The Reluctant Bachelor. Syndi Powell

>

      A SECOND CHANCE AT TRUE LOVE

      Five years ago, Rick Allyn was publicly humiliated when he had his heart broken on the reality dating show True Love. Convincing him to sign up for another round of punishment isn’t going to be easy. But with the show’s ratings plummeting, producer Elizabeth Maier will have to persuade him to agree…or she’ll be putting in a job application at Rick’s small-town diner.

      Elizabeth is confident this season will be different. With his prominent family, boyish charm and good looks, Rick is the complete package. Finding his soul mate shouldn’t be hard. However, as filming continues, she’s beginning to suspect that the perfect woman for Rick is her. That leaves Elizabeth with a tough choice: her job at True Love or a shot at the real thing.

      Elizabeth studied the handsome man next to her.

      When had she lost her touch? Most men jumped at the chance to have twenty-five beautiful women fawning over them.

      “You owe it to America to be on the show.”

      “Somehow I think you’re exaggerating.” Rick chuckled.

      She was losing him. He wasn’t interested in money, love or fame. What else could he want? She changed gears. “If this is about reliving history, we’ll do a better job this time. You won’t end up humiliated and alone.”

      “It must be nice to control the universe.”

      She reached over and put a hand on his arm, and tried to ignore the skitter in her stomach when she felt his muscles underneath the denim jacket. “Tell me what you want, and I’ll guarantee it.”

      If only she could have what she truly wanted.

      Dear Reader,

      One of my favorite television shows is The Bachelor, and I love the idea that you can meet the love of your life on a reality show. Of course, the reality is it doesn’t always work out that way, and I wondered what would happen if a bachelor was rejected on live television in front of an audience of millions? How could he come back from that and find a second chance at love? And what if it turned out to be with the wrong woman?

      With those questions in mind, I started the story. I named my bachelor after my dad and gave him a lot of my dad’s qualities. I discovered that I wasn’t only writing a romance, but a story that would honor my dad’s memory in a small way.

      I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did. And I’d love to hear from you at www.facebook.com/syndipowellauthor.

      Syndi Powell

      The Reluctant Bachelor

      Syndi Powell

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      SYNDI POWELL

      started writing stories when she was young, eager to find out what happened after the happily-ever-after in her favorite books, and has made it a lifelong pursuit. She’s been reading Harlequin romance novels since she was in her teens and is thrilled to join the Harlequin team. She lives near Detroit with her husband, stepson and a cat and dog who believe they run the household. She loves to connect with readers on Twitter, @syndipowell, or on her Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/syndipowellauthor.

      MILLS & BOON

       Before you start reading, why not sign up?

      Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

       SIGN ME UP!

      Or simply visit

      signup.millsandboon.co.uk

      Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

      Dedicated to my dad, who I hope can read this book from heaven. I love and miss you. And to my mom, who introduced me to reading Harlequin books in the first place and started the love affair. Thank you both for your love and support.

      Contents

       PROLOGUE

       CHAPTER ONE

       CHAPTER TWO

       CHAPTER THREE

       CHAPTER FOUR

       CHAPTER FIVE

       CHAPTER SIX

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       CHAPTER EIGHT

       CHAPTER NINE

       CHAPTER TEN

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

       CHAPTER TWELVE

       CHAPTER THIRTEEN

       CHAPTER FOURTEEN

       CHAPTER FIFTEEN

       CHAPTER SIXTEEN

       CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

       CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

      PROLOGUE

      RICK ALLYNTUGGEDat the sky-blue tie that had been looped around his neck by one of the production assistants of True Love, a dating reality show. Only moments away from proposing to the one woman he’d never believed he’d find, he should feel anxious, right? The butterflies running bases in his stomach only proved his human nature.

      After all, Brandy could say no.

      But she wouldn’t. Not to him. At twenty-five, he was the entire package—looks, smarts and, after his agent worked out the details of his contract, a major-league baseball player.

      Lizzie Maier walked toward him. Serious, as always. She was wearing a purple power suit; her long brown hair was tied up in some ridiculous