LITMIR.BIZ

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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

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