Read Online The Rancher & Heart of Stone by Diana Palmer - Free Book Online

sick.”
    “I remember. You looked very nice.”
    “Well, I’d be wearing the same dress I had on then,” she pointed out.
    He laughed. “I don’t follow the current fashions for women,” he mused. “I’m inviting you, not the dress.”
    “In that case,” she said with a pert smile, “I’d be delighted!”

CHAPTER FOUR
    S OME MEN DRAGGED their feet around the room and called it dancing. John Everett could actually dance! He knew all the Latin dances and how to waltz, although he was uncomfortable with some of the newer ways to display on a dance floor. Fortunately the organizers of the party were older people and they liked older music.
    Only a minute into an enthusiastic samba, John and Maddie found themselves in the middle of the dance floor with the other guests clapping as they marked the fast rhythm.
    “We should take this show on the road.” John chuckled as they danced.
    “I’m game. I’ll give up ranching and become a professional samba performer, if you’ll come, too,” she suggested.
    “Maybe only part of the year,” he mused. “We can’t let our businesses go to pot.”
    “Spoilsport.”
    He grinned.
    While the two were dancing, oblivious to the other guests, a tall, dark man in a suit walked in and found himself a flute of champagne. He tasted it, nodding to other guests. Everyone was gathered around the dance floor of the ballroom in the Victorian mansion. He wandered to the fringes and caught his breath. There, on the dance floor, was Maddie Lane.
    She was wearing a dress, a sheath of black slinky material that dipped in front to display just a hint of the lovely curve of her breasts and display her long elegant neck and rounded arms. Her pale blond hair shone like gold in the light from the chandeliers. She was wearing makeup, just enough to enhance what seemed to be a rather pretty face, and the pretty calves of her legs were displayed to their best advantage from the arch of her spiked high-heel shoes. He’d rarely seen her dressed up. Not that he’d been interested in her or anything.
    But there she was, decked out like a Christmas tree, dancing with his best friend. John didn’t date anybody. Until now.
    Cort Brannt felt irritation rise in him like bile. He scowled at the display they were making of themselves. Had they no modesty at all? And people were clapping like idiots.
    He glared at Maddie. He remembered the last time he’d seen her. She backed away from Cort, but she was dancing with John as if she really liked him. Her face was radiant. She was smiling. Cort had rarely seen her smile at all. Of course, usually he was yelling at her or making hurtful remarks. Not much incentive for smiles.
    He sipped champagne. Someone spoke to him. He just nodded. He was intent on the dancing couple, focused and furious.
    Suddenly he noticed that the flute was empty. He turned and went back to the hors d’oeuvres table and had them refill it. But he didn’t go back to the dance floor. Instead he found a fellow cattleman to talk to about the drought and selling off cattle.
    A few minutes later he was aware of two people helping themselves to punch and cake.
    “Oh, hi, Cort,” John greeted him with a smile. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
    “Hadn’t planned to,” Cort said in a cool tone. “My dad had an emergency on the ranch, so I’m filling in. One of the officers of the cattlemen’s association is here.” He indicated the man with a nod of his head. “Dad wanted me to ask him about any pending legislation that might help us through the drought. We’ve heard rumors, but nothing substantial.”
    “My dad was wondering the same.” John frowned. “You okay?”
    “I’m fine,” Cort said, making sure that he enunciated as plainly as possible. He stood taller, although he still wasn’t as tall, or as big, as his friend. “Why do you ask?”
    “Because that’s your second glass of champagne and you don’t drink,” John said flatly.
    Cort held the flute up and