Darling Enemy by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

exquisitely beautiful.”
    “I’m...not beautiful,” she protested weakly. Her heart beat violently as his face moved closer.
    “Oh, but you are,” he breathed. His mouth poised just over hers, his warm, whiskey-scented breath mingling with hers, his eyes riveted to the curve of her lips. “I was afraid this would happen. Once wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.”
    His fingers tilted her chin at just the angle he wanted, and she watched, fascinated, as his hard mouth parted just before it touched hers. She waited, aching, with time stretched to the tautness of a violin string between them.
    The sudden opening of the door was no less cruel than the flick of a whip. King lifted his head with a harsh jerk, his eyes almost black with frustration as he watched his sister come in with a loaded tray.
    Teddi bit hard on her lip to keep from crying out, so desperately had she wanted that kiss. But she had years of practice at hiding her real feelings, and she looked quite calm when Jenna got to the desk with sandwiches and coffee.
    “I thought you might be hungry,” Jenna explained with a grin at her taciturn brother. “Slave driver, isn’t he?” she asked Teddi.
    “My God, real slices of ham,” King burst out, lifting the edge of one of the sandwiches.
    “Mama does skimp, doesn’t she?” Jenna laughed. “This was all the ham that was left. Teddi made a ham casserole for dinner tonight and that took the rest.”
    King’s piercing eyes swung to Teddi, lingering on her flushed face. “Ham casserole?” he murmured.
    She lifted her chin. “I like it,” she said defensively.
    One corner of his chiseled mouth curled sensuously. “Do you?”
    He knew she’d made it especially for him, the beast, but she wasn’t going to let him see any reaction from her. “If you’re through, I think I’ll turn in,” she said as she rose, muffling a yawn she didn’t feel.
    He hesitated just an instant, reading quite accurately the apprehension in her wide, dark eyes. “That’s all I need, thanks. For tonight,” he added, and she knew he wasn’t talking about herd records.
    “Coming up, Jenna?” Teddi asked her friend with practiced carelessness as she went toward the door.
    “Right behind you. Say, Blakely and I are going into Calgary in the morning. Want to...?”
    “She’s going to Banff with me,” King broke in.
    Startled, Teddi’s bright eyes shot to his face and were captured by his hard, unblinking gaze.
    “I’ve got to talk business with a man up there tomorrow afternoon. I thought Teddi might like to see the park. Since none of us have ever thought to take her there,” he added carelessly, although the look in his eyes was anything but careless.
    “I...I’d like that,” Teddi heard herself saying. It was like being handed a special present without asking for it.
    “You won’t throw her off the mountain or anything?” Jenna teased with lifted brows.
    King actually laughed. “No, I won’t throw her off the mountain. Satisfied?”
    “You can’t be surprised that I asked,” Jenna countered, escorting her friend to the door. “Only a few days ago, you hated the idea of having her here.”
    King studied Teddi’s slight figure, letting his intent gaze move lazily up to her flushed face and thick, short hair. “That was a few days ago,” he murmured.
    “It’s overwork,” Teddi assured her puzzled friend. “Too many computer breakdowns and skipped meals.” She leaned closer and said in a loud, conspiratorial whisper, “Just ask him about having Herefords produce purebred black Angus cattle.”
    Jenna stared, gaping, at her older brother.
    He tossed his thick, blond hair back with an impatient hand. “Don’t ask,” he warned, “unless you want to spend the next thirty minutes having it explained to you.”
    Jenna chuckled, pushing Teddi out the door. “I think you’d better eat your sandwiches, brother mine, and see if it doesn’t help.” And she closed the door behind her before he had a