The Bachelor And The Beauty Queen

Spotlight on temptation

The tall, sexy stranger who just barged into Lexi Pendergrass’s shop looks like a perfect ten to her. But not only does Stephen Reyes accuse the former beauty queen of selling his young niece a scandalous dress, he then prevents Lexi from buying her dream property next door. Not exactly Mr. Congeniality. Even still, beneath their bickering simmers an inconvenient chemistry that’s shaking Lexi’s legendary poise to the core.

Real estate mogul Stephen has had his world rocked twice in recent months. First, he became guardian to his late brother’s children. Now he’s falling for a feisty Southern beauty who, when she isn’t coaching his pageant-crazy niece, is schooling him in desire. He misjudged her once. Now he’s using all his seductive talents to win Lexi for now and forever...

Stephen blocked her path. Just as when they danced, his eyes stayed fixated on her hairline and then her lips. To create space, Lexi pressed her hands against his chest and wrapped the top of the apron strings around his neck. “Turn around and I’ll tie you.”

“You’ll tie me up?”

Laughter of relief broke the strange tension between them. “In your dreams. Now here, I’ll need you to continue stirring the grits while I cook the shrimp.”

Thankfully Stephen did as she asked, stopping every so often when she needed to add some cream, tomato paste, spices and lots of butter into the grits while her shrimp sautéed. They cooked together in silence but rhythmically, reminding her of how they danced together. On the dance floor he took the lead, but in her kitchen she did. He stepped out of the way when she added something new to his pot and back into the empty space. The spiced shrimp took no time to cook, and in her haste to get out of the kitchen, Lexi reached for the handle of the pan to pour everything into a serving dish behind her. She underestimated the weight of the pan and her wrists weakened. Stephen anticipated her misstep and swooshed right behind her, wrapping her in his arms and his hands over hers.

“Here, let me help,” he whispered in her ear.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Southwood, Georgia. Home to Grits and Glam Gowns, where the one-of-a-kind dresses can bring you good luck or scandal. And when the wrong dress gets in the wrong hands, sometimes you get both.

Allow me to explain that each plotted scene written was fueled with laughter and based on revenge—sort of. In the process of writing The Bachelor and the Beauty Queen, my family grew from a four-member house to an eight-member house. I love my boys, but the testosterone in my home is through the roof. My personal hero, my husband, felt having four boys in the house would be a piece of cake. This of course sparked the idea of placing an alpha male in a predominately glitzy pageant world.

Carolyn Hector

The Bachelor and the Beauty Queen

Carolyn Hector

Having your story read out loud as a teen by your brother in Julia Child’s voice might scare some folks from ever sharing their work. But CAROLYN HECTOR rose above her fear. She currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida, where there is never a dull moment. School functions, politics, football, Southern charm and sizzling heat help fuel her knack for putting a romantic spin on everything she comes across. Find out what she’s up to on Twitter, @Carolyn32303.

I would like to dedicate this book first and foremost to my husband and our growing family of now five boys and one young lady. Thank you for allowing me

the time to write. And much love to Monique and Pablo Baez: thanks for inspiring me all the time, as well as setting the example on how to raise a big family.

Acknowledgments

I have to acknowledge my office family, Amy McDonald, Elizabeth McGhee and Debra Brock (who always listened patiently whenever an idea hit), and my Tallahassee Romance Writing Crew who helped me put the ideas in motion. The fabulous ladies helped raise the writer in me!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Epilogue

Copyright

Chapter 1

“Mr. Foxx,” Lexi Pendergrass began with a big, toothy smile, hoping to distract the elderly couple seated before her from the thumping music outside of her office. “I assure you this proposal of mine will not attract what you’d call riffraff.”

Mr. Foxx, the man holding the deed to the shop next door—the deed to Lexi’s dream of expanding her Grits and Glam Gowns Boutique—relaxed his pinched shoulders and gave a squeeze to the hand of his wife of over forty years. Lexi did her homework. She understood Mr. and Mrs. Foxx wanted to sell the inherited piece of prime property located between her boutique and their café.

“You are aware Mrs. Foxx and I plan to retire soon?” said Mr. Foxx, squeezing his wife’s hand once again. Mrs. Foxx tilted her head up toward her husband and smiled. Lexi swore the woman batted her lashes, as well. “And though we won’t be here, we do want to leave this block in good moral standing.”