Anne Eames - The Unknown Malone

Letter to Reader Dear Reader, Here’s the fourth and last in the series THE MONTANA MALONES, which debuted June ‘97 with A Marriage Made in Joeville, followed in December by The Best Little Joeville Christmas and Last of the Joeville Lovers, May ’98. Thanks for the many wonderful letters from readers asking that this series continue—I couldn’t help but respond. In The Unknown Malone it’s seven years later and you will get to know more about Taylor’s brother, Michael, along with the woman he can’t resist, Nicole—a woman on the run with a storehouse of secrets. Familiar faces return for an encore: Savannah and Ryder, Jenny and Shane, Taylor and Josh, Max, Hannah and, of course, Billy, whom many of you have said touched your hearts from beginning to end. Also by request, one of these other characters finds romance, too. As always, I enjoy hearing from readers and welcome your letters. Here’s hoping you have a happy and loving holiday season′ Warmest regards, Anne Eames Letter to Reader Dear Reader, Welcome to Silhouette Desire—where you’re guaranteed powerful, passionate and provocative love stones that feature rugged heroes and spirited heroines who experience the full emotional intensity of falling in love! This October you’ll love our new MAN OF THE MONTH title by Barbara Boswell, Forever Flint Opposites attract when a city girl becomes the pregnant bride of a millionaire outdoorsman. Be sure to “rope in” the next installment of the exciting Desire miniseries TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB with Billionaire Bridegroom by Peggy Moreland. When cattle baron Forrest Cunningham wants to wed childhood friend Becky Sullivan, she puts his love to an unexpected test. The always-wonderful Jennifer Greene returns to Desire with her magical series HAPPILY EVER AFTER. Kiss Your Prince Charming is a modern fairy tale starring an unforgettable “frog prince.” In a sexy battle-of-the-sexes tale, Lass Small offers you The Catch of Texas. Anne Eames continues her popular miniseries MONTANA MALONES with The Unknown Malone. And Sheri WhiteFeather makes her explosive Desire debut with Warrior’s Baby, a story of surrogate motherhood with a twist. Next month, you’ll really feel the power of the passion when you see our new provocative cover design. Underneath our new covers, you will still find six exhilarating journeys into the seductive world of romance, with a guaranteed happy ending! Enjoy! Joan Marlow Golan Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: PO. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3 Title Page The Unknown Malone Anne Eames www.millsandboon.co.uk About the Author ANNE EAMES This is Anne Eames’s seventh novel for Desire. She has been a Golden Heart finalist and Maggie winner, and her books have appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Anne and her husband, Bill, live in southeastern Michigan. You may write to Anne Eames at: 4217 Highland, Box #252, Waterford, MI 48328. For an autographed gift, please enclose a business-length, self-addressed, stamped envelope. Dedication To Tim, Emily, Haley, TJ, Savannah and Tom Garthe with all my love always and with special thanks to forester extraordinaire, Betsy Couzens Mitton 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 Chapter Seventeen Copyright

Dear Reader,

Here’s the fourth and last in the series THE MONTANA MALONES, which debuted June ‘97 with A Marriage Made in Joeville, followed in December by The Best Little Joeville Christmas and Last of the Joeville Lovers, May ’98.

Thanks for the many wonderful letters from readers asking that this series continue—I couldn’t help but respond. In The Unknown Malone it’s seven years later and you will get to know more about Taylor’s brother, Michael, along with the woman he can’t resist, Nicole—a woman on the run with a storehouse of secrets.

Familiar faces return for an encore: Savannah and Ryder, Jenny and Shane, Taylor and Josh, Max, Hannah and, of course, Billy, whom many of you have said touched your hearts from beginning to end. Also by request, one of these other characters finds romance, too.

As always, I enjoy hearing from readers and welcome your letters.

Here’s hoping you have a happy and loving holiday season′

Warmest regards,

Anne Eames

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Silhouette Desire—where you’re guaranteed powerful, passionate and provocative love stones that feature rugged heroes and spirited heroines who experience the full emotional intensity of falling in love!

This October you’ll love our new MAN OF THE MONTH title by Barbara Boswell, Forever Flint Opposites attract when a city girl becomes the pregnant bride of a millionaire outdoorsman.

Be sure to “rope in” the next installment of the exciting Desire miniseries TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB with Billionaire Bridegroom by Peggy Moreland. When cattle baron Forrest Cunningham wants to wed childhood friend Becky Sullivan, she puts his love to an unexpected test.

The always-wonderful Jennifer Greene returns to Desire with her magical series HAPPILY EVER AFTER. Kiss Your Prince Charming is a modern fairy tale starring an unforgettable “frog prince.” In a sexy battle-of-the-sexes tale, Lass Small offers you The Catch of Texas. Anne Eames continues her popular miniseries MONTANA MALONES with The Unknown Malone. And Sheri WhiteFeather makes her explosive Desire debut with Warrior’s Baby, a story of surrogate motherhood with a twist.

Next month, you’ll really feel the power of the passion when you see our new provocative cover design. Underneath our new covers, you will still find six exhilarating journeys into the seductive world of romance, with a guaranteed happy ending!

Enjoy!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: PO. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

The Unknown Malone

Anne Eames

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ANNE EAMES

This is Anne Eames’s seventh novel for Desire. She has been a Golden Heart finalist and Maggie winner, and her books have appeared on the USA Today bestseller list.

Anne and her husband, Bill, live in southeastern Michigan.

You may write to Anne Eames at: 4217 Highland, Box #252, Waterford, MI 48328. For an autographed gift, please enclose a business-length, self-addressed, stamped envelope.

To Tim, Emily, Haley, TJ,

Savannah and Tom Garthe

with all my love always

and

with special thanks to

forester extraordinaire,

Betsy Couzens Mitton

One

At a gas station east of Livingston, Montana, about forty miles from Joeville, Nicole Bedder leaned closer to the rest room mirror and growled in frustration. The false eyelash she’d so carefully glued in place was now stuck to the end of her finger. It didn’t help that her hands were shaking. It had been eighteen hours since her last meal.

She tried again, this time using tweezers to press the phony lashes to her own. With more finesse it worked, and she applied the second. They felt heavy and she blinked hard as she riffled through her purse for blush.

A loud knock on the door made her jump.

“I’ll be out in a sec.”