Read Online Dream's End by Diana Palmer - Free Book Online Page B

temporary summer hands got smashed at a local bar and decided to take the thing up at midnight one night.”
    â€œCould he fly a helicopter?” Eleanor asked.
    â€œWell, as a matter of fact, he’d only been in one twice. He knew how to start it and how to get it in the air. The only problem,” he added with a grin, “was that he didn’t know how to get it down. Hit a pine tree, broke off a blade, and came down in the lake. My God, you should have seen Curry when they told him. He hasn’t let a drop of alcohol on the place during roundup since. And,” he added with a grin, “he’s never bought another chopper.”
    â€œSo that’s why he uses the little Cessna,” Eleanor remarked.
    â€œThat and the old-time ways. They’re really better on some ranches.” He chuckled.
    Eleanor sighed. “Well, I guess I’d better call it a night. It’s been such fun, Jim. Thank you.”
    â€œThank you,” he said with a smile. “If Curry gives you a hard time, come on over, and hang working out your notice. The Blacks will take care of you good and proper.”
    â€œThe Blacks,” she returned, “are super people—all three of them.”
    â€œNow, if you’ll help me convince Elaine of that…”
    â€œAny time,” she promised. “Good night.”
    â€œGood night, Norie.”
    She went into the house with a dreamy smile, relaxed because Curry wasn’t home, content to be alone and decide what she was going to do with herself when the job ended. It wasn’t going to be so bad after all. Once she got over the initial jolt of not waking up to see Curry at the breakfast table in the morning, in his den during the hours he had to be inside, on the porch late in the evening when the world was still….

Six
    A s she moved through the halls, the grandfather clock chimed twice in a loud, metallic voice. She hadn’t realized that it was so late. She’d really enjoyed herself tonight as much from playing cupid as from Jim’s company. She had a feeling that Elaine was going to be good for the lonely widower and his family.
    â€œWhat the hell do you mean coming in at this hour of the morning?” came aloud, angry voice from the doorway of the den.
    She froze for an instant, not expecting that, as she tried to decide whether or not she was hearing things. She turned slowly to find Curry leaning against the door, his hair tousled, his eyes glittering like sun on a knife blade, his whole appearance threatening and dark.
    â€œI…we were at the club,” she faltered. “I thought you were in Houston. You said…”
    â€œYou don’t even look kissed, little girl,” he growled, and his eyes dropped to her mouth with its soft traces of lipstick, her hair flowing in soft waves around her shoulders, looking as neat as if she’d just left to go out. “I always suspected he was something of a cold fish. Lida Mae started running around on him barely a year after they were married.”
    â€œYou don’t have any right to talk that way about him,” she replied coldly.
    â€œWhy not? I’ll bet he’s been givingme hell behind my back ever since he started taking you out.”
    Before she could deny it, the flush on her high cheekbones gave her away.
    â€œCome have a drink with me, Jadebud,” he said gently, shouldering away from the door facing with a weariness that was so alien it was faintly shocking. “I’ve had a hell of a night.”
    She followed him hesitantly into the den and watched him fill two glasses with whiskey and ice, lacing one liberally with water to weaken it. He handed her the weaker drink.
    â€œSit down,” he said, indicating the sofa.
    She perched herself on its edge, trying not to cringe when he dropped down beside her and crossed his long legs. The pale brown slacks he wore emphasized the powerful contours of his thighs and he