis murmured. “A businessman from Dallas sounds perfect. How old is he now? Early thirties, right?”

“A few years older than me. Why do you say he’s perfect?”

Alexis’s smile beamed and she merely stared. Then Rachel realized exactly where her friend’s thoughts had traveled.

“No.” Rachel shook her head and gripped the stack of photos. “We have our guys and I’m not asking my friend to do this. I couldn’t. We just reconnected after a year apart and he was one of Billy’s best friends. It would just be too weird.”

Not to mention her heart rate still hadn’t recovered from their morning together. Part of her felt guilty for the way she’d reacted. Yes, her husband was gone, but was it okay to already feel a flicker of desire for another man? And one of her friends at that. Surely her sensations were all just heightened over their reunion. Rachel was confident the next time she saw Matt it would just be like old times when they hung out as pals.

And if that attraction tried to rear its ugly head, Rachel would just have to ignore it. A romantic entanglement between the two of them was never going to happen. Besides, even though a chunk of time had passed, Rachel still considered Matt someone special in her life. So, no. She couldn’t ask him to put himself up on the stage...especially considering he was trying to stay out of the public eye.

“You didn’t tell me he was named Most Eligible Bachelor in Texas,” Alexis exclaimed.

Rachel blinked and focused on her friend who had her phone in hand, waving it around. An image of Matt in a tux on the red carpet posing in front of some charitable gala had Rachel sighing.

“No, I didn’t tell you that. One of the reasons why he’s in Royal is to lie low.”

“Rach, no guy can look like this and have women ignore him. It’s not possible.”

“Looks like a perfect candidate for you to bid on, Lex,” Gus chimed in with a nudge to his granddaughter. “You’re putting in all this work—you should pick out a date, as well.”

The idea of her best friend and her other friend hooking up hit the wrong chord in Rachel. But what could she say? She had no claims on Matt, and Alexis was single. They both could do whatever they wanted...but Rachel wasn’t so sure she’d like it.

“Poor guy,” Gus added, leaning over to look at the photo. “It’s hell when the women are all over you and you have no place to hide. I feel his pain.”

Alexis rolled her eyes and laid her phone down on the table. “Ignore him. He’s a romantic. But let’s focus on Matt. Seems like he’s the perfect big name for our auction needs. Figured I’d look him up really quick and see how we can market him.”

As if he were cattle ready to go to the market. Rachel was fine discussing the other bachelors; in fact, she rather enjoyed using her creativity and schooling to make each guy stand out in a unique way. But something about the idea of Matt up for grabs really irritated the hell out of her.

Perhaps it was because Rachel knew for a fact that the female attendees would bid high on the very sexy, very wealthy Matt Galloway, but she didn’t want to give them the opportunity.

First, she’d feel like a jerk asking him when he’d been up-front as to his reasons for being in Royal. He was dodging this new title and clearly not comfortable with the added attention.

Second, the idea of women waving their paddles and tossing money for a fantasy date with Matt...well, she was jealous. There. She admitted it—if only to herself.

Why was she suddenly so territorial? She’d always found Matt attractive, always respected and admired him. How could she throw him into the lion’s den, so to speak, and expect not to have strong feelings on the matter? They were friends. She should feel protective, but there were other feelings swirling around inside her, and none of them remained in the friend zone.

“Tell me you’ll at least think about it.”

Rachel met Alexis’s pleading gaze. She was here to help her friend—they were actually helping each other—and this auction was a huge deal to the Slade family. How could Rachel say no when Alexis had opened her home and heart to Rachel and Ellie?

“I’ll see what I can do,” she conceded with a belabored sigh. “But I can’t promise anything and I won’t beg.”

Alexis squealed. “All I ask is you try.”

Gus rested a large, weathered hand on Alexis’s shoulder. “My granddaughter is all Slade. When she wants something, she finds a way to make it happen. So, which guy are you bidding on, Lex?”

Alexis rolled her eyes. “Stop trying to marry me off. I’m working on raising money, not finding a guy to put a ring on my finger.”

Rachel scooted her chair back and came to her feet. “Well, I’m pretty determined to help bring in all the money possible, but I won’t make Matt feel uncomfortable.”

“I understand,” Alexis said, nodding in agreement. “But, I’ll wait up so I can hear all about your date and see if he agreed to be auctioned.”

That naughty gleam in her friend’s eyes was not going to last. If Alexis knew all that Rachel, Matt and Billy had been through, she’d understand just how delicate this situation was. But she wasn’t wanting to get into all of that now. She didn’t want to revisit the ordeal that was her marriage and the gap of time she’d missed Matt.

“Feel free to wait up, but I assure you I won’t be out long. I have a baby, remember? Early bedtimes are a must.”

“Why don’t you leave her here?” Gus suggested. “It’s nice having a little one around, and she’s no trouble.”

Alexis stood up and patted her grandfather’s shoulder. “If that’s a hint, relax. It’s going to be a while before I give you a great-grandchild. I’m a little busy in case you haven’t noticed.”

Rachel didn’t miss the way Alexis’s eyes landed on the top photo...which featured the very handsome Daniel Clayton.

Alexis Slade and Daniel Clayton had once been quite an item, but they’d fallen apart and Rachel still didn’t know what had happened. Whenever Rachel brought up the topic, her friend not-so-subtly steered their chat in another direction. Eventually, Rachel would find out what was going on between her friend and the mysterious ex.

“What time is your date?” Alexis asked.

Resigned to the fact nobody believed her about the nondate, Rachel shrugged. “We kept it open. He realizes I need to be flexible with a little one. I’ll head over to his hotel room later. Once Ellie wakes, I need to grab a shower and we both need to get ready.”

“What are you taking?” Alexis asked.

“Taking?”

“A bottle of wine? A dessert? I’m sure we have something the cook has whipped up. She always has breads.”

Rachel shook her head. “I’m not taking anything. You’re letting that romantic streak show.”

“Just trying to help,” she muttered.

Rachel patted her friend’s arm. “I know, but I’ve only been a widow for a year. I’m not ready to rush into anything.”

Her marriage had started out in a whirlwind of lust and stars in their eyes. Rachel and Billy had lived life to the fullest and loved every minute of it. Then the pregnancy had slid between them and continued to drive a wedge through their relationship. They’d built something on top of shaky ground and hadn’t realized until after the fact.

Unfortunately, Rachel would never know if their marriage would’ve worked itself out. Would Billy have ever settled down and stepped into the role of loyal father and devoted husband?

Pain gripped her from so many angles, but she had to keep pushing forward for her sake as well as Ellie’s. Rumored infidelity and ugly arguments weren’t how she wanted to remember her late husband.

“I’m going to go check on Ellie,” Rachel told them. “She should be waking soon. Lex, I’ll get you a list of the order I think we should use for the auction. If Matt isn’t onboard, then Daniel might be our best bet as the big-name draw.”

Her friend’s lips thinned, her jaw clenched. Gus blew out a breath that Rachel would almost label as relief, and he had a satisfied grin. Whatever was going on with Daniel and Alexis—or wasn’t going on—was quite a mystery.

One thing was certain, though—Alexis was not a fan of having Daniel up on the auction block. Ironically, Rachel still wasn’t too keen on the idea of Matt being up there, either.

Because if that came to pass, one or both of them might just have to grab a paddle and place their own bids.

Three

Matt tipped the waitstaff a hefty amount for their quick, efficient service and for meeting his last-minute demands. He hadn’t known what to have for dinner for Rachel, let alone an infant.

Infant? Toddler? What was the right term for an eleven-month-old? He knew nothing about children and had never taken to the notion of having his own, so he’d never bothered to learn.

But he was interested in Rachel, and she and Ellie were a package deal that he didn’t mind. No matter the years that passed, no matter the fact she’d married his best friend, nothing at all had ever diminished his desire for Rachel. He’d hid it as best he could, often gritting his teeth and biting his tongue when Billy would be disrespectful to Rachel’s needs.

Once Rachel got pregnant, the two started fighting more, and Billy’s answer was to get out of the house so they both could cool off. Those times when Matt and Billy were at the Dallas TCC clubhouse shooting pool and drinking beer or even out on Matt’s boat on the lake, Billy never did grasp that running didn’t solve the problem. He never once acted excited about the pregnancy. He never mentioned how Rachel felt about being a mother. Billy’s life didn’t change at all and Matt knew Rachel hurt alone.

He also knew she’d been excited about the pregnancy, but how much could she actually enjoy it knowing her husband wasn’t fully committed?

Whenever Matt would mention anything to Billy about Rachel, the other man always told him to mind his own business and that he didn’t know what marriage was like. Valid point, but Matt knew how to treat a woman and he damn well respected Rachel.

Matt stepped back and surveyed the dinner he’d had set up on the balcony. His penthouse suite at The Bellamy had a sweeping view of the immaculate grounds, yet was private enough he felt comfortable bringing Rachel out here to talk.

He hoped this setting was okay. For some asinine reason he was a damn nervous wreck. What the hell? There had never been a woman to make him question himself or his motives. Even when he and Rachel had been friends before, the main emotion that always hovered just below the surface had always been forbidden desire.

But she was a different woman now. She was a single mother seeking out a fresh start, not some short-term fling with her late husband’s best friend. And he wasn’t looking for anything more than exploring the connection and seeing if this was just one-sided.

Matt needed to curb his desire. She wasn’t coming here for a quickie. He’d invited her as a friend...and unfortunately, he feared that was the category she’d try to keep him in. Being near her again only put his desires right on the edge, and he had to retain control before he fell over the line of friendship and pulled her right with him.

Even now that she was single, he still had no chance with her because he was known as a ladies’ man, the Most Eligible Bachelor in Texas, and Rachel was a sweetheart who wouldn’t settle for anything less than happily-ever-after.

Damn that title. It had been nothing but a black cloud over him since he’d been given the title some men would happily flaunt. He was not one of those men. He hadn’t even been able to go on a damn date back in Dallas without a snap of the camera or someone coming up to him asking for his autograph.

The final straw had been when he’d come home to his penthouse and a reporter was lurking outside his door. He’d fired his security guard promptly after that irritating inconvenience.

The one woman he wanted could never be his, even temporarily. Perhaps that was his penance for lusting after his best friend’s wife.

Matt looked at all the items he’d ordered. He might not know much about children, but he’d paid his assistant a nice bonus to make a few things happen within the span of a few hours and by just making some calls. Even from Dallas, the woman was working her magic here in Royal and had baby things delivered in record time. That woman definitely deserved a raise. She saved his ass on a daily basis.

With one last glance, he started having doubts. The balcony ledge went up waist-high on him, the wrought iron slats were about an inch apart. There shouldn’t be a problem with Ellie out here, especially with all the other paraphernalia to keep her occupied, but seriously, what did he know about this? Did she walk or crawl? Did she look like Rachel or Billy?

Nerves pumped through him and he didn’t like it. Not one bit. Matt never got nervous. He’d handled multibillion-dollar mergers and never broken a sweat, so it baffled his mind as to why he was getting all worked up.

Besides, what did he think would happen here tonight? Did he truly believe they could pick back up where they’d left off before Billy died? He’d deserted her due to his own selfish needs and worry he wouldn’t be able to control those wants. He’d had to push her away for both of their sakes.

Surely he wasn’t so delusional to think that she’d...what? Want to tumble into bed with him? He’d be a complete liar if he said he hadn’t fantasized about her since the moment they’d met. There was probably some special pocket of hell for men like him, coveting his best friend’s wife.

But Rachel had always been different. Perhaps it was her beauty or the way his entire body tightened with desire when she was around. Maybe it was the way she could go up against anyone in a verbal sparring match that he found so sexy.

Hell, he had no idea. What he was sure of, though, was that having her come to his suite and bring her child along might have been the worst idea he’d ever had.

No, the worst idea he’d had was letting Billy ask Rachel out first. That was where Matt had gone wrong from the start.

The bell chimed throughout the suite and he raked a hand over his cropped hair as he crossed the spacious room. There was no going back now, and he wasn’t about to keep second-guessing himself. Rachel was a friend; so what if he had her over for dinner?

Yet you want more.

He wished like hell the devil on his shoulder would shut up. Matt was well aware of exactly what he wanted from Rachel, but he respected her enough not to seduce her.

With a flick of the lock, Matt pulled the door open and every single best intention of keeping his thoughts platonic vanished.

The formfitting blue shirt that matched her eyes hung off one shoulder. Those well-worn jeans hugged her shapely hips, and her little white sneakers had him immediately thinking back to the younger version he’d first met. But this grown-up Rachel had a beautiful baby girl on her hip...a baby that was a mirror image of her mother right down to the prominent dimples around her mouth.