Long, Tall Texans: Calhoun by Diana Palmer

exactly matching her eyes and showing off her beautiful figure.
    "I wish things had worked out for you. Your job must be rough," Abby commiserated.
    Shelby smiled back. "Oh, I like it," she said. "And at least we've got the house. We'll finish the last details of the sale next week, and then all the gossip will die down and we'll have our privacy back." She picked up her glass of ginger ale and sipped it. "I hope you don't mind my being a third wheel...."
    "You go on," Abby replied. "You know Ty and I are just friends. I'm glad to have your company, and I'm sure your brother is, too."
    Tyler smiled, but the look he sent her over Shelby's oblivious head wasn't quite platonic.
    "Let's get in that next set," Tyler said, pulling Abby up by the hand. "Shelby, order Abby and me a ginger ale, would you?" he asked his sister.
    She grinned. "Of course."
    Abby stared at Tyler as he led her into the throng of dancers. "I can have a gin and tonic if I want to."
    "Not while you're out with me," he said firmly, leading her into place in front of him. "I don't drink. That means you don't drink."
    "Spoilsport," she sighed.
    He chuckled. "Shame on you. You don't need booze to have a good time."
    "I know. But I had looked forward to being treated like an adult," she told him.
    "Well, don't give up hope," he said, his voice deep and soft as his lean hand curled around her waist. "The night's still young yet."
    Abby smiled, because of course he was just flirting. She let him jostle her around the dance floor, graceful on his feet, expertly leading her through the twists and turns and shuffles and exchanges. Abby was having a great time until she glanced
    at the table where Justin and Calhoun were sitting. Justin's dark eyes kept darting over to Shelby. Abby was too far away to read his expression. Calhoun, on the other hand, was glaring at Abby and Tyler with enough venom for ten rattlesnakes.
    Her heart leaped at the jealousy she saw on his face. Maybe there was still a little hope. The thought perked her up, and she began to smile, and then to laugh. Tyler mistook her response for pleasure in his company, and so did Calhoun. By the time the dance was over, Abby was caught in the middle of a building storm.
    It threatened to explode when Calhoun, sick of watching Abby with Tyler, went and asked Shelby to dance.
    Shelby was hesitant because Justin had just straightened at his table and looked capable of starting a world war all by himself.
    "He won't mind," Calhoun said. "You look lonely sitting here by yourself."
    "Oh, Calhoun, don't start anything," she pleaded.
    "I won't," he promised. "Now come and dance with me."
    Shelby gave in, but her lovely face was troubled.
    Abby watched them go onto the dance floor, and her spirits fell. Shelby and Calhoun looked good together, her brunette beauty a perfect foil for his blond good looks. Abby felt plain and unattractive by comparison. She stared at Ty's chest, hopelessly depressed. What if Calhoun had come because of Shelby? What if he was courting her now? She felt sick.
    "I feel like I'm sitting on a time bomb," Tyler mused as he watched Calhoun and Shelby and then got a look at Justin's face. "I don't know what Calhoun's up to, but Justin looks dangerous. Even if he hates my sister, he still seems to consider her his personal property. Would you look at that scowl?"
    Abby saw Justin's expression and was ashamed of herself for wishing he would get out of his chair and beat the hell out of Calhoun. She flushed with embarrassment. "If Justin was dancing with another woman, how do you think Shelby would feel?" she asked, looking up at him.
    He pursed his lips, his green eyes dancing as they searched her face. "I hadn't considered that."

    "Calhoun probably thought Shelby was uncomfortable sitting by herself with nobody to dance with," Abby added.
    Tyler sighed, his eyes wandering quietly over Abby's distracted expression as she looked toward the other couple on the floor. And all at once a lot of