Challenging Matt

She’s putting him to the test

As a researcher, Layne McGraw can handle tough situations. So when suspicions arise that her uncle may have been murdered, she won’t let anything stop her from finding the truth. Not the risks, and certainly not party-boy philanthropist Matt Hollister.

It turns out Matt is more irresistible than she expected. Not only has he reformed his wild ways, but as the new head of his family’s charity, he has a lot to prove. And her quest seems to challenge his plans. She knows finding out what really happened could serve both their needs. All they have to do is control their attraction!

“I wanted to talk to you.”

In response, Matt held up the latest edition of the Babbitt and Layne winced. So much for not antagonizing him.

She stepped off the low retaining wall to the patio below. “I didn’t have anything to do with that article. Not directly, at least. Noah Wilkie, the Babbitt’s social reporter, overheard part of what my aunt was saying at the gala, so he may have mentioned it to one of the other reporters.”

“I see.”

“But I’d still like to apologize, and also about my aunt getting so upset. It wasn’t like her, but she’s been through a lot. And she…” Layne trailed off. She was in danger of starting to babble, and she reminded herself of her plan to treat Matt Hollister as a fact to be researched, instead of a sexy guy who turned her brain into a mass of overreacting neurons.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to my second book in the Those Hollister Boys series, about the commitment-wary sons of Sullivan Spencer “Spence” Hollister, known in the tabloids as “S.S. Hollister, the man with an ex-wife in every port.” Spence has children and ex-wives all over the world and is a hedonist who lives on charm and an enormous fortune.

Matt followed his father’s fun-loving footsteps, and for years he partied hard and pursued extreme sports. But now that he wants to run his grandfather’s charitable foundation, his reputation is getting in the way. He’s thrown another curve when Layne McGraw shows up, wanting answers about a suicide and theft connected to Matt’s own stepfather.

Classic movie alert: I love old movies, and in my last letter I recommended Hobson’s Choice, released in 1954. Because Challenging Matt includes a mystery, I’d like to suggest watching the 1953 film The Blue Gardenia, with Anne Baxter and Richard Conte. There’s a hint of romance, and a whole lot of suspense in that movie.

I hope you enjoy reading Challenging Matt. I look forward to hearing from readers and can be contacted c/o MILLS & BOON Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 3K9, Canada.

Wishing you all the best,

Julianna Morris

Challenging Matt

Julianna Morris

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julianna Morris grew up wanting to be a writer and started her first novel in sixth grade. It was about an injured ballerina, and needless to say, it’s an incredibly maudlin tale that will never see the light of day. When Julianna isn’t frantically busy with family, cats, dogs and her computer, she’s baking bread, traveling or pursuing one of her other hobbies. She could probably get everything done if she only had forty hours every day and didn’t have to sleep….

To the memory of Aunt Polly and Uncle Del.

Contents

Dear Reader

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

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

EXTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

“HERE YOU GO, LAYNE,” said Kit Carson, tossing a copy of the Puget Sound Babbitt on the desk.

“Thanks.” Layne McGraw smiled at the lead mail-room clerk.

“Look at the intrepid explorer, pushing his trusty steed. Or is that just a mail cart?” taunted Regina Sorkin, who thought it was a hoot that Kit was named after a famous explorer.

“And if it isn’t The Kitchen Corner’s smart-ass columnist. I see you have more bandages on your fingers—did you screw up another recipe?” Kit returned, appearing annoyed as he pushed his cart forward.

Layne looked at her friend. “Why do you do that?” she asked. “You know how much it annoys him.”

“Because I know how much it annoys him,” Regina replied, unrepentant. “You’d think he’d be more ambitious with a name like Kit Carson.”

“He’s happy running the mail room. People don’t always want to earn a bigger income or get a more impressive job title.”

Regina shrugged and headed back to her own desk, most likely annoyed with Kit for not being ambitious enough to notice her as a woman. Layne felt bad for her—unrequited love was hell. Still, she didn’t think it was right to torment someone over their career choice...the way her family tormented her.

She leafed through her copy of the Babbitt and spotted signs of her work throughout the weekly regional news magazine. Whenever someone had trouble finding information, she got it for them. She took pride in knowing her facts were triple-checked and documented.