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Callaway Country
Annette Broadrick
Hello, Father. I'm your bastard son.His whole life, Andrew Malone had been programmed to hate the man who'd abandoned his pregnant mother. But now, watching Robert MacAllister clutch his chest and crumple to the ground, Andrew felt compassion… and guilt. And an overwhelming need to be part of this family that now regarded him as the enemy.Dr. Kara MacAllister was not a blood relation, but she'd dedicated her life to earning the respect and love the MacAllisters had shown a troubled runaway. Now a stranger was threatening everything–everyone–she held dear. Yet even knowing that, she couldn't stop her attraction to the man Andrew had shown her he could be. A good man. A wonderful lover.A skillful liar with a secret agenda?
WHO CAN RESIST A TEXAN…OR A CALLAWAY?
Clay Callaway was suddenly facing his biggest challenge—the one woman who haunted his midnight memories. Pam might have gotten the last word all those years ago, but Clay’s heart was forged with steel now. And things would be different this time around.…
Pamela McCall never would have agreed to take on this case if she’d known her partner would be the one man who despised—and secretly aroused—her. She’d loved him long ago, but in one bittersweet moment she’d been forced to let him go. Maybe this time she’d hold on…forever.
Katie Callaway was a model mother, an unforgettable woman—and a killer? Suspicions swirled around the disappearance of her evil ex-husband and fingers were pointing at her! This Callaway damsel needed a man who believed in her.…
Lieutenant Colonel Sam Carruthers always put duty before desire. But no one had ever tempted him with such passion. Could this military hero unravel an intricate revenge scheme and save Katie…the woman he loved?
“Annette Broadrick’s one terrific writer.”
—Award-winning author Diana Palmer
ANNETTE BROADRICK
believes in romance and the magic of life. Since 1984, when her first book was published, Annette has shared her view of life and love with readers all over the world.
In addition to being nominated by Romantic Times Magazine as one of the Best New Authors of 1984, she has also won the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best in its Series for Heat of the Night, Mystery Lover and Irresistible; the Romantic Times Magazine W.I.S.H. award for her heroes in Strange Enchantment, Marriage Texas Style! and Impromptu Bride; and the Romantic Times Magazine Lifetime Achievement Awards for Series Romance and Series Romantic Fantasy.
Fascinated by the complexities found in all relationships, she continues to write about life and love, joy and fulfillment, and the bountiful gifts that are bestowed upon us as we travel along life’s path. Readers have enjoyed over fifty love stories penned by this talented author. Annette currently lives in the hill country of her native Texas.
Sons of Texas
Callaway Country
Annette Broadrick
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
This novel is dedicated to
Dr. L. J. Moore
who gave up a secure position in the business world
to follow her dream.…
WAY TO GO, LINDA!!
CALLAWAY FAMILY TREE
Dear Reader,
When my editor suggested that I write a sixth Callaway story, I was curious about the possibilities. Whose story would I tell? My last book in the series, Sons of Texas: Rogues and Ranchers, gave us the story of Cole Callaway’s twin sons, Clint and Cade, as well as one of Cameron’s adopted sons, Matt.
Several fan letters have asked about Cody and his family. Others have been curious about Cole’s daughter, Katie. Eventually I decided to tell two love stories in one—catching readers up on Katie’s life and exploring Cody’s only son, Clay, and his adventure with love.
This, dear reader, was not an easy story to tell. Once Clay and his fiery first love, Pamela McCall, were reluctantly reunited, they became so willful that no one was going to tell them what to do, including me! For an author, when your very own creations assert such independence that you’re simply waiting to see what they’re going to do next…well, it’s frustrating when they back themselves into a corner—and pure magic watching them wriggle their way out.
Thank you for making the SONS OF TEXAS series so popular. I’ve been very touched by your response to the Callaway family.
And now…on with the story.…
Contents
Prologue (#u7969947c-3c3c-552c-9af8-d939e969cd41)
Chapter 1 (#u1b6253a6-5732-5c23-a17f-cfadd7b700f7)
Chapter 2 (#u865500a0-7d10-542c-91fd-80edc2ab783a)
Chapter 3 (#u70d4c87c-6211-55b1-8c3a-e6d08333a54f)
Chapter 4 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue
Racing black clouds streamed across the sky, blotting out the little light that came from the sliver of moon. A moisture-laden silence hung over the small Texas border town, occasionally interrupted by the desultory bark of a bored dog.
The narrow streets were empty of traffic. No one stirred outside the tiny houses clustered along the bluff overlooking the Rio Grande, the river that separated Texas from Mexico.
A sudden explosion ripped through the somnolent atmosphere, shattering the sleepy peacefulness of the small community. Fire tore through a huge factory-warehouse on the edge of town. Flames colored the night with an orange glow.
The people poured out of their homes and raced to see what could be done to save the only business in town, a business that had kept the local population from starving. They soon realized there was nothing they could do but watch the business, along with their futures, go up in billowing clouds of black smoke.
At the same time that the factory on the border was destroyed, other explosions occurred—in an office building in downtown Dallas, on an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, and in an oil equipment warehouse in east Texas.
There was only one thing these locations had in common—they were part of Callaway Enterprises, a conglomerate owned and operated by members of the Callaway family.
The message was clear. Someone had declared war on the Callaways.
Chapter 1
When the family decided to throw a party, they went all out, Clay Callaway thought as he paused just inside the doorway of the Grand Ballroom of the Anatole Hotel.
It was the Texas way, after all.
Everything glittered, from the giant chandeliers with their dazzling crystal pendants to the multitude of diamonds and other precious gems draped around the necks and wrists of the glamorous women who were attending the gala benefit in Dallas, Texas.
This little shindig would let the world know that there was solidarity in the family. Whenever trouble struck, the Callaways circled their wagons and unloaded their arsenal.
Tonight was the first salvo.
The melody from the song “We Are Family” kept running through his head as he spotted various members of the clan strategically placed at tables around the mammoth room, brushing elbows with the nationally elite in social, business and political circles. There were more than a few famous faces from the entertainment field, as well.
Clay wasn’t supposed to be there, but someone with a great deal of clout had managed to get him pulled off his overseas assignment with his Special Forces unit. Yesterday, he’d received orders to come to Texas and to be available for this evening. He’d barely managed to get here in time for the benefit and was a little annoyed at the abrupt change in his assignment.
It wasn’t that Clay didn’t want to help out whenever and wherever he was needed. Once he’d been informed of the problems the family was having, he was willing to do whatever he could to resolve the problem.
What ate at him was the fact that circumstances had conspired against him, forcing him to return to his home state. He’d successfully managed to avoid the area for years. Too many memories were triggered whenever he returned home, memories he’d been able to avoid until now.
Clay mentally acknowledged his cowardice in making certain that he did not arrive at the party alone.
“Quite a collection of friends your family has,” his date laughingly said in a seductively low voice.
Clay glanced down at Melanie Montez and grinned. She had no idea how grateful he was that she’d accepted his last-minute invitation to meet him in Dallas tonight.
She was one delectably sexy woman without any effort on her part—and her efforts tonight had his body humming. Granted, he’d been without a woman for much too long, but Mel would have a monk questioning his celibacy vows…and he sure wasn’t a monk.
She glowed with excitement and anticipation. He wished he could feel the same way. Although his appearance tonight was a command performance, he had to admit that Mel would be an enticing consolation prize at the end of the evening.
Clay had met Melanie two years ago in Istanbul during one of his weekend liberties. She’d been there because she’d had a small part in a movie being shot in Europe that summer. They were staying at the same hotel. Once they discovered they were both Texans far from home, the two of them had struck up a conversation that had evolved into a friendship he’d grown to treasure.
Because his available time was limited—as was hers—it was a rare treat for him to be able to see her. As soon as he’d read his orders, he’d called her agent to find out where she was. After he’d finally managed to track her down, he’d been relieved that she seemed eager to be there.
The public who knew her image would never believe that Melanie could have a platonic relationship with a man. She had made it clear to him from the very beginning that she wasn’t interested in a casual affair. She had no desire to live up to her public image in her personal life.
He enjoyed her company—her intelligence, her dry humor and her ability to laugh at her public persona while at the same time using her sexy image to build her career.
He hadn’t been interested in a casual relationship, either, and his spare time when not on duty was too limited to be able to offer any woman a stable relationship. However, when he’d offered to get them a suite at the hotel for the weekend, Melanie had readily agreed to stay with him, which was a first.
Clay knew that he was finally ready to take this relationship a step further. He took her presence there to mean that she wanted to move forward, as well.
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world, you know,” she added, her eyes sparkling.
“Glad I could tempt you into coming,” he responded with a grin.
She turned and stroked his cheek. “You’re all the temptation I’ve ever needed, something I should never admit to you. You’re cocky enough.”
He took her hand and brought it to his mouth, then carefully kissed each fingertip, nibbling on the smallest one.
Something caught her attention and she looked past him. “Isn’t that Cole Callaway?” Melanie whispered, nodding toward the tall, silver-haired man greeting new arrivals near the door.
Clay was amused at the awe in her voice. His uncle had that effect on people. “Yes, ma’am, it certainly is. Uncle Cole is the head of the clan. The petite lady beside him is his wife, Allison.”
“That is Allison Alvarez, the famous sculptor? She looks too young to have made such a name for herself for so many years.”
“She’ll be pleased to know you think so,” he replied. He took her hand and led her over to the line of people waiting to be greeted.
Melanie’s infectious laugh rang out, causing a few people to glance their way. “Don’t you dare embarrass me by telling her, Clay. You promised to be on your best behavior!”
Clay attempted his innocent look but knew she wasn’t buying it. “You are aware, are you not,” he drawled, “that you will be meeting my parents tonight? My father will definitely demand to know your intentions toward me.”
She blinked her wide green eyes, her long lashes quivering, and replied in a throaty voice, “Well, honey, I’ll just have to explain to him that they are—and always have been—very dishonorable.” She almost purred the last word, which caused him to burst into laughter.
The couple just ahead of them moved away and Clay was face-to-face with Cole. His uncle grinned. “I’m pleased to see you’re already enjoying yourself, Clay.” He shook his hand. “Glad you could make it tonight.”
Clay nodded in response. “Oh, I don’t think there was ever a doubt about that, was there?”
He had no idea how his uncle had managed it, but Clay had no doubt the man in front of him had something to do with his being there tonight.
Cole smiled. “We need to get together a little later this evening—if you can spare the time,” he added with a sidelong glance at Melanie.
“Of course, sir. I’m looking forward to it.” He drew her closer to his side and said, “I’d like you to meet Melanie Montez. Mel, my aunt and uncle, Cole and Allison Callaway.”
Allison smiled and took Melanie’s hand. “I’m delighted to meet you. I believe I read that you’re originally from Texas, is that right?”
Melanie nodded. “Yes, from a small town in south Texas that nobody’s ever heard of.”
“I’m so pleased that you were able to join us tonight,” Allison said. “I understand you have a new movie coming out in a few weeks.”
