Maddie Fortune's Perfect Man

by Nancy Robards Thompson

  THERE’S TROUBLE AFOOT AMONG THE HOUSTON FORTUNES...

  Maddie Fortunado, heir apparent to her father’s real estate business, is stunned to learn that she’ll have to fight for the job she’d assumed was hers! Even worse? Her rival is none other than Zach McCarter, her secret crush. Only a makeover can transform “Maddie” into “Madeleine,” who can compete against her charismatic coworker. But when Zach meets Maddie 2.0, business is suddenly the last thing on either of their minds!

  MEET THE FORTUNES!

  Fortune of the Month: Madeleine “Maddie” Fortunado

  Age: 29

  Vital Statistics: Blonde and blue-eyed, and prettier than she lets on.

  Claim to Fame: Perhaps the most hardworking of the Houston branch of the Fortune family. So why doesn’t she ever get what she deserves?

  Romantic Prospects: Not looking good. The man who has occupied most of her fantasies for the past five years has now become her greatest rival.

  “I’ve worked my butt off for Fortunado Real Estate forever, knowing that someday the company would be passed down to me. And now my dad has informed me I have to fight for the job that should rightfully be mine. I can’t believe he has chosen Zach McCarter, of all people, as his other candidate for the position.

  Zach is gorgeous, and driven, and the King of the Flirts. And if I ever had the slightest, tiniest dream of making him mine, my father has effectively squashed it. I can’t let Zach win! From now on, I’m all business, all the time. And Zach is The Enemy. But why does my enemy have to be so damn sexy?”

  * * *

  THE FORTUNES OF TEXAS: THE RULEBREAKERS:

  Making their own rules for love in the Wild West!

  Dear Reader,

  It’s said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Yet so often society sets ideals and judges a person’s worth based on personal appearance. In Maddie Fortune’s Perfect Man, book five in the new Fortunes of Texas continuity, the heroine, Maddie Fortune, always thought hard work and dedication would help her get ahead, but she’s tested when the one thing she worked for her entire adult life ends up not being the sure thing she thought it would be. She ends up having to dig a little deeper. In the process, she learns about herself and hero Zach McCarter. Zach helps her realize no one can make her feel bad about herself unless she lets them. And she won’t let them.

  I hope you love Maddie and Zach’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please link up with me on Facebook at Facebook.com/nrobardsthompson; on Twitter at Twitter.com/nrtwrites; or drop me a line at nrobardsthompson@yahoo.com. I love to hear from readers!

  Warmly,

  Nancy

  Maddie Fortune’s Perfect Man

  Nancy Robards Thompson

  National bestselling author Nancy Robards Thompson holds a degree in journalism. She worked as a newspaper reporter until she realized reporting “just the facts” bored her silly. Now that she has much more content to report to her muse, Nancy loves writing women’s fiction and romance full-time. Critics have deemed her work “funny, smart and observant.” She resides in Florida with her husband and daughter. You can reach her at nancyrobardsthompson.com and Facebook.com/nancyrobardsthompsonbooks.

  Books by Nancy Robards Thompson

  Harlequin Special Edition

  Celebration, TX

  The Cowboy Who Got Away

  A Bride, a Barn, and a Baby

  The Cowboy’s Runaway Bride

  Celebrations, Inc.

  His Texas Christmas Bride

  How to Marry a Doctor

  A Celebration Christmas

  Celebration’s Baby

  Celebration’s Family

  Celebration’s Bride

  Texas Christmas

  Texas Magic

  Texas Wedding

  The Fortunes of Texas: The Secret Fortunes

  Fortune’s Surprise Engagement

  The Fortunes of Texas: Welcome to Horseback Hollow

  Falling for Fortune

  The Fortunes of Texas: Whirlwind Romance

  Fortune’s Unexpected Groom

  Visit the Author Profile page at www.Harlequin.com for more titles.

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  This book is dedicated to my beloved Samantha, faithful friend, smiling muse and ambassador of all dogs. You stole the heart of this cat lady. Rest in peace, my sweet corgi girl. I’ll miss you every day.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from A Bachelor, a Boss and a Baby by Rachel Lee

  Chapter One

  Kenneth Fortunado tapped his champagne flute with a table knife. The ping, ping, ping of metal on crystal silenced the small gathering of family and friends, whom he’d summoned to the impromptu afternoon barbecue.

  Maddie Fortunado shivered as a frisson of anticipation spiraled through her.

  A champagne toast at a barbecue. It can only mean one thing.

  Finally.

  She’d been dreaming of this day.

  “Does everyone have a glass of bubbly?” Kenneth asked. “I have a special announcement.”

  Maddie plucked a flute off the tray of a passing server and turned expectantly toward her father. Catching his eye, she checked her posture and held her glass high. He flashed her a knowing smile and lifted his flute to her in a private cheers, before surveying the small crowd he’d gathered on the back terrace of the Fortunado estate.

  “Barbara?” he called. “Barbara, where are you? Where is my lovely wife?”

  Her mother did indeed look lovely in her powder-blue sweater set, which she’d paired with ivory silk trousers and her signature double strand of pearls. Barbara waved from the back of the terrace where she appeared to be giving the caterer last-minute instructions.

  “Barbara, dear,” Kenneth said. “Please join me.”

  Demonstrating that a Southern woman neither rushed nor allowed herself to be rushed, Barbara held up a ladylike index finger, signaling to Kenneth that she’d be there in a moment, and continued her business with the chef.

  Maddie allowed her gaze to meander over to her coworker Zach McCarter, who was talking to her sisters, Schuyler and Valene, and Schuyler’s fiancé as everyone waited for Kenneth and Barbara to share their big news. Her toes curled in her navy Jack Rogers sandals. Somehow, Zach managed to look masculine—and sexy as hell—holding the delicate crystal champagne glass by the stem, totally oblivious to the fact that she was watching him.

  Her uncle Bill, her mom’s brother, whom she hadn’t seen in months, had come back to Houston for the announcement at their parents’ behest, and was engrossed in conversation with Zach and the group. Obviously, her family didn’t think there was anything out of the ordinary that Zach had been included in this day of special news.

  Zach, who had until a few weeks ago been the broker in charge of Fortunado Real Estate’s San Antonio office, had arrived at the house before Maddie, and her mother—as intuitive as ever—had been in the kitchen and had warned her he was here.

  “Oh!” Barbara’s hand had flown to her mouth, as if she hadn’t meant for the exclamation to escape.

  “By the way,” she’d said, “before you go out there, I thought you should know your father invited Zach McCarter to be here today.”

  Maddie’s stomach had flip-flopped, th
en plunged. “Here? For the barbecue?”

  Barbara grimaced. “Yes. He’s out on the porch. Your father insisted on inviting him, even though I said I thought it wasn’t a good idea.” Barbara shot Maddie a knowing look. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Why would I mind?” Maddie kept her voice level and her poker face firmly fixed.

  “Why would you mind?” Barbara had shrugged. “Well, I thought this announcement that your father and I are about to make would’ve been best kept to just family first. But you know how he is. Once he gets something in his head, there’s no talking him out of it. It’s best just to go with it.”

  Happy to have the forewarning, she’d seen Zach before she’d opened the French doors that led out to the terrace. In the split instant when her eyes had picked him out of the group that had grown to include more friends than family, her heart had performed a two-step that had caused her to put her hand to her chest.

  She looked at Zach standing there, so comfortable in his own skin, laughing with her sisters. The sheer beauty of him—of them all—made the scene look like it could have been an ad for Ralph Lauren or some other all-American line that featured buff, gorgeous people.

  Perfection seemed to come so effortlessly to Zach.

  This stolen opportunity to drink in his masculine beauty was a smidgen of unadulterated heaven. From the top of his curly blond head—with hair that was on the longish side, but still looked professional—to the bottom of his six-foot-four-inch frame, he was sheer perfection.

  His light blue eyes were slightly downturned and adorably crinkled at the edges when he smiled. Maddie took a moment to pay homage to that strong, structured jawline, to those wide shoulders and his impressive height. He was tall, but so was she and next to him, she felt feminine. His nose was just a little crooked and that scar on his chin that she couldn’t see but could visualize were just enough to lend a masculine edge to his classic features. Good thing, too, because with his sun-kissed honey-blond hair, perfected by his convertible BMW, he could easily have been too pretty. But he wasn’t. He was perfect.

  She watched Schuyler reach up and ruffle Zach’s hair. She’d wager that she was telling him that people paid big bucks for highlights like that. Schuyler was always bemoaning the high price of beauty when she migrated back to Houston from Austin every six weeks for hair appointments. That was precisely why Maddie preferred to keep her blond hair natural. She didn’t have time to get roped into regular salon appointments for upkeep. The mere thought of the obligation gave her hives.

  On a better note, she wished she could freeze this stolen moment and savor it over and over. Because Zach looked particularly gorgeous on this fine Sunday afternoon. There was something especially enticing about the way his light blue eyes crinkled as he laughed at something Schuyler was saying. He was probably humoring her as she went on and on about his highlights. He looked so comfortable in his own sexy skin. He was mesmerizing, and the sight of him sent a quiver down to the pit of her stomach. Maddie fisted her free hand, the one that wasn’t holding her champagne, so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

  Oh, Zach, you sexy thing.

  A wisp of wistful regret skittered through Maddie as she realized he would never be anything more to her than a fantasy. He couldn’t even be her secret crush anymore, which had been so easy when he was at the San Antonio office. She’d had a chance to get to know him better since he’d transferred to Houston. But she needed to rein it in if she was going to be his boss, which was about to happen once her father made the big announcement.

  Any second now.

  But until then, she was free to indulge one last tiny little daydream—

  Uh-oh—

  She froze as Zach’s gaze locked with hers. It happened so fast and the jolt was so gripping, she couldn’t look away. It was just as well. In her peripheral vision, she could see that Val was talking to Uncle Bill and Schuyler was talking to her fiancé, Carlo Mendoza, leaving poor Zach unentertained. If she looked away too fast, he might think she hadn’t wanted him to catch her watching him. Even though she hadn’t intended for him to catch her looking. It was best to hold up her end of the subtly flirtatious stare-down, which she did—brilliantly, if she did say so herself—dropping her gaze to her champagne flute for a single beat and then snaring his gaze again.

  It was a silent dare to see who would look away first.

  She sighed inwardly.

  It’s been fun, Zach, but now it’s time for me to move on.

  That’s what she was telegraphing to him. He didn’t seem to be receiving the message, because if he had, surely, he would’ve had the good grace to look away.

  Instead, he raised his hand to her. She made the same motion in return.

  In the end, neither of them lost the challenge because her father called it a draw when he started talking and broke the spell. They both gave him their attention. Her mother was now standing at Kenneth’s side and he handed her a glass of champagne.

  “My family—” Kenneth gestured toward Maddie and then toward her sisters. “Madeleine, Valene, Schuyler and Carlo. And Zach. Zach, I include you because you are like a son to Barbara and me—like family to all of us.”

  Family? Maddie blanched. No. That would make him my brother.

  Of course, Zach had been over to the Fortunado homestead. Since he didn’t have family in town, they’d invited him last Thanksgiving.

  She’d never think of Zach as a brother. Not with the fantasies she had of him.

  Those fantasies were anything but sisterly...

  “Speaking of sons,” Kenneth continued. “I wish Everett, Connor and Gavin could be here today.” Kenneth’s gaze scanned the group of well-wishers. “Everett and Lila are away on their honeymoon. Those crazy kids eloped after they saw everything that’s involved in putting together a wedding. It’s not too late to follow suit, Carlo.” Everyone laughed. Schuyler held on tight to Carlo and shook her head as Kenneth continued. “Connor and Gavin couldn’t get away since they’re coming for Schuyler and Carlo’s wedding at the end of the month. But—”

  Kenneth stopped and shook his head. A slow smile tipped up the corners of his mouth. “I am a lucky man to be surrounded by so much love.” He lifted his glass to Schuyler and Carlo. “To my lovely daughter and her husband-to-be and to all of you. Thank you so much for being here this afternoon. It was a last-minute invitation, but as I told you, it’s important to Barbara and me to share our news with you first. You are important to us and we wanted you to hear it first.”

  Kenneth’s smile faded.

  “When my mother passed away, it was a wake-up call. Those of you who knew Starlight know she was larger than life. She lived every day to the fullest. Her passing not only gave me pause, it made me stop and take inventory of my life. That inventory revealed that I have a lot of lost time to make up for.” He put his arm around Barbara. “Not only that, but our children are all grown. They’re getting married and leaving the nest. It’s made Barb and me realize we have a lot of living to do. It’s time for us. However, it’s difficult to make time for us when I’m working eighty-hour weeks.” He paused and smiled down at Barbara. “Thank you for being patient with me, love.”

  Barbara kissed his cheek.

  “With that in mind,” Kenneth said, “I am so pleased to announce that right after Schuyler and Carlo’s wedding, I will retire from Fortunado Real Estate.”

  Even though they were exactly the words Maddie had been expecting, a gasp escaped her throat as she led the gathering in a round of applause, sloshing a little champagne as she clapped.

  Barbara held up her hand to silence them. “And I am pleased to announce that right after the big wedding, Kenneth and I will take a second honeymoon. We will be leaving on a four-month cruise around the world. Forty-nine ports of call—thirty-two countries on six continents.”

  More applause.

  Maddie’s chest hurt and she realized she’d been holding her breath. She was thrilled for her parents, but she was
waiting for the next part. The part of the announcement where her father said that he was promoting her, that she would be stepping up as his successor to lead Fortunado Real Estate into the next chapter.

  “I booked the cruise and told him the ship would sail on June fourth—with or without him,” Barbara said. “I told him I’d be on that boat and I hoped he would be there, too. Because even with all this life inventory, we all know that’s the only way I’d ever get him to finally make the leap into retirement.”

  Maddie inhaled sharply to quell her impatience.

  “Now, now, my love,” Kenneth said.

  Maddie blew out all the air from her lungs. Her heart thudded. She could hear her blood rushing in her ears. Her father put his arm around her mother and lovingly massaged her neck, which made Barbara squirm and swat him away. She’d never been one for public displays of affection.

  “Kenneth, not in front of the kids,” Barbara said.

  Yes, not in front of the kids, Dad. Yuck. Save it for the cruise and get to the rest of the announcement.

  Kenneth and Barbara raised their glasses to the small crowd.

  “Thank you for helping us celebrate our big decision.”

  Everyone raised their glasses in return and offered cheers and good words like congratulations, hear! hear!, to your health and happiness and bon voyage.

  But wait... What about the rest... What about the announcement of your successor?

  Maddie battled the demons of disappointment as she watched her sisters rush to congratulate their parents with hugs and squeals. She blinked once, twice. Took one more slow, deep breath, doing her best to slay the monster inside.

  Okay. So, he wasn’t going to announce her promotion now.

  It was okay. Really, it was.

  She blinked again and reframed. It wasn’t that big of a deal that her father hadn’t yet announced that she would be his successor.

  Maddie let the words ruminate in her brain for a moment.

  This afternoon was for her parents. It was a big, big deal for them. It was a huge step for them. Today was about them.