Annette Broadrick - Too Tough To Tame

Dominic Chakiris glanced at Craig Bonner, his friend and vice president of his extensive corporate holdings.

“The only reason I had Kelly MacLeod investigated was to find out why some woman I’ve never met had the gall to paint a portrait of me and publicly display it.”

“I understand there’s a waiting list for the privilege of having her do a portrait.” Craig grinned. “You should be flattered.”

“The portrait is far from flattering. It portrays me as hard and ruthless, a predator ready to pounce on unsuspecting prey.”

“Actually, it looks just like you.”

Nick shook his head as Craig strolled out of the office. On impulse, he called the unlisted number his investigator had included in Kelly MacLeod’s file. He waited through several rings before a sultry voice asked the caller to leave a message.

“This is Dominic Chakiris,” he said after the beep. “I believe it’s time we met.”

Dear Reader,

It’s that time of year again…for decking the halls, trimming the tree…and sitting by the crackling fire with a good book. And we at Silhouette have just the one to start you off—Joan Elliott Pickart’s The Marrying MacAllister, the next offering in her series, THE BABY BET: MACALLISTER’S GIFTS. When a prospective single mother out to adopt one baby finds herself unable to choose between two orphaned sisters, she is distressed, until the perfect solution appears: marry handsome fellow traveler and renowned single guy Matt MacAllister! Your heart will melt along with his resolve.

MONTANA MAVERICKS: THE KINGSLEYS concludes with Sweet Talk by Jackie Merritt. When the beloved town veterinarian—and trauma survivor—is captivated by the town’s fire chief, she tries to suppress her feelings. But the rugged hero is determined to make her his. Reader favorite Annette Broadrick continues her SECRET SISTERS series with Too Tough To Tame. A woman out to avenge the harm done to her family paints a portrait of her nemesis—which only serves to bring the two of them together. In His Defender, Stella Bagwell offers another MEN OF THE WEST book, in which a lawyer hired to defend a ranch owner winds up under his roof…and falling for her newest client! In Make-Believe Mistletoe by Gina Wilkins, a single female professor who has wished for an eligible bachelor for Christmas hardly thinks the grumpy but handsome man who’s reluctantly offered her shelter from a storm is the answer to her prayers—at least not at first. And speaking of Christmas wishes—five-year-old twin boys have made theirs—and it all revolves around a new daddy. The candidate they have in mind? The handsome town sheriff, in Daddy Patrol by Sharon DeVita.

As you can see, no matter what romantic read you have in mind this holiday season, we have the book for you. Happy holidays, happy reading—and come back next month, for six new wonderful offerings from Silhouette Special Edition!

Sincerely,

Gail Chasan

Senior Editor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

This book is dedicated to

Donna Hensley who—during computer crashes

(and accompanying tears!)

and helping me to find the parts

that needed to be retyped—stayed calm,

gentle and always on call to explain to

me the mysteries of computers.

The truth is,

I really couldn’t have done this one without you!

Your grateful cousin…

believes in romance and the magic of life. Since 1984, Annette has shared her view of life and love with readers. In addition to being nominated by Romantic Times as one of the Best New Authors of that year, she has also won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best in its Series; the Romantic Times WISH Award; and the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Awards for Series Romance and Series Romantic Fantasy.

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

October 2003

“S he’s really gotten to you, hasn’t she, Nick?”

Dominic Chakaris glanced over at Craig Bonner, his friend and the vice president of Nick’s extensive corporate holdings.

“Hell, no. The only reason I had her investigated was to find out why some woman I’ve never met had the gall to paint a portrait of me and publicly display it.” Nick resumed staring at the view from his office high above the canyons of New York City, his hands in the pockets of his custom-made suit.

“Uh-huh,” Craig replied.

Nick turned away from the view and walked to his desk. His cold gaze met Craig’s as both men sat, Craig in front of Nick’s massive desk, Nick sprawled in his chair. “What did our investigator find out?” Nick asked.

Craig had known Nick for more than ten years. He wasn’t intimidated by the hawklike stare of his esteemed leader. He was probably the only one in Manhattan who could say that and not be lying through his teeth.

Okay, so he should have known Nick would deny that the artist and her portrait of him had been like a thorn in his foot, one that had festered since he’d learned of the painting’s existence.

Being a diplomat by nature, Craig said no more. He glanced at the file in his hand and slid it across the desk to Nick, who flipped it open.

“According to our investigator’s file,” Craig said, “the artist’s full name is Kelly Anne MacLeod, age twenty-four. Her parents are dead and she resides alone in the family home on 81st Street. She majored in art history at Vassar. She spent her junior year in Italy and currently brings in a healthy amount of money for the portraits she paints. I understand there’s a waiting list for the privilege of having her do a portrait.” He lifted one shoulder and grinned. “See, I told you that you should be flattered.”

Nick muttered something obscene—causing Craig to laugh—and said, “Is this all you have?” He lifted the few sheets of paper and nodded at the photo attached to the inside cover of the file.

“There wasn’t much to discover. She doesn’t appear to be a stalker, which you should find immensely reassuring,” Craig replied, enjoying Nick’s discomfort. He was glad not to hear what Nick continued to mutter beneath his breath.

“Nothing here indicates why she chose to place my portrait on public display. Damn it, Craig, I don’t care about her orphaned state or how much money she makes. From what I can see,” he said, closing the file, “she appears to be like any other debutante, another pampered member of New York’s elite.” A class of people, Nick silently added, that he had little use for. “And I’m not flattered, as you very well know. Besides, the damned portrait is far from flattering.”

Craig grinned. “Actually, it looks just like you.”

Nick raised an eyebrow. “Is that right? The review of her show in the Times said that the portrait portrays me as hard and ruthless, a predator ready to pounce on some unsuspecting prey.”

Craig grinned. “As I said, it looks just like you. Maybe I should take some candid photos of you at one of the board meetings and prove my point.”