Read Online Cattleman's Choice by Diana Palmer - Free Book Online Page B

flushed.
    He searched her eyes slowly. “I wanted to see if I could make you want me,” he explained quietly.
    She got up from the table in such a rush that she almost knocked over her chair. “I’d better go,” she faltered.
    He got up, too, and walked along behind her at a slow, steady, confident pace.
    â€œWas that too crude a remark for a gentleman to make?” he murmured drily. “Sorry, Mandy, I don’t always think before I say things to you. Look on it as getting some sexual experience. You seem to be pretty backward yourself in that department.”
    She turned at the front porch and met his stare levelly. “Are you sorry? Would you rather I was experienced?”
    He reached out and put his knuckles against her lips. “I’d like, very much, to let you get that kind of experience with me,” he said quietly. “Because the way I’d take you, even the first time would be good. I’d make sure of it.”
    She could hardly walk, her knees felt so weak. She headed for her car in a daze, wondering at the explosive quality of their changing relationship.
    â€œHey,” he called as she opened her car door.
    â€œWhat?” she asked.
    â€œWhat time tomorrow night?”
    She swallowed and looked back. He was standing on the porch, leaning against a post. The soft light of the kerosene lanterns outlined his superb physique. He looked devastating, and she wondered what he’d do if she walked back up on that porch and kissed him.
    â€œOh…about six,” she faltered.
    â€œDo I dress?”
    â€œYou’d better,” she said, “if we’re going to do the thing properly.”
    â€œBy all means,” he murmured drily. “‘Night, honey.”
    â€œGood night, Carson.”
    She drove off, jerking the car as she never had before. Carson was getting to her! She must be off her rocker to let him get under her skin that way. She was the teacher, not Carson. At least, it had started out that way. She had to be careful. Her memories of love were too sweet to let reality interfere with them. She’d learned the hard way that loving was the first step to agony. She didn’t want to go through it again. She couldn’t! From now on, she’d just keep Carson at arm’s length. It was safer that way.

Chapter Five
    M andelyn went home and paced the floor until bedtime. And then she tossed and turned for hours, remembering vividly the touch of Carson’s lean fingers on her breast, the fierce hunger of his mouth on her own. She felt on fire for him, and part of her hated the reaction.
    It had been years. Years, since she’d felt passion. She hadn’t wanted to give herself over to it again, and yet Carson had kindled an emotion in her that overwhelmed her tenderest memories of the past. She’d never felt so violent, so hungry. She rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling. Perhaps it was her age. Perhaps she’d reached the brink of spinsterhood and was feeling alone, as Carson felt alone.
    She could picture him, blue eyes devouring her face, dark-skinned hands so gentle on her body….
    Of course, it could just be infatuation. He was her creation, after all, she was teaching him. Yes, that could be it. She could be like Svengali, overcome by pride. But if that was it, why did she tingle when she thought about Carson? She closed her eyes and thought about birds.
    Patty came by the office the next day at lunchtime with some documents from the bank. “Here are the loan papers,” she said with a grin. “What time do we meet with that attorney?”
    â€œToday at five,” Mandelyn said. “Happy?”
    â€œJust ecstatic,” came the reply. “I’ve got to run out to Carson’s and see about that bull. Want to come along, and we’ll swing by the barbecue place and have lunch on the way back?”
    â€œYes, I’d like that,” Mandelyn said.