Most Eligible Texan. Jules Bennett

else offered the comfort she needed. Because if he’d had to hold her day after day, night after night until her pain had eased...

      “I was hurt,” she admitted. “I still am, actually. Care to tell me why you just disappeared?”

      “I texted.”

      Such a lame defense, yet the words left his mouth before he could stop himself. Out of everything and everyone in his life, Rachel was the one he’d barely been able to control himself around.

      “I don’t really want to dredge up the past right now. I want answers from you, but let’s not do it tonight.” She picked up her fork and offered a typical dimpled smile. “Billy was a big part of my life, but I’ve worked hard at moving on. I’m trying to make a future for Ellie and me. Always looking back isn’t the way to do that.”

      He had to hand it to her. She’d hurt from her husband’s death, from Matt’s absence, from being thrust into being a single mother, yet she forced herself to trudge on.

      “So, you’re finishing your degree,” he started, hoping to keep the topic on her life. “Where do you go from there?”

      Rachel stabbed a piece of pasta and lifted a shoulder. “Right now I’m helping Alexis with the charity auction for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation.”

      Impressed, Matt nodded in silent admiration. “What’s the auction? Do you have donations from area businesses?”

      Rachel dropped her fork, pulled the napkin from her lap and dabbed the corners of her mouth. “We’re auctioning men.”

      Matt stilled. “Excuse me?”

      Those bright, beautiful eyes locked on his across the table. There was that mischievous gleam he’d seen from her in the past. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know more.

      “We’re having a bachelor auction. Care to be Bachelor Fifteen?”