A Montana Man

A Montana Man
Jackie Merritt

MAN of the Month The BENNING Legacy MR. AUGUST The Montana Man: He'd lived for his son and the land - until she came into his life… His Mystery Woman: She was called Sierra. She was beautiful and vulnerable, and he felt an immediate connection to her. All rancher Clint Barrow knew was her name.But from the first he'd needed to stake his claim. He'd brought her home to heal, but as the days stretched into long, hot nights, Clint wanted the woman herself. And just when their denied desire exploded into full-blown passion, Sierra's past began to come clear. Would she soon have to leave her Montana man behind?MAN OF THE MONTH: When he finds a missing Benning sister, can a Montana rancher keep her for his own?

Have I Ever Wanted A Man More? (#ufdfb4400-0ee5-5ab4-93a2-5aab7fb9e4c6)Letter to Reader (#uba9d3d6f-0c00-5909-a7a1-c82ecdef5312)Title Page (#u4275cf08-5a41-5b05-b75c-cc952fdf8247)About the Author (#u84ecfec4-9123-5235-a881-ac8d8768c1a8)Chapter One (#u99d8817c-9839-5159-b57c-18efb3380a84)Chapter Two (#ue6508261-788b-52b3-b42b-9d1c0b2703ce)Chapter Three (#u0ddf4cb1-d408-558b-ac76-588d1a87294f)Chapter Four (#ua8f01ba9-7bd7-543c-83b2-0fe3f3e91f10)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)Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

THE BENNING LEGACY: Three sisters find true

love uncovers the secrets of the past...

and forges bright new tomorrows!

Have I Ever Wanted A Man More?

The question was deadly, reminding Sierra of her amnesia. Reluctantly she broke from Clint’s embrace, instantly missing the warmth and power of his touch.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have touched you, but I couldn’t resist.”

“I know.” Sierra knew he was honorable, but the attraction between them was powerful. She shuddered as the enormity of her situation hit her. Was she falling in love with Clint? What if a husband or lover should suddenly come to light...?

“Good night,” she whispered huskily before going in.

Clint stayed outside, looking over his spread. He wanted Sierra to get well; he could never wish for anything else.

But when she did, everything would change....

Dear Reader,

August predictably brings long steamy days...and hot sensuous nights. And this month Silhouette Desire spotlights the kind of pure passion that can erupt only in that sizzling summer climate.

Get ready to fall head over heels for August’s MAN OF THE MONTH, a sexy rancher who opens his home (and his heart?) to a lost beauty desperately hoping to recover her memory in A Montana Man by Jackie Merntt. Bestselling author Cait London continues her hugely popular minisenes THE TALLCHIEFS with Rafe Palladin: Man of Secrets. Rafe is an irresistible takeover tycoon with a plan to acquire a Tallchief lady. Barbara McMahon brings readers the second story in her IDENTICAL TWINS! duo—in The Older Man an exuberant young woman is swept up by her love and desire for a tremendously gorgeous, much older man.

Plus, talented Susan Crosby unfolds a story of seduction, revenge and scandal in the continuation of THE LONE WOLVES with His Seductive Revenge. And TEXAS BRIDES are back with The Restless Virgin by Peggy Moreland, the story of an innocent Western lady tired of waiting around for mamage—so she lassos herself one unsuspecting cowboy! And you’ve never seen a hero like The Consummate Cowboy, by Sara Orwig. He’s all man, all-around omery and all-out tempted...by his ex-wife’s sister!

I know you’ll enjoy reading all six of this sultry month’s brand-new Silhouette Desire novels by some of the most beloved and sexy authors of romance.

Regards,

Melissa Senate

Senior Editor

Silhouette Books

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Jackie Merritt

A Montana Man

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

JACKIE MERRITT

and her husband live in the Southwest. An accountant for many years, Jackie has happily traded numbers for words. Next to family, books are her greatest joy. She started writing in 1987, and her efforts paid off in 1988 with the publication of her first novel. When she’s not writing or enjoying a good book, Jackie dabbles in watercolor painting, and she likes playing the piano in her spare time.

One

Wednesday, May 21

Clint Barrow urged the horse he was riding up a rocky knoll. It was early morning. There was enough light to see by even though the sun hadn’t yet risen above the mountain tops, and wispy patches of ground fog drifted within dips of the mountainous country all around him. At the top of the knoll he pulled on the reins and stopped his horse. This was a favorite spot in which to view his ranch, and below his vantage point Barrow land spread almost as far as Clint could see. The buildings appeared as miniatures, and cattle and horses looked toy-like. Clint breathed a sigh of contentment.

He was a big man, tall and rangy, with dark hair and vivid blue eyes. His contentment was genuine. The shock of his one major tragedy in life, the death of his wife, had softened with time. He had a seventeen-year-old son, Tommy, on which to expend his love, and this ranch. He was the first person in the area to help out a friend or a neighbor in trouble, and, all in all, life was good. He felt strongly that no man should ask for more.

As the sun suddenly showed its face on the eastern horizon, Clint turned his horse’s head and rode back down the knoll toward the ranch compound. Tommy would be leaving for school shortly, and Clint liked to be there every morning to say a few words to his son before he left. Today it seemed even more important; today was the start of Tommy’s final exams. High school graduation was just around the corner. Unlike too many of the fathers and sons that Clint knew, he and Tommy were close, and Clint knew that he would do almost anything to protect their special relationship.

He arrived at the compound just as Tommy was coming out of the house and heading for his red pickup truck.

“Morning, Dad,” Tommy called.

“Morning, Tom.” Clint dismounted and let his horse go. He wouldn’t go far, Clint knew, and would, in fact, come back to him with a whistle.

“Looks like we’re in for a nice day,” Tommy said as he opened the door of his truck.

“Sure does.” Clint glanced at his watch. “You’re running a little late.”

“I know. Better get going. I gotta pick up Eric.”

“Are you sure you have time for that?”

“I told him I’d pick him up this morning, Dad.” Tommy grinned and swung himself up into the truck. “Remember, Barrows don’t go back on their word.”

Clint had to smile. He had instilled in his son the value of a man keeping his word. It was his own credo and he believed that honor was the primary difference between men of principle and those hapless individuals who drifted through life without hope, ambition or inspiration.

“Well, drive safely,” he told his son. “See you this evening.”

Tommy started the motor and rolled down the window. “See ya, Dad.”

Clint stood in the yard and watched the red pickup travel the driveway, his pride swelling in his chest. There were moments like this when he became very emotional about his son. Tommy would soon graduate from high school, he was no longer Clint’s “little boy.” He was teetering between manhood and childhood, and would go away to college in the fall. Clint could only hope that Tommy would want to return to the ranch after he completed his education.

When Clint could no longer see the red pickup, he whistled for his horse. It trotted over and Clint climbed into the saddle. It was time for his own day to begin.

Five days earlier.