A Little Town In Texas

A Little Town In Texas
Bethany Campbell

Mel Belyle has come to town, and no one's happy to see him.He's the new point man for the corporation that's trying to buy up land and turn Crystal Creek into suburbia. He's also public enemy number one, or so the Concerned Citizens have decided.Kitt Mitchell, native daughter (but quite happy to forget about that), is a reporter sent from New York. Her job? Get the notoriously tight-lipped Mel to talk. And Kitt's ambitious enough to do whatever she can to make that happen.

It was like the fly chasing the spider

Kitt recognized the name on the business card, and she recognized the firm he represented. Mel Belyle, Corporate Attorney, Castle Enterprises, New York.

Castle Enterprises was the corporation created expressly to handle the housing project in Crystal Creek. And this was the man her boss had predicted would never speak to her.

Yet here, in all his glory, was Mr. Belyle himself, trying to pick her up. She began to sound him out. “So,” she said with a demure smile, “what takes you to Austin?”

“Business,” he said. “What about you?”

“I’m going to visit my aunt.” After all, it wasn’t a lie. “I haven’t seen her in ages. It’s a shame to be out of touch with family, don’t you think?”

For a split second his smile wavered. He didn’t answer her question. “So what do you do?”

She shrugged as if her job was of small interest. “I work for the Gilroy Group.” This was misleading, she knew. The Gilroy Group owned six magazines, but was far more famous for its other holdings, especially its television network.

His eyes kindled with mischief. “Gilroy? Are you connected with that Uptown Girls show?”

You lecher, Kitt thought. “That would be telling. I’m not going to discuss it until I know you much, much better.”

He leaned closer. “That can be arranged. What do you want to know?”

“Everything,” she said. “Tell me simply everything.”

Dear Reader,

Things are changing in Crystal Creek, Texas. The question is, who will decide the future of this fabled land? Will it be the McKinneys, its fiery leading family, determined to defend the heritage of the Hill Country?

Or will it be the mysterious outsider, Brian Fabian? He commands a greater fortune than anyone else in Crystal Creek—and he has a secret weapon. That weapon is negotiator Mel Belyle, brilliant, charming, handsome—and ruthless.

Mel comes to Crystal Creek with a score to settle and a fight he intends to win. But he hasn’t counted on a certain redheaded reporter. Kitt Mitchell is a spitfire with an attitude as big as Texas itself.

This is the twenty-ninth book in the series about Crystal Creek. I’m proud to be taking part in its ongoing story and hope you enjoy visiting A Little Town in Texas.

With warmest regards,

Bethany Campbell

A Little Town in Texas

Bethany Campbell

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

To Linda Bitcon, a friend for all seasons.

CONTENTS

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

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

“SEND IN THE SPITFIRE,” Heywood Cronin said to his secretary. “The whirlwind. You know which one—from staff writing. The little redhead.”

“Kitt Mitchell? Yes, sir,” said Miss Lundeen.

“Writes like an angel,” muttered Cronin. “Dresses like a bag lady.”

“Oh, no, sir,” Miss Lundeen said mildly. “She just likes to be casual.”