by Janet Dailey
'I'll take that as a compliment,' she murmured, a little overwhelmed by this charming side of Lije Masters.
'Good,' holding the door as she climbed into the cab. 'That's the way I meant it.'
There was a caressing quality to his softly spoken words that quickened her pulse. All day she had been wondering how she could get close to this remote and sometimes arrogant man, but Diana was learning fast that it was he who set the pace of their relationship. She could only follow his lead. She had always resented anyone who was dominant or dominating to others, including herself, but this time she thought it would be nice for Lije to rule her.
The restaurant he took her to had a friendly, informal atmosphere; it was decorated with Western trappings that were a perfect background for Lije. Last night Diana had discussed her past with him with ease and tonight she found herself doing it again. Lije Masters had the rare quality of being able to listen with sincere interest and draw people out with gentle, probing questions, while Diana learned little more about him than she had before. After their meal was finished, she switched the position.
'Tell me how the son of a rancher came to be named after the Biblical prophet Elijah?'
The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile as he studied his coffee for a minute before looking up to meet her frank gaze. There was a velvet quality to the colour of his eyes that was oddly soothing.
'My father's name was Daniel, a common name, although it's found in the Bible. But my mother, Naomi, was a religious woman. She had had several miscarriages before, in her middle thirties, I came along. Elijah was considered the messenger of glad tidings in the Bible and lived in the mountain wilderness, and she felt it was doubly appropriate. My father was the one who shortened it to Lije."
For the first time in many years Diana was struck by the sadness that she would never be able to recount personal stories like that. When she was left at the orphanage there hadn't even been a note telling her name.
'You haven't said when you're leaving tomorrow,' Lije stated when Diana didn't speak.
'I don't know,' giving herself a mental shake to remove the slight depression. 'There's a chance we won't be leaving—something about Rick wanting some action shots. Connie was supposed to let us know this evening.'
'Should you phone the hotel?'
'She'll tell Stella if I'm not there? Diana glanced at her watch. 'I probably should call Stella, though, so she won't have to wait up for me to let me know.'
'You do that, while I take care of the check,' Lije suggested.
Diana's face was radiating her inner happiness when she hung up the telephone and turned to the waiting Lije. 'We leave on Sunday morning,' she announced.
His inscrutable expression made it impossible to judge whether he was pleased by her news. Diana knew she was. With luck, it would mean another day in his company.
'Does that mean you'll be working tomorrow?' he asked, as his hand rested on the back of her shoulders and guided her out the restaurant door.
'Not until late tomorrow afternoon, Stella said,' Diana answered.
'Have you been to the Alamo or along the river walk?' Lije inquired with that remote indifference that always bewildered her.
'No.'
The breeze caught a silver-gold lock of hair and blew it across her face. She swept it behind her ear in a graceful gesture as she picked her way among the chunks of gravel in the parking lot.
"I'll conduct you on a personal tour tomorrow.' They had reached the pick-up truck as Lije made his statement. It was what she had wanted to hear, but considering his unpredictability she had feared another ambiguous statement. Diana wanted to tell him how much she looked forward to going with him, but all the words that came to mind sounded so trite.
'What time?' she asked as calmly as she could.
'I'll give you a call around nine.' His arm was resting on her side of the pick-up door, but he was making no attempt to open it. He was looking upwards at the night sky brightened with a blanket of stars. 'It's a beautiful night, isn't it?'
Diana had been studying his lean angular jaw and cheek and the deep groove carved from the corner of his nose to the corner of his mouth. Even in the dimness of the purple night, she could discern that far-seeing quality of his eyes which always made it seem that he could see beyond the horizon. Any moment now he would look down at her. She forced herself to look up at the twinkling lights in the heavens.
'The Big Dipper really stands out tonight,' she said, when she felt Lije's movement beside her and sensed his eyes on her. 'I never have been able to find the Little Dipper. Where is it?'
'The two stars that form the outer edge of the cup point to the North Star. You have to follow their imaginary line.'
As Diana continued to search unsuccessfully, Lije moved closer, bringing his arm around her shoulders so she could sight along it. The sudden contact with his lean hardness brought a weakness to her limbs. Masculine cologne enveloped her with its intoxicating scent as his breath stirred her hair. A tightness clamped on her throat as she fought the disturbance that was taking hold of her.
'I still don't see it,' she breathed in deeply to cover her sudden shortness of breath.
She made the mistake of turning as she spoke, and found herself at eye level with his mouth. The soft, sensuous curve of his lower lip had a hypnotic effect on her, and Diana couldn't draw her gaze away from it. A hand touched her cheek, the roughness of its skin rasping in a satisfying caress against hers before the thumb lifted her chin. She barely recognized the burning darkness in his usually remote grey eyes.
Without conscious volition, her eyelids fluttered shut as Lije moved closer. The invitation for his kiss was written by her parted, glistening lips. The probing kiss was gently firm as he drew her around into his arms. Her hands raised to rest lightly on the back of his neck where dark curling hair waved over her fingers. Diana was torn by conflicting emotions of tenderness and urgency. Her mouth was moving in a restrained response to his as a rising tide of warmth began spreading over her.
The hands that had been holding her easily in his arms began slow, steady movements that brought her closer to him, and the melting of her soft curves against the firmness of his chest produced a corresponding demand in the fiery touch of his lips. Diana willingly obeyed, surrendering eagerly to the increased ardency of his embrace. There was a tormenting ecstasy in the crushing hold. The blood was pounding through her veins, heightening her senses until she was drowning in this new awareness.
Her fingers twined tighter around his neck as she poised on tiptoe to get closer to this tall man who was awakening the sleeping passionate side of her nature. His mouth began a thorough inspection of her face and neck, drawing a whispering gasp of pleasure. Deftly Lije pushed her denim jacket away so that only the thin cotton of his shirt and the lightweight synthetic fabric of her shell top separated the growing heat of their bodies. Then his hands were once more at her hips, pressing her against his thighs and revealing his rising need of her. Again his mouth claimed hers, driving away the last tendrils of resistance.
A sniggering laugh sounded several cars away, followed by a male voice saying in what was a loud aside, 'There's a guy that's got it made for tonight!'
Almost before the man's words were out, Lije was pushing Diana away from him and opening the door of the pick-up. His breathing was ragged, but his expression was filled with cold anger. He kept a steadying hand on her, since she was still reeling from the effects of his embrace.
'Get in,' he ordered thickly.
Her shaking legs were slow to obey, but with the help of his supporting arm, she made it. He wasted no time joining her, slipping behind the wheel and starting the motor immediately. They travelled several blocks in what seemed to Diana a freezing silence before Lije turned to look at her.
'I owe you an apology, Diana, for placing you in a position to be subjected to that kind of remark.' His speech was clipped and blunt. His eyes that had held such a burning flame were the colour of gran
ite again. 'I'll take you back to your hotel.'
'It didn't upset me.' That was a half-truth. Diana had been humiliated that her wanton actions had been seen by others, but the aching void of her empty arms upset her more. 'It probably appeared that way to him,' she added, studying the fingers knotted in her lap.
'It was more than that, and we both know it!' Lije ground out harshly. Her eyes were wide and shimmering like aquamarines when she met his gaze, and she knew he was right. 'That was not a casual kiss in the moonlight.'
'Not for me,' Diana admitted.
'Or me … which is precisely why I'm taking you back to your hotel,' he declared. He braked to a stop in front of the hotel, sitting erectly behind the wheel turning only his face towards her. It was shadowed by the light flowing in behind him from the street outside the window. 'Keep in mind, Diana, you're leaving on Sunday to go one way and I leave on Monday going another.'
Half blinded by the pain his statement caused about the one thing she had been trying to forget, Diana reached for the door handle, wanting only to run away, but his hand reached out, gasping her wrist so she couldn't leave.
'I've learned quite a bit about you in the past twenty-four hours, Diana,' Lije went on quietly. 'I know you aren't one of those groupies that hang around the rodeo, and as desirable as you are, I can't treat you like one. If you want to call tomorrow off, I'll understand.'
'I don't,' Diana answered, keeping her head averted.
His hand took her chin and twisted her face around towards him. He was smiling, not just with his eyes but with his whole face.
'Then we're both a pair of fools, because I don't want to either.' He leaned over, his mouth brushing hers in a light tender kiss before he settled back on his own side of the truck. 'I'll call you tomorrow morning.'
'Goodnight, Lije,' Diana beamed, slipping out of the truck and smiling back at him. He nodded. She couldn't see his expression, but she felt sure he was still smiling.
The telephone rang at nine o'clock on the dot the next morning. Diana, who had been pacing back and forth beside it, lifted the receiver before it could ring a second time, ignoring the bubbling laughter from her roommate.
'Good morning,' she said cheerfully, her heart pounding against her ribs.
'Good morning,' Lije echoed. Diana breathed a silent sigh of relief. He had called!
'I'm dressed and ready. Just name the time,' she told him.
'I'm going to be tied up this morning, Diana. A friend and business acquaintance of mine just came into town. I won't be able to keep our date today.'
'I see.' Diana exhaled slowly, the eagerness dying in her voice.
'No, you don't see,' Lije mocked her resigned voice, 'It's not an excuse. As a matter of fact, I want you to join us for lunch, here at the hotel. Will you?'
'Yes,' she murmured breathlessly, feeling like a condemned man who had just been granted a reprieve.
'I'll meet you in the lobby at twelve-thirty.'
'I'll be there,' she assured him.
There was only one dress in her suitcase, a straight nylon-blend shift with long sleeves. The paisley design of dark blue and red orange made a striking combination with the silver-blonde of her hair which she wore down and swirling about her neck and shoulders. It took a great deal of will power not to go down to the lobby until the appointed time, since she was ready nearly an hour early.
When she finally walked out of the lift into the lobby, Diana saw Lije talking to a tall, dark-haired man with features as forceful as his own. The instant Lije saw her, he excused himself and walked over to greet her. His eyes made a slow sweeping appraisal of her appearance, quickly reflecting approval and admiration. Her chest swelled with pride at the way he took her arm and led her back to the other man.
'Diana, this is Cord Harris,' Lije introduced. 'He owns a ranch over near McCloud, Texas. Cord, this is Diana Mills.'
The man was the same height or taller than Lije. His firm jaw was accented by high cheekbones and eyes that matched the colour of his hair. There was a smile of approval in his gaze as he shook her hand and glanced briefly at Lije.
'My wife will be joining us shortly,' he explained. 'Our son required a change of clothes before he was presentable for lunch. She shouldn't be long.'
On cue, a woman stepped out of the lift and walked towards them carrying a dark-haired and dark-eyed one-year-old. The little boy let out a squeal and held out his hands for his father, who gathered him into his arms with a goodly mount of parental pride. There was a loving exchange of glances between the husband and wife that brought a twinge of envy to Diana. Unconsciously her eyes sought Lije at the same moment that he looked at her. There was a flicker of unrest in the grey depths before he turned away.
'This is my wife, Stacy, and our son, Joshua,' Cord introduced Diana to his family.
An open, friendly smile brought a pair of dimples into view as Stacy offered her hand to Diana. Shining chestnut gold hair cascaded down the front of an olive green suit that reflected the flecks of green in the warm hazel eyes. Diana liked her immediately and she sensed Stacy's reciprocation. Then Lije was at her side, guiding her into the restaurant.
The men dominated the conversation at the table, but Diana didn't mind. She was able to glean from their talk that Cord Harris raised 'quarter' horses on his ranch and that he was interested in breeding some of his mares with Lije's stallion. Diana assumed he meant the bay Lije used in the steer wrestling until Cord referred to Red as an excellent example of the stallion's potency.
'You wouldn't consider selling Malpais?' Cord asked, expecting the negative answer he received from Lije.
'No, he's part of the future of my ranch,' Lije assured him firmly. 'I have a couple of his yearlings and two-year-olds that I'd part with, but not Malpais.'
'I'd like to look them over,' Cord stated.
'Just contact Jim.'
'I'll do that.'
'These ranchers will talk cattle and horses all day long and into the night.' Stacy mined an indulgent smile on her husband.
'It's more interesting than discussing clothes, hairstyles and babies,' he mocked her in return.
'If those are your interests, Stacy,' Lije joined in, 'you and Diana will have a lot in common. She's a model"
'Which hardly qualifies me as an expert,' Diana laughed, but she was immediately drawn into a conversation by Stacy that dissipated the last of her reticence.
Three-quarters of an hour later Lije and Cord rose from the table. Cord leaned down and brushed his wife's cheek with a kiss and rumpled his son's dark hair. Diana glanced hesitantly at Lije, wishing she could arouse the look of adoration that had been in Cord's eyes for his wife. A crinkling smile made lines at the corner of the grey eyes.
'I'll see you tonight at the rodeo,' said Lije. It should have been a question, but he made it sound like an order.
'I'll be there,' Diana answered warmly. His hand touched her shoulder as he passed her chair, following Cord out of the restaurant.
'The three of you make a very handsome family,' Diana commented with a trace of envy at the brown-haired girl who was about the same age as she was.
'We're unbelievably happy,' Stacy sighed, gazing in the direction her husband had just taken. 'I was only half a person until I met Cord.'
'How did you meet?' Diana asked. 'You don't really have a southern drawl or a Texas twang.'
'I'm from the East, New York,' Stacy laughed. 'I came west after my father died and rented a cabin on Cord's ranch. For a while it was "east is east and west is west and never the twain shall meet". We had a very stormy courtship. But all's well that ends well. How long have you known Lije?'
'Not long.'
'I only met him myself last year at Cord's annual "quarter" horse sale. He bought three of our brood mares. Of course, Cord has known him for several years. In some ways Lije reminds me a great deal of Cord. They're both proud, strong men who very capably shape their own destiny.' Stacy glanced quizzically at Diana's silent figure. 'Before, I've
always had the impression that Lije was rather cold and remote, like an eagle circling high in the sky looking on life from afar, but today there was more warmth to him. Because of you?'
'I don't think so.'
'Are you in love with him?' Stacy probed gently.
Diana glanced at her sharply, her blue eyes guarded so that they wouldn't reveal how many times in the last twelve hours she had asked herself the same question.
'I know the symptoms,' Stacy continued, taking Joshua out of his high chair and wiping his mouth. 'It's easier to recognize them in a stranger than it is in yourself. I like Lije and I like you. I couldn't think of a better wish than for the two of you to find the same deep, fulfilling love that Cord and I did.'
'You almost make me think it's possible,' Diana sighed.
'Anything is possible, Diana, if your love is strong enough,' Diana assured her. Her hazel eyes twinkled merrily. 'There is one piece of advice I'd like to give. Neither Cord nor I guessed that the other felt the same way. We almost parted because of it. Don't be afraid to tell him you love him if you do.' Stacy paused, her expression growing more solemn.
'I'll try to remember that.'
'Gracious!' Stacy exclaimed with a beaming smile. 'How did we ever get so serious all of a sudden? Tell me about your work. It must be really interesting being a model. My father was a photographer.'
And the subject of Lije Masters was left behind.
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Chapter Five
DIANA leaned on the stable door. The last wave of nausea was subsiding, leaving her legs trembling and unsteady. The vivid picture of Lije being tossed from the bull and under its hooves was still firmly implanted in her mind's eye. She had stayed in the stands long enough to see him get to his feet completely unharmed before she fled from the arena to the stables.
The clip-clop of a horse's hooves sounded behind her, and Diana knew without turning that it was Lije. All the nagging doubts that she really loved him had vanished in those fleeting seconds when he had been in danger. She could feel his eyes resting on her. Squaring her shoulders, she turned to face him. He studied her thoroughly, taking in the pallor in her fair complexion and the fear that still shadowed her eyes. She was looking at his white shirt stained with dirt from the arena floor.