Fortune's Prince Charming

Fortune's Prince Charming
Nancy Robards Thompson

Zoe Robinson had never known true love—until Joaquin Mendoza rode into Austin and stole her innocent heart. The new guy at work is brilliant and aloof, but Zoe's nursing a secret of her own: her dad might be connected to the famed Fortune clan!But the determined beauty has never backed down from a challenge - not when it comes to her family, and not when it comes to love.Joaquin believes he’s all wrong for the wealthiest gal in Texas—he’s got one too many family issues keeping him from surrendering his heart to lovely, innocent Zoe. Until shocking allegations surface about her family drama, and Joaquin realizes that he might be the ideal match for his Texas princess after all!

MEET THE FORTUNES

Fortune of the Month: Zoe (Fortune?) Robinson

Age: 25

Vital statistics: She is the beautiful, sheltered daughter of computer guru Gerald Robinson— who just might be Jerome Fortune.

Claim to Fame: Zoe handles marketing for Robinson Tech. She is also a pro at “handling” some challenging family members, including her dear old dad.

Romantic prospects: She’s the boss’s daughter, which some might find highly appealing. For Joaquin Mendoza, it means she’s wearing a big sign that says Keep Off.

“They say women of my generation don’t believe in fairy tales. We are not sitting around waiting to be rescued by a handsome prince—we take care of ourselves.

“That may be true, but I still believe in love at first sight. And in recognizing your One True Love when he comes along. For me, that’s Joaquin Mendoza. He’s gorgeous and sexy, but he’s so much more. I feel as if I can see straight into his soul. He wants me, too—I just know it—and I want him to be my first. My first, my last, my only. But my strong, silent hero is holding back. Joaquin has no idea how alike we really are …”

* * *

The Fortunes of Texas: All Fortune’s Children— Money. Family. Cowboys. Meet the Austin Fortunes!

Fortune’s Prince Charming

Nancy Robards Thompson

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

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. 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 www.nancyrobardsthompson.com (http://www.nancyrobardsthompson.com) and Facebook.com/nancyrobardsthompsonbooks (http://www.facebook.com/nancyrobardsthompsonbooks)

This book is dedicated to Jennifer.

Never forget you’re a princess. All my love, always.

Contents

Cover (#ue62e02b6-8f79-5b07-b8fa-a2ea49ff0a64)

Introduction (#u52281d05-dc7b-559b-ab80-c43c9bfd40ed)

Title Page (#u4e968e56-9b27-5786-86d6-cf5e0993e8b8)

About the Author (#ucc2575bf-3706-5d6f-b90b-2939d9bb022a)

Dedication (#u9d7f4794-0a14-5cd1-b6b1-bd3752e4177f)

Chapter One (#u2bdb4f8c-f20f-5a9f-941a-86bbb1b7efbd)

Chapter Two (#ud46ccf14-363a-5b77-9f9e-8fe007bae623)

Chapter Three (#u6eda5afc-fb1b-5e31-8718-b1ee96f44154)

Chapter Four (#u5ade5106-dd80-5884-8301-7eccc2d9db87)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_2bf52d02-d73e-58fb-9b34-4f18a4e62bc9)

“Zoe Robinson, you could have your choice of any man in this restaurant. Why must you fixate on the one guy you can’t have?”

Zoe pursed her lips and tested her friend Veronica’s theory, letting her gaze do a quick sweep of the people in the Gilded Pig’s dining room. The rustic joint was jam-packed with its usual lunchtime clientele. Strains of a heartfelt country tune set the backdrop for the scene—mostly businessmen of varying ages, shapes and sizes who pushed up their shirtsleeves and tucked paper napkins into their collars to protect their white button-downs from what was arguably Austin’s finest barbecue. Even though the room contained an appetizing smorgasbord of men, not a single one in the large barn-turned-restaurant piqued her interest. Each and every one of them probably had fine qualities and was certainly worthy of someone’s love, but not a single one did anything for Zoe. Not even the cute guy who was grinning at her over his pulled pork sandwich.

As the music—Tim McGraw maybe?—asserted something about being a real bad boy who at the same time was a real good man—she flashed a noncommittal smile at the guy and turned back to Ronnie.

“Why fixate on Joaquin Mendoza? Because I can’t get him out of my mind. That’s why.”

Ronnie scrunched up her face the way she always did before she stuck a big fat reality-check pin in Zoe’s balloon of possibility. “That would be very romantic, Zoe, if only he would ask you out. Or even better, if he would talk to you about something other than business.”

Okay. So, maybe Ronnie had a point.

Still, Joaquin Mendoza had swept her off her feet from the moment he’d first walked into Robinson Tech several months ago. Actually he’d captivated her the first time she’d met him when her sister Rachel married his brother Matteo, last year. They’d been paired as maid of honor and best man, but the focus of the weekend had been on the bride and groom and, at the time, Zoe had no idea her father would end up hiring him as a programmer at Robinson Tech to work on a special project.

It wasn’t simply that he was older and tall and good-looking—no, scratch that—the guy was gorgeous. There was something about the cool way he held himself, and he had the strangest ability to put all of her senses on high alert the minute he ventured within five yards of her. It was like his superpower. Zoe had been ruined for other men since Joaquin Mendoza had walked back into her life three months ago. It was too bad he seemed more interested in work than in getting to know her better.