Cattleman's Choice by Diana Palmer Page A

torturously, every wild second she’d spent on it the night before. Carson, kissing her with such sweet hunger, Carson touching her in ways no one else ever had. Carson, looking at her with eyes that ate her. Loving her.
    Her eyes closed. It had been loving, of a kind. He’d wanted her quite desperately, and not for the first time last night. He’d wanted her for a long time; perhaps from the very beginning. But he hadn’t let her know it. Not until he asked her for those “lessons.” And now she had to wonder if that had been only a means to an end. If he’d decided it was past time to do something about his violent hunger.
    Did he care, though? That was the thing that tortured her. Was it just a physical hunger that he was trying to satisfy, or did he feel something for her? And did it matter to her?
    She put her cup back in the kitchen and got dressed to go to work. It probably was a moot point now, she thought miserably. If the way he’d looked and talked last night was any indication, he’d never want to see her again.
    * * *
    Angie had several messages from prospective clients which Mandelyn took to her office and stared at blankly. It was an hour before she could get into the mood to work, and even then she did it halfheartedly. She spent the day staring at the phone, hoping that Carson would call. But by five o’clock, he hadn’t, and she realized that he probably wouldn’t want to. She went home in a daze and spent the evening staring at the walls.
    Friday came dragging around, finally, and Patty stuck her head in the door of the real estate office to remind Mandelyn about coming to her party that night.
    â€œThe party?” Mandelyn felt sick all over. Carson had been going to take her. “I…I don’t know, Patty.”
    â€œYou’ve got to come,” she prodded. “Carson said he was bringing you.”
    Mandelyn’s heart jumped. “Recently?” she asked hesitantly.
    â€œThis morning, when I went out to give his bull the all-clear.” Patty grinned. “He was in a foul mood until I mentioned that the Gibson boys were coming to play for me. He used to sit in with them years ago. He’s a heck of a good guitarist, you know.”
    â€œNo, I didn’t,” Mandelyn said slowly. There were a lot of things she didn’t know about Carson, it seemed.
    â€œAnyway, they’ll probably jam for a while. It’s going to be lots of fun. See you about six!”
    â€œOkay,” she replied with a wan smile.
    â€œI wish I could come,” Angie sighed when Patty was gone. “I’ve got to babysit my sister’s kids. Three of them. All preschoolers. Patty was going to introduce me to a guy who’ll be there. Now I’ll have to load a gun and look for my own. All on account of my sister’s bridge game.”
    Mandelyn almost laughed at the younger woman’s miserable look. “I’d offer to stand in for you, if I could,” she said, and really would have considered it. She wasn’t looking forward to spending an evening around Carson, whom she was certain hated her.
    â€œI’d almost let you,” Angie replied. “But don’t worry, I’ll survive. I was a girl scout.”
    â€œI guess that would help.
    â€œSurvival training usually does, with preschoolers,” Angie murmured, and reached for the phone, which was ringing off the hook. She pressed the “hold” button. “It’s for you. Mr. Wayne.”
    Mandelyn’s heart tried to reach into her throat. She was tempted to have Angie tell him she couldn’t come to the phone. Amazing, how he brought out these cowardly instincts of hers.
    â€œOkay,” she said, and wandered slowly back into her office. She picked up the phone with trembling hands. “Hello,” she said professionally.
    â€œCan you be ready by five-thirty?” Carson asked coldly, and without any