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
