Cathleen Galitz – Tall, Dark...And Framed? (страница 1)
This month, in
TALL, DARK…AND FRAMED?
by Cathleen Galitz…
Meet Sebastian Wescott—millionaire CEO of Wescott Oil…and a murderer? Susan Wysocki, his new attorney, was determined to prove that Seb was innocent, but the sexy lawyer just might find herself guilty—of losing her heart to her client!
SILHOUETTE DESIRE IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE
Five wealthy Texas bachelors—all members of the state’s most exclusive club—set out to uncover the traitor in their midst…and find true love.
And don’t miss
THE PLAYBOY MEETS HIS MATCH
by Sara Orwig,
The fourth installment of the Texas Cattleman’s Club: The Last Bachelor series.
Available next month in Silhouette Desire!
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Silhouette Desire, where you can spice up your April with six passionate, powerful and provocative romances!
Beloved author Diana Palmer delivers a great read with A Man of Means, the latest in her LONG, TALL TEXANS miniseries, as a saucy cook tames a hot-tempered cowboy with her biscuits. Then, enjoy reading how one woman’s orderly life is turned upside down when she is wooed by Mr. Temptation, April’s MAN OF THE MONTH and the first title in Cait London’s hot new HEARTBREAKERS miniseries.
Reader favorite Maureen Child proves a naval hero is no match for a determined single mom in The SEAL’s Surrender, the latest DYNASTIES: THE CONNELLYS title. And a reluctant widow gets a second chance at love in Her Texan Tycoon by Jan Hudson.
The drama continues in the TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB: THE LAST BACHELOR continuity series with Tall, Dark…and Framed? by Cathleen Galitz, when an attractive defense attorney falls head over heels for her client—a devastatingly handsome tycoon with a secret. And discover what a ranch foreman, a virgin and her protective brothers have in common in One Wedding Night… by Shirley Rogers.
Celebrate the season by pampering yourself with all six of these exciting new love stories.
Enjoy!
Joan Marlow Golan
Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire
Tall, Dark…and Framed?
Cathleen Galitz
To Dixie, Peggy, Jackie and especially Sara, for taking me under her wing. It has been an honor working with such talented writers.
CATHLEEN GALITZ,
a Wyoming native, teaches English in grades 6-12 in a rural school that houses kindergartners and seniors in the same building. She feels blessed to have married a man who is both supportive and patient. When she’s not busy writing, teaching or chauffeuring her sons to and from various activities, she can most likely be found indulging in her favorite pastime—reading.
“What’s Happening in Royal?”
NEWS FLASH, April—One of Royal’s sexiest bachelors has been arrested…for murder! His friends at the Texas Cattleman’s Club and Wescott employees we interviewed all agree that while drop-dead gorgeous Sebastian Wescott might be guilty of breaking the hearts of eligible females everywhere, he couldn’t possibly be guilty of murder!
In fact, it looks like Sebastian may be breaking one more heart—rumor has it that Seb and his lady lawyer may be spending more time in the bedroom than the courtroom! Attorney Susan Wysocki has offered no comment to our reporters, other than her conviction that Sebastian is innocent. So what really happened that night? If Sebastian isn’t the murderer, why can’t he provide an alibi?
Folks in Royal are more than a little disappointed that this year’s social event of the season—the Texas Cattleman’s Club Ball—has been indefinitely postponed. Members of the club have decided to wait until after Sebastian’s trial before they consider rescheduling. Things at the club are looking a little grim these days…especially since the last bachelor standing may be behind bars!
Contents
Prologue
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
Prologue
“Sebastian Wescott has been arrested.”
The news spread through the Texas Cattleman’s Club like a wildfire devouring prairie grasslands during a season of drought. Muted whispers set in motion beneath an array of mounted glassy-eyed animal heads grew in intensity until the gleaming Tiffany chandeliers overhead nearly shook from the force of its membership’s outrage. It didn’t take long for a select group to abandon games of poker and pool where enormous sums of money were at stake to make their way quietly into one of the tasteful private meeting rooms at the back of the club. Here behind closed doors where the lingering odor of expensive cigars was less noticeable, discussions of the most serious nature took place.
A silver samovar with piping hot coffee stood untouched beside a set of fine bone china embossed with the club’s distinctive crest. Nothing less than hard liquor was warranted as the rumors resonated from room to spacious room in the nearly one-hundred-year-old building. Members in this time-honored, elite institution were more than social acquaintances. Few would have guessed from its modest exterior that the club was actually a front for a prestigious social enclave working on covert missions. Placed in situations in which the members were often forced to rely on one another for their very lives, they considered themselves closer than actual blood brothers.
Word of Sebastian’s disgrace hit everybody hard.
His own half brother, Dorian, appeared inconsolable as he related to the group the events leading up to Seb’s arrest. It was no secret to anyone there that Dorian had been deeply worried about Sebastian for the past several weeks. His concern had been the topic of conversation on more than one occasion and had been so overdone that it had put some of the members off. The club was a place where they came to relax at the end of a stressful day, not to wallow in unsubstantiated gossip about one of their own.
Only now it appeared Dorian’s fears were not unfounded.
“If only there were some way of helping Sebastian without somehow jeopardizing the anonymity of the club,” lamented William Bradford. As Sebastian’s partner at Wescott Oil Enterprises, he was fiercely protective not just of the business they ran together but also of his old friend Jack Wescott’s son.
“Sebastian says he was out of town on business the night Eric Chambers was murdered, but I understand he refuses to provide his attorney with an alibi,” Dorian interjected, anxiety deeply etched on features that reminded everyone present of his half brother.
It was only at Sebastian’s insistence that the members of the club had unanimously inducted Dorian a short time ago. As a full-fledged member, he was privy to the workings of their brotherhood, but he hadn’t been there long enough to have knowledge of the details regarding the daring missions that sometimes called club members away for indeterminate lengths of time.
It was all Jason Windover, the retired CIA agent, could do to refrain from explaining to this ninny that Sebastian often used his business as a cover. He had been wary of Dorian from the start, and time, unfortunately, hadn’t improved his first impression of the man. In fact, Jason had only reluctantly agreed to participate in Dorian’s induction ceremony as a favor to Sebastian. Not wanting to endanger a friendship that spanned so many years, he had set aside his misgivings and gone along with his friend’s request without giving voice to his qualms.
Jason supposed his suspicions stemmed from his background as an agent. Looking at Dorian now, it was certainly hard to doubt the sincerity of his feelings.
“I say the least we can do is put up his bail,” William Bradford suggested, not bothering to clear up any misconceptions Dorian might have about his brother’s whereabouts on the night in question. “It’s best if no money from Wescott Oil Enterprises is involved, since those funds are under such intense scrutiny at the present.”
Dorian gasped as William’s intention dawned on him. “Are you suggesting that we somehow come up with half a million dollars in bail money between us?”
“Pocket change,” exclaimed Keith Owen. As the owner of a computer-software firm, he didn’t so much as blink at the amount mentioned. “Count me in.”
“Me, too,” Jason said. As rich as Midas, he would have given everything he owned to support his old friend.
When Dorian sputtered in disbelief at their overwhelming generosity, they assured him that no one was taking an actual risk with their money. No one among them believed Sebastian would forfeit bond by running out on them. For that matter, no one doubted his innocence.
Lamenting that he personally had little money to put up, Dorian told them all, “I wish there was more I could do. I wish I could have somehow convinced that hotheaded brother of mine not to try solving his problems all by himself. Well, you all know how he is—so worried about depending on others. He’d rather take matters into his own hands than accept help from calmer heads even when the situation demands it. Lately he’s been more short-tempered and violent than usual. I swear if I didn’t know better, I might be tempted to believe that—”