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Beth and the Bachelor
Susan Mallery
New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery delivers her acclaimed story about how life–and love–can change in an instant.Beth Davis's fairy-tale days are over…or so the single mother of two thinks. She suddenly finds herself on a date with her very own Prince Charming, millionaire bachelor Todd Graham. He's smart, sexy and very eligible–everything a woman could want in a man. But Beth's a suburban mom, and approaching forty… She's not sure if she's Cinderella material.Todd was supposed to be raising money for charity, not auctioning off his heart, but he never expected to be so taken with his date. Something in Beth's smile captures the Texas tycoon's attention, and suddenly life as a bachelor seems less exciting than it used to. But they're worlds apart, and building a life with Beth isn't as simple as all that. Can these unlikely lovers find their courage–and the fairy-tale ending they deserve?
New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery delivers her acclaimed story about how life—and love—can change in an instant.
Beth Davis's fairy-tale days are over...or so the single mother of two thinks. She suddenly finds herself on a date with her very own Prince Charming, millionaire bachelor Todd Graham. He’s smart, sexy and very eligible—everything a woman could want in a man. But Beth’s a suburban mom, and approaching forty… She’s not sure if she’s Cinderella material.
Todd was supposed to be raising money for charity, not auctioning off his heart, but he never expected to be so taken with his date. Something in Beth’s smile captures the Texas tycoon’s attention, and suddenly life as a bachelor seems less exciting than it used to. But they’re worlds apart, and building a life with Beth isn’t as simple as all that. Can these unlikely lovers find their courage—and the fairy-tale ending they deserve?
Beth and the Bachelor
Susan Mallery
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Contents
Cover (#u3f026514-f58f-5362-8fc5-cddf5424a906)
Back Cover Text (#ud762bcf7-35a5-5b9e-a39d-3b9663150dd6)
Title Page (#u3c7e7145-c708-5f58-9643-5ce7e2ac9944)
Chapter One (#u9ab15383-42cf-520b-8b31-b8847e13ed6e)
Chapter Two (#u2f6d8964-2e95-588d-94a5-2b781931ba31)
Chapter Three (#u6bc1d0a5-1a11-5832-8ded-4d44864b7150)
Chapter Four (#u827f9136-3240-55f3-93b4-b32122f9013f)
Chapter Five (#u939a6f91-ee90-55ef-9c42-da44fa952c4b)
Chapter Six (#uf95244d0-ec31-58c7-b700-f9a9e2d9cfcb)
Chapter Seven (#ub7d72b6f-a005-5bda-9839-641bd178b8dd)
Chapter Eight (#u5d837097-5cda-5179-a0f5-8d90e72655bc)
Chapter Nine (#ub6e00473-964b-54be-8350-59521bee20e9)
Chapter Ten (#u56a56c17-d355-5c05-979e-67058a461ab3)
Chapter Eleven (#u3bf99665-07d8-56d4-84cf-2b118443137a)
Chapter Twelve (#ue369ca2f-45d5-5f4b-ab77-cb138ceda53a)
Chapter Thirteen (#u66cd5db9-1ae6-5a46-aa64-26ce87294a71)
Chapter Fourteen (#u2fc238b3-54e4-586c-828b-b9ec2f57c3d3)
Chapter Fifteen (#u55d316a6-3ae4-5c23-a971-ac2f62aba534)
Chapter Sixteen (#u7a69d448-1e14-5238-9e64-ca97c6017657)
Extract (#ubf66ea87-ec68-5a84-b0b0-3600cf77f861)
Copyright (#u988c7dc0-4d94-56a9-8d32-a5aec792b620)
Chapter One
‘‘You bought me what?’’ Beth Davis asked as she stared at the couple sitting across from her in her living room. A thunderstorm filled the late-afternoon sky.
Maybe she’d been hit by lightning and hadn’t noticed. That would explain why she thought Mike had said what he had. She shook her head, trying to clear her obviously confused hearing. He couldn’t have said that. Something was very wrong.
‘‘It’s not so awful,’’ her friend Cindy told her. ‘‘Really. I didn’t know he’d done it, but now that I think about it, it’s kinda sweet.’’
Beth tried to laugh, but the sound that came out was more of a moan. ‘‘Sweet. Of course. I’m sure that’s what he meant.’’ She turned her attention to Mike, Cindy’s husband. ‘‘What did you mean?’’
Mike grinned. The handsome bodyguard turned security agent wasn’t the least bit upset by her reaction. If Beth had to put money on something, she would bet that he was actually amused.
‘‘I thought I was doing you a favor. You’ve been talking about it for a long time. Cindy’s mentioned it several times. So I figured I would help things along.’’
Beth rose to her feet and crossed to the floor-to-ceiling windows that lined the wall of her family room. Outside, a storm raged, but its wildness couldn’t compare to the panic growing inside of her. ‘‘You’ve always hated me. I see that now. Was it something I did?’’
‘‘Beth, don’t,’’ Cindy said. ‘‘If it’s really going to be this horrible for you, you don’t have to do it.’’
‘‘Actually, she does,’’ Mike told her. ‘‘Hey, it’s for char
y.’’
Beth spun around and faced her two friends. She read the concern, along with a healthy dose of amusement in their expressions. She told herself they were trying to be helpful. They cared about her. She wouldn’t have made it through the past eighteen months if it hadn’t been for them. ‘‘But why did you have to buy me a man?’’ she asked.
‘‘I didn’t buy you a whole man. Just one night with him. A date. You’ll have fun,’’ Mike promised.
Beth made that moaning noise again. She sank into the nearest wing chair. ‘‘This is impossible.’’
‘‘No, it’s not.’’ Mike’s voice was firm. ‘‘It’s dinner at a fancy restaurant. He picks you up, you talk for a while, eat some nice food, come home. No big deal. I’ve met Todd Graham a couple of times and he seems like an okay kind of guy. Not as flashy as the newspapers say.’’
The slender thread of composure that had been holding her together snapped. Beth stared at Cindy, who was suddenly shifting uncomfortably on the sofa. ‘‘Todd Graham?’’ she asked.
Cindy nodded. ‘‘I’ve heard that he’s—’’
‘‘Todd Graham?’’ Beth repeated, cutting her off. ‘‘The Todd Graham. Local millionaire, charter member of the bimbo-of-the-month club?’’ She turned to Mike and glared at him. ‘‘You bought me a date with Todd Graham?’’
Mike looked confused. ‘‘Is that bad?’’
‘‘Not when compared with dating a serial killer.’’
‘‘I don’t understand,’’ he said. ‘‘Why does this make it worse?’’
‘‘I’m thirty-eight years old,’’ Beth said.
Mike leaned toward his wife. ‘‘Is that significant? Is this a female thing and am I missing the point?’’
Beth sprang to her feet. ‘‘I’m a thirty-eight-year-old mother of two. I have breasts and hips.’’
Mike flinched. ‘‘At the risk of being yelled at, most of the time guys actually appreciate women having those things.’’
‘‘Not when they’re this old. Todd Graham doesn’t want a woman, he wants a twenty-year-old fashion model, with a skinny body and no stretch marks. I can’t believe you did this, Mike.’’ She pointed at Cindy. ‘‘I can’t believe you let him. What am I supposed to do now? Go out with him?’’
‘‘That was the point,’’ Cindy said gently. ‘‘Beth, you’re overreacting. It’s just one night. A date for charity.’’
Beth slumped back in her chair. How could she explain this without coming off sounding like she was crazy? She drew in a deep breath—maybe it was too late to prevent that from happening. ‘‘It’s not that I don’t appreciate the thought,’’ she said. ‘‘I know you’re both worried about me and you think it’s time for me to start dating. Maybe it is. Maybe I need a jump-start. But not like this. I don’t need the public humiliation.’’
‘‘There isn’t going to be any humiliation,’’ Cindy said earnestly. ‘‘You’re a very attractive woman, Beth. He’s going to adore you.’’
‘‘I’m middle-aged, I’ve gained twenty pounds since Darren died, Todd Graham and I have nothing in common. I don’t want to meet the man. I don’t want to be compared with postadolescents who look younger than my daughter. Besides, he’s rich. I hate that in a man.’’
Mike rose to his feet. ‘‘That’s it. I’m outta here.’’ He crossed to Beth, bent down and kissed her cheek. ‘‘This is about to turn into female talk and you’re going to say things I know I don’t want to hear. Beth, I bought you this date because I thought it would be fun for you. If you don’t want to go because you feel it’s morally wrong, I’ll respect that. If you’re just scared to get out there, then you’re going. If you don’t, I’ll never come over and fix a leaky faucet again.’’
She glared at him. ‘‘I’ve learned to fix my own faucets.’’ He didn’t answer, he just raised his eyebrows.
‘‘Fine,’’ she said. ‘‘I think it’s very rude of you to point out the fact that I messed up the last time. I take this moment to remind you it was a small flood.’’
‘‘I mean it,’’ he said. He smiled at his wife. ‘‘See you soon,’’ he told her, and left.
‘‘He really meant well,’’ Cindy said when Mike had left. ‘‘He worries about you. We both do.’’
Beth wanted to bury her head in her hands, but she felt she’d already humiliated herself enough for one day. ‘‘I know. It’s just I can’t do this. I’d feel ridiculous. Like I had to buy a man.’’
‘‘It’s worse for him. He was the one for sale. Think of him as slave labor.’’
Beth knew Cindy was trying to help. Unfortunately no words were going to undo the knot in her stomach. ‘‘I’m not ready.’’
‘‘Yes, you are. You’re just afraid. You pushed me to start dating for months after my divorce. You were doing it because you cared about me. I’m returning the favor.’’
‘‘I should have kept my mouth shut,’’ Beth mumbled. She looked at her friend. Cindy’s expression was one of concern. ‘‘I know you worry about me, but you don’t have to. I’m fine.’’
‘‘You said you wanted to start dating.’’
‘‘I lied.’’
‘‘You can’t stay in mourning forever.’’
‘‘Yes, I can. I like it here. It’s safe. I have a very full life. My children, my work, the community, my friends.’’ Cindy tucked her short, light brown hair behind her ears. ‘‘You’re lonely.’’ She held up her hand. ‘‘Wait. Let me finish. I know how you feel because I remember what it was like after my divorce from Nelson. If you were a different person, I wouldn’t be pushing. But you’re the kind of woman who wants to be part of a couple. You need that.’’
Beth pulled one knee up to her chest. ‘‘I don’t,’’ she said fiercely. ‘‘I don’t need any more than I have. I’m very content.’’ She paused, half expecting some of the lightning from outside to leap indoors and strike her for lying.
Cindy didn’t say anything—she didn’t have to. The women had been friends long enough for each to be able to read the truth.
‘‘Not him,’’ Beth said quietly. ‘‘You’re right. It’s time for me to get out there and do whatever it is when people date these days.’’
‘‘I don’t think it’s changed all that much.’’
Beth didn’t even want to think about that. ‘‘Not this way,’’ she continued. ‘‘Todd Graham is way out of my league. I would feel horrible the entire evening. He would be bored, I would probably forget where I was and start cutting his meat for him.’’
Cindy grinned. ‘‘Nice try, but it’s not going to work. Both your kids are teenagers. They haven’t needed you to cut their meat for years.’’ Her smile faded. ‘‘I’ll admit that Todd Graham isn’t anyone’s idea of a simple first date, but that’s part of what’s so great about this.’’
Beth blinked. ‘‘I’m sorry but you’re going to have to explain that to me a little more.’’
‘‘It’s practice,’’ Cindy told her. ‘‘He’s not your type and you’re not his. So nothing’s going to happen. You already know that. Think of it as a trial run for a real date—one that matters with someone you might like to be involved with. If you were to meet the perfect guy, you would want to have a little experience under your belt, right?’’
Beth mulled the idea over in her mind. She didn’t think there was going to be a perfect guy for her. She’d already had a wonderful eighteen-year marriage. She’d done the ‘‘in love’’ thing. If she were to get involved with a man, it would just be for companionship.
‘‘I am out of practice,’’ she admitted. ‘‘I started dating Darren when I was in high school, and we got married just after I turned nineteen.’’
‘‘That’s my point. Todd will be your transition guy.’’
Beth smiled. ‘‘One date does not a transition guy make.’’
‘‘Fine. He’ll be your first practice session. No expectations.’’
‘‘I’d like not to throw up during the meal.’’
Cindy laughed. ‘‘Great goal. I’m sure Todd would appreciate it, as well. So there you are. You’re going to find out how much dating has changed by going out with a man you’ll never see again. Your assignment is to carry on normal conversation for the two or three hours you’re with him and to not throw up. You can do this.’’
Beth wasn’t so sure. ‘‘If it was anyone else but him, I would agree. Todd Graham. What kind of name is that? It sounds like something made up by an escort service.’’
‘‘And you would know this how?’’
For the first time since hearing the news about Mike’s little gift, Beth laughed. ‘‘I’m generalizing.’’
‘‘Say you’ll go,’’ Cindy urged. ‘‘If nothing else, next time a well-meaning friend bugs you, you can tell him or her that you’re dating.’’
‘‘That has appeal,’’ Beth admitted.
What she wanted to do was run screaming from the room. Unfortunately that wasn’t an option. Cindy would hunt her down and talk and talk and talk until Beth acquiesced, just to be left in peace. She’d dealt with Cindy’s tenacity before. And if Cindy didn’t convince her, Mike would be back.
She thought about Darren, her wonderful husband. Why’d you have to go and die? She’d asked the question dozens of times in the past eighteen months and not once had there been an answer.
‘‘I’ll go,’’ she said.
‘‘You won’t regret it,’’ Cindy promised.
Beth nodded even though she had a bad feeling that her friend was very, very wrong.
* * *
