Victoria Chancellor - The Best Blind Date In Texas

—Insist you simply don’t have time for dating and men.

—Give in to gentle pressure and accept one blind date. Only one!

—Try to catch your breath when you open the door to see the man of your dreams on your front porch.

—Enlist his help in getting the town matchmakers off both your backs with your pretend-to-date-exclusively plan.

—Realize you want to date him exclusively—and more!

—Don’t give up when he says he cares for you more than any other woman, but just can’t say those three little words….

Dear Reader,

Heartwarming, emotional, compelling…these are all words that describe Harlequin American Romance. Check out this month’s stellar selection of love stories, which are sure to delight you.

First, Debbi Rawlins delivers the exciting conclusion of Harlequin American Romance’s continuity series, TEXAS SHEIKHS. In His Royal Prize, sparks fly immediately between dashing sheikh Sharif and Desert Rose ranch hand Olivia Smith. However, Sharif never expected their romantic tryst to be plastered all over the tabloids—or that the only way to salvage their reputations would be to make Olivia his royal bride.

Bestselling author Muriel Jensen pens another spectacular story in her WHO’S THE DADDY? miniseries with Daddy To Be Determined, in which a single gal’s ticking biological clock leads her to convince a single dad that he’s the perfect man to father her baby. In Have Husband, Need Honeymoon, the third book in Rita Herron’s THE HARTWELL HOPE CHESTS miniseries, Alison Hartwell thought her youthful marriage to an air force pilot had been annulled, but surprise! Now a forced reunion with her “husband” has her wondering if a second honeymoon couldn’t give them a second chance at forever. And Harlequin American Romance’s promotion THE WAY WE MET…AND MARRIED continues with The Best Blind Date in Texas. Don’t miss this wonderful romance from Victoria Chancellor.

It’s a great lineup, and we hope you enjoy them all!

Wishing you happy reading,

Melissa Jeglinski

Associate Senior Editor

Harlequin American Romance

The Best Blind Date in Texas

Victoria Chancellor

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To George and Bonnie Arthur, the aunt and uncle of my heart.

Special thanks to Dr. Rick Miles, former Butler High School classmate, friend and smalltown doctor, for his expertise, time and encouragement.

While growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, Victoria Chancellor never realized her vivid imagination meant that she would someday become a writer. Now married to a Texan and settled in a suburb of Dallas, she thoroughly enjoys creating fictional worlds inhabited by characters who deserve a happy ending. When she’s not writing, Victoria cares for her “zoo” of three cats, two ferrets, two tortoises, a flock of naturalized ring-necked doves and assorted wild animals who wander onto her patio for dinner each night. She would love to receive letters at P.O. Box 852125, Richardson, TX 75085-2125. Please enclose a SASE for reply.

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

844—THE BACHELOR PROJECT

884—THE BEST BLIND DATE IN TEXAS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

“Amy Jo, you need a man.”

Dr. Amy Wheatley loved her dad more than anyone else in this world, but he could be the most single-minded person in all of Texas.

She clamped her teeth shut to keep from firing back a hasty, ill-advised comment. Her father’s statement wasn’t new; he’d been making similar remarks for about three years, ever since she’d finished her residency. Now that she’d moved back to Ranger Springs, Amy knew she was in for even more pressure to change her title from “Dr.” to “Mrs.”

“Dad, we’ve been over this ten-dozen times,” she said calmly, hefting another file box on top of the huge old oak desk that would be hers. “I do not need a man in my life. Especially not right now.”

She had enough to do just unpacking, opening a bank account and getting reacquainted with the people who would soon be her patients. Coming back to her hometown had been a dream, a goal she hadn’t dared voice. She’d vowed she’d stay away, allow her father to continue his medical practice until he decided to retire. But his recent fall had been the perfect excuse to quit the group practice she’d joined in Fort Worth to become her father’s partner.

He needed her more than ever before. Now she could contribute to his practice, not just his personal life. As a child she’d baked his favorite brownies and handcrafted cheerful cards when he’d had a bad day. Ever since her mother’s death, Amy had played the role of lady of the house. Now she was also a doctor, a fully qualified professional who could shoulder her share of responsibility at the Wheatley Medical Clinic.

Her dad limped into the office where he’d reviewed patient’s medical records, written prescriptions and read hundreds of journal articles over his forty years of practicing medicine. Settling into one of the two matching chairs, he gave a big sigh. “Amy Jo, I’m not talkin’ about your life, although I know you’ll be happier when you settle down with someone special.”

Her father gave another dramatic sigh. “No, girl, I’m talkin’ about that medical fund-raiser you’re goin’ to attend in Austin. The fact of the matter is you need a date.”

She stopped unpacking and narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t mention that when you had me sign up.” Apparently he’d found another way to slip a man into her life. Not that she had anything against men…but now was not a good time to start a social life.

“Heck, no. You didn’t need a date to sign up, but you’re going to be the only one sitting by herself during that big dance.”

He’d apparently thought this through, but she wasn’t going to give up easily. If she did, he’d be encouraged in his quest to find her a husband. “Daddy, maybe I don’t even need to go. I have a lot to do before I start seeing patients at the clinic a week from Monday. And the donation is the important thing, right? The food isn’t usually that great at those hotel dinners, and I don’t care much about dancing.”

His momentary silence made her look up from the stack of folders. She couldn’t miss the spark of devilment in his blue eyes. “What?”

“Maryanne Perkins Bridges is chairin’ the shindig.”

Amy groaned as she buried her head behind her hands. Maryanne, who’d competed against Amy from the time they met at a junior high track meet, throughout high school and on into college. Maryanne, who’d beaten Amy by two points on the SAT and stolen the interest of Jason Price, the Wimberley High School quarterback. Of all the people from her past, Amy didn’t want her old nemesis to see her as the only single young female physician at a charity dinner dance. Or, worse yet, see her name on the list and know she didn’t have the nerve to show up in person.