Jules Bennett - Most Eligible Texan

“Bid on me...

I want to give you what you need.”

Matt Galloway, Texas’s most eligible tycoon, is the star Rachel Kincaid needs for the charity bachelor auction. But her scheme to recruit him sets their own passions blazing—even though he’s her friend and totally off-limits! And why is he back now when he was gone for so long? The truth may have her winning Matt for herself...or ending their romance for good.

USA TODAY bestselling author JULES BENNETThas published over sixty books and never tires of writing happy endings. Writing strong heroines and alpha heroes is Jules’s favourite way to spend her workdays. Jules hosts weekly contests on her Facebook fan page and loves chatting with readers on Twitter, Facebook and via email through her website. Stay up-to-date by signing up for her newsletter at julesbennett.com.

Also by Jules Bennett

What the Prince WantsA Royal Amnesia ScandalMaid for a MagnateHis Secret Baby BombshellBest Man Under the Mistletoe

Mafia Moguls miniseries

Trapped with the TycoonFrom Friend to Fake FiancéHoliday Baby ScandalThe Heir’s Unexpected Baby

The Rancher’s Heirs miniseries

Twin SecretsClaimed by the RancherTaming the Texan

Texas Cattleman’s Club: Bachelor Auction miniseries

Most Eligible Texan

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Most Eligible Texan

Jules Bennett

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-07680-7

MOST ELIGIBLE TEXAN

© 2018 Harlequin Books S.A.

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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To single parents

trying to push through from one day to the next.

You are somebody’s hero and you’ve got this!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Extract

About the Publisher

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?