THE LARKVILLE LEGACY
A secret letter … two families changed for ever
Welcome to the small town of Larkville, Texas, where the Calhoun family has been ranching for generations.
Meanwhile, in New York, the Patterson family rules America’s highest echelons of society.
Both families are totally unprepared for the news that they are linked by a shocking secret.
For hidden on the Calhoun ranch is a letter that’s been lying unopened and unread—until now!
Meet the two families in all eight books of this brand-new series:
THE COWBOY COMES HOME
by Patricia Thayer
SLOW DANCE WITH THE SHERIFF
by Nikki Logan
TAMING THE BROODING CATTLEMAN
by Marion Lennox
THE RANCHER’S UNEXPECTED FAMILY
by Myrna Mackenzie
HIS LARKVILLE CINDERELLA
by Melissa McClone
THE SECRET THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
by Lucy Gordon
THE SOLDIER’S SWEETHEART
by Soraya Lane
THE BILLIONAIRE’S BABY SOS
by Susan Meier
Dear Reader,
I was excited when my editor invited me to participate in THE LARKVILLE LEGACY, an eight-book continuity series centred around two families, a secret and a ranch in Larkville, Texas. I’ve read many romances set on ranches, but I had never written one. I figured it was time. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the hero in my book wasn’t a cowboy but a famous movie star! And the story doesn’t take place in Texas, either.
Megan Calhoun, the youngest of the Calhoun siblings, is an aspiring costume designer. She’s interning on a film set in Hollywood, far away from friends, family and Larkville. The last person she expects to befriend her is Adam Noble, a handsome stuntman turned leading man.
Setting a story at a movie studio (aka “the lot”) and in the world of filmmaking was fun, but it offered a few challenges.
The first was Megan’s costume designer occupation. My family says I’m “fashion-challenged.” I prefer to say I dress for comfort. One of the perks of being a writer! Fortunately a friend is a designer and Irish dance dressmaker. Knowing her and how she works gave me some much-needed insight into my heroine.
The second challenge was my lack of moviemaking knowledge. Thankfully a friend from college, who lives in the Los Angeles area and has worked on films, offered not only to help me but also to put me in contact with a producer and a costume designer, who were happy to answer my many questions.
I hope you enjoy Megan and Adam’s story and THE LARKVILLE LEGACY series.
Melissa
About the Author
With a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, the last thing MELISSA McCLONE ever thought she would be doing was writing romance novels. But analyzing engines for a major US airline just couldn’t compete with her “happily-ever-afters.” When she isn’t writing, caring for her three young children or doing laundry, Melissa loves to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea, her cats and a good book. She enjoys watching home decorating shows to get ideas for her house—a 1939 cottage that is slowly being renovated. Melissa lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with her own real-life hero husband, two daughters, a son, two lovable but oh-so-spoiled indoor cats, and a no-longer-stray outdoor kitty that has decided to call the garage home.
Melissa loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at PO Box 63, Lake Oswego, OR 97034, USA, or contact her via her website, www.melissamcclone.com.
His Larkville Cinderella
Melissa McClone
For Alison Thrasher
Special thanks to Julie Adams,
Mary Church, Roxanne Coyne,
Jay at Zuma Jay Surfboards in Malibu,
Terri Reed and Jennifer Shirk.
CHAPTER ONE
MALIBU, California, was a long way from her family’s ranch in Larkville, Texas.
Tension bunched Megan Calhoun’s shoulder muscles. She would be impressed with the exclusive gated beach community if she weren’t under so much pressure. She exited her car, parked on the driveway of a beachfront mansion. The breathtaking Mediterranean-inspired villa belonged to an award-winning film producer.
A breeze rustled the palm tree fronds. Gray clouds made it look more like winter than springtime, but the temperature was warm. Or maybe she was working so hard she didn’t have time to feel cold.
Interning for a film costume designer in Hollywood was supposed to be a dream come true. So far this first week on the job had been nothing but sixteen-hour-long days filled with driving, picking up and delivering things and running countless other “errands.”
Intern and indentured servant seemed to mean the same thing with production to begin next week. Sleep was now considered optional. If this was life before filming, she couldn’t imagine what working on an actual movie set would be like.
She jammed her car keys into the front pocket of her jeans, then grabbed the large leather portfolio from the backseat of her car. Eva Redding, the woman who held the fate of Megan’s internship and possibly her future career, had left the studio this morning with the wrong portfolio. That delayed a meeting with a couple of Hollywood’s heavy hitters. Now everyone was waiting for Megan to arrive with the correct designs so they could continue discussing costume concerns with the proper visuals.
Hurrying toward the villa’s entryway, her comfortable tennis shoes felt more like cement blocks encasing her feet.
No way would she let her nervousness about coming face-to-face with the producer and director get the best of her.
Failure wasn’t an option. She was not returning to Larkville. Her family might be there, but no one else. Not even Rob Hollis, her best friend for as long as she could remember; he had taken an engineering job in Austin, Texas. Her fingers tightened around the portfolio.
She stepped onto a large, tiled entryway. In the corner, a green leafy potted plant stood as tall as her. A hanging vine with fuchsia flowers scented the air. A wrought-iron tiered shelf held terra-cotta pots filled with various flowering plants.
What if film costume design wasn’t where she belonged, either? Her stomach churned as uncertainty threatened to get the best of her.
No. She had a job to do. Megan’s father had always told her to do the best job possible no matter what.
She felt a pang of grief. If only her dad were here so he could give her a much needed confidence boost. She took a deep breath to calm herself and jabbed her finger against the doorbell.
As melodic, multitoned chimes rang inside the villa, she remembered the instructions given to her by the costume supervisor.
“Hand Eva the portfolio and get out of there without saying a word.”
That would be no problem. Megan excelled at being silent