To Love and Cherish by Diana Palmer Page A

people.
    As she watched, the reporter seemed to grow taller. King had him by the collar and literally tossed him away. He glared at the newsman as if he were some new disease. “Make one move toward her again,” King said in a dangerous low tone, “and I’ll have your job, sonny boy.”
    The reporter stared at the taller man indignantly and started to fire back a retort when a pad-carrying reporter behind him quickly punched him. “That’s King Brannt, you idiot!” came a loudly delivered whisper. “If you want to be standing in the unemployment line tomorrow, just keep on!”
    The man with the microphone flushed darkly and moved away with a murmured apology.
    King got Shelby in the car and slammed the door behind him, his eyes narrow on her white face.
    â€œI should have decked him,” hesaid under his breath. “Are you all right?”
    She nodded gratefully. “We…we should have waited for Brad.”
    â€œHe’s not coming to the graveside service,” King said quietly. He leaned back in the seat as the car pulled out into traffic, loosening his tie with an impatient hand. “God, I hate funerals. Especially funerals like this, with mobs of people having hysterics for the benefit of the cameras.”
    Shelby bit her lip to keep the tears at bay. Her red eyes went to the window, and she watched the city streets, the routine of people coming and going, blankly.
    King reached over and tugged at a lock of her thick hair. “I didn’t mean what you’re thinking,” he said gently. “I know you cared about your mother.”
    A sob escaped her, along with a few stray tears. “I wish she’d cared,just a little,” she whispered. “I seem to have been alone all my life.”
    His jaw went taut, although she didn’t see it. “Not now,” he reminded her. “You’re not alone any more, Shelby.”
    She felt his big hand clasp hers, and she linked her small fingers into his strong ones, feeling the rough coolness envelope them securely.
    â€œThank you,” she whispered.
    He squeezed her hand. “Where do you want to go afterwards? Want to grab a bite to eat or go straight to the airport?”
    She looked up at him. “To the airport, please.”
    He nodded. “We’ll call Brad from there and let him wind up the details. Is there anything else you need to do?”
    â€œNo. Brad and I went to her lawyer’s office this morning,” she reminded him. “A notice has to run inthe paper, but the lawyer will take care of that, and the sale of the house.”
    â€œYou aren’t going to keep it?” he asked.
    She shook her head. She hadn’t told him that her mother had died practically penniless. It would be like making a plea for sympathy, and she didn’t need any more of that. It was the last thing she wanted from King. Pity was a poor substitute for love.
    â€œI’ll take you riding when we get home,” he said suddenly. “You need to get your mind off it, and the sooner the better.”
    â€œWhy are you being so kind?” she asked gently.
    He shrugged, looked uncomfortable, and turned his eyes toward the window. “You needed someone. I couldn’t let Danny walk into this. He doesn’t need a law practice, but he seems to think he can’t live withoutit. Getting himself embroiled in a scandal wouldn’t endear him to those stiff-necked town lawyers he’s associated with.”
    â€œI knew you’d stop him,” she said with a quiet smile. “I hoped you would. I knew what it would do to his career.”
    â€œI stopped him, all right. But he wouldn’t have stopped me,” he added adamantly, pinning her with his narrow, dark eyes. “I’d have walked straight through hell to get to you.”
    She met that look levelly, and felt the breath sighing out of her body at the intensity of it. She couldn’t look