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This month, in WORLD’S MOST ELIGIBLE TEXAN by Sara Orwig, meet Aaron Black—diplomat extraordinaire.
Aaron was a world-weary man-about-town who found nothing to excite him, until…Pamela Miles waltzed into his arms. This Plain Jane schoolteacher was about to change his life!
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Silhouette Desire, the ultimate treat for Valentine’s Day—we promise you will find six passionate, powerful and provocative romances every month! And here’s what you can indulge yourself with this February….
The fabulous Peggy Moreland brings you February’s MAN OF THE MONTH, The Way to a Rancher’s Heart. You’ll be enticed by this gruff widowed rancher who must let down his guard for the sake of a younger woman.
The exciting Desire miniseries TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB: LONE STAR JEWELS continues with World’s Most Eligible Texan by Sara Orwig. A world-weary diplomat finds love—and fatherhood—after making a Plain Jane schoolteacher pregnant with his child.
Kathryn Jensen’s The American Earl is an office romance featuring the son of a British earl who falls for his American employee. In Overnight Cinderella by Katherine Garbera, an ugly-duckling heroine transforms herself into a swan to win the love of an alpha male. Kate Little tells the story of a wealthy bachelor captivated by the woman he was trying to protect his younger brother from in The Millionaire Takes a Bride. And Kristi Gold offers His Sheltering Arms, in which a macho ex-cop finds love with the woman he protects.
Make this Valentine’s Day extra-special by spoiling yourself with all six of these alluring Desire titles!
Enjoy!
Joan Marlow Golan
Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire
World’s Most Eligible Texan
Sara Orwig
SARA ORWIG
lives with her husband and children in Oklahoma. She has a patient husband who will take her on research trips anywhere, from big cities to old forts. She is an avid collector of Western history books. With a master’s degree in English, Sara writes historical romance, mainstream fiction and contemporary romance. Books are beloved treasures that take Sara to magical worlds, and she loves both reading and writing them.
“What’s Happening in Royal?”
NEWS FLASH, February—Could it possibly be true that the jaded heart of diplomat Aaron Black—most eligible of bachelors—has been softened by our local country gal Pamela Miles? The town of Royal, TX, has been a-buzzing since these two were spied dancing cheek-to-cheek during the splashy Texas Cattleman’s Club gala last month…and an eyewitness saw the smitten couple dashing out the door arm-in-arm before the festivities were at an end….
In other news, Royal is still spinning from the awful emergency plane landing. No fatalities, thank our lucky stars! However, some of our Texas Cattleman’s Club members have been seen rummaging through the rubble at the crash site…. What could they be looking for?
And two mysterious men have been noted about town, asking the whereabouts of all women who were on that flight. These ladies may be needing our cattlemen’s protection—stay tuned for more!
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Prologue
“You’re going home to Royal?”
“You heard me right. Can I get the family plane to pick me up?” Aaron Black persisted patiently on the phone, knowing his request was a shock to his brother.
“You’re taking a leave of absence,” Jeb Black repeated. “I don’t believe it, but I’ll have the plane there as soon as possible. The diplomat from Spain, my worldly brother, is going to take a vacation in our hometown of Royal, Texas. I’m finding this damned difficult to believe.”
“The State Department has cleared it so I can take some time to go home,” Aaron said. “Dammit, you take vacations.”
“Yeah, with the family and we go to one of those countries you work in. We don’t leave Houston to go back and sit around Royal.”
“Maybe you should. Royal is nice.”
“Yep, if you like cows and mesquite. I’ll bet you last two days and then you’ll be calling me to send the plane to get you out of there. What about the embassy while you’re gone?”
For the first time that day, Aaron was amused. He smiled in the darkness of his silent Georgetown house. “The American Embassy in Spain can carry on nicely if the First Secretary is not there for a little while.”
“I’m not sure I’m talking to my brother. Aaron, are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Tell Mary and the boys hi for me. Better yet, give them a big hug. Thanks for sending the plane.”
“Sure. Keep in touch. And tell me one more time that you’re okay.”
“I’m okay, ‘Mom.”’
“Well, I’m your big brother and I have to take her place sometimes. And you’ll have to admit, this isn’t like you at all. Aaron—does this have something to do with the Texas Cattleman’s Club?”
“Yes, it does,” Aaron could answer honestly. His brother wasn’t a member, but he could have been and he knew that the club was a facade for members to work together covertly on secret missions to save innocents’ lives.
“Why didn’t you tell me,” Jeb said, sounding more relaxed.
“Take care of yourself.”
“Thanks, Jeb.” Aaron replaced the receiver, breaking the connection with his older brother. Aaron stared out the window at the swirling snow. “No, it isn’t like me,” he whispered to himself. “Thanks to a tall, black-haired Texas gal, I’m doing things I’ve never done in my life.” Mesmerized by the swirling snow and twinkling lights, he remembered early January, three weeks ago, the night of the Cattleman’s Club gala.
Aaron’s pulse accelerated as he recalled the moment he had glanced across the room and seen the willowy, black-haired woman in a simple black dress. When she’d turned, her blue-eyed gaze had met his and, just for an instant, he’d felt something spark inside him. She was laughing at something someone else had said to her. Seeing her wide blue eyes, dimples and irresistible smile, Aaron had a sudden, unreasonable compulsion to meet her. He’d thought he knew almost everyone in Royal, but she was a stranger.
Then Justin Webb had spoken to him and he’d turned to shake hands with his physician friend. The next time he’d looked back, the woman was gone from sight. It had taken him twenty more minutes to work his way through the crowd and get introduced. Another two minutes and he had her in his arms, moving on the dance floor. And then later—images taunted him of her in his arms, of the heat of her kisses, her eagerness—memories still fresh enough that his body reacted swiftly to them. Pamela Miles.
Breaking into his thoughts, a car slid to a stop before his Georgetown home and Brad Meadows, his stocky