Sweet Enemy by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

trying not to hear Clint's last angry words, trying to
forget the hatred in his eyes…
    The sale was over, the guests leaving, bare bones where the
barbecued steer carcasses had been, when Maggie left with
Masterson for the restaurant.
    Clint had gone off with Sarah, and it was a blessed relief.
She'd had about all the battle she could stomach for one day.
    Over a nicely grilled steak, Masterson shared some of his
journeys with her, smiling at the rapt expression on her
young face as he described places she'd have given worlds to
see.
    "I've always wanted to see Stone-henge," she told him.
    "Then why not go?" he asked. "Air fares aren't all that high,
you know."
    She smiled. "And I could always vol-unteer for a dig. It's just time. There never seems to be
enough."
    Something darkened his eyes for an instant. "I know. Don't
let yours ran out before you do a few of the things you want
to do, little girl."
    She shrugged. "I've got plenty."
    "No," he said softly, his eyes distant. "No, none of us has
plenty."
    It was midnight on the nose when Mas-terson pulled his rented
car up in front of the ranch house.
    "I enjoyed that so much," Maggie told him with a smile. "If you
ever get to Columbus…"
    "That's not on the books, little one," he said gently. His dark
eyes smiled at her. "Thank you for keeping an old man
company. Someday you'll understand how much it meant."
    "Old man? You?" she asked incredulously.
    He chuckled. "Now, that was a compliment. Goodnight,
Margaretta Leigh."
    "No goodnight kiss?" she asked saucily. "I think I'm
insulted."
    "You little minx…" He pulled her against his big, husky body
and kissed her, hard and slow and with an expertise that was
shattering. "Thank you, Maggie," he whispered, as he let her
go.
    "Goodnight," she told him, sliding reluctantly out of the
car.
    "Goodbye, honey," he replied softly. And in seconds, he was
gone.
    She stood watching the car's taillights as it wound around the
driveway toward the highway, and for just an instant she wasn't in
Florida at all. She was standing on the rains of an ancient
civilization with the breeze stirring her hair and drams pounding
in her blood. And he was there, too, but his name wasn't Masterson.
She shivered. Another time, another place, those dark eyes had
looked into hers and today in a few hours out of time his soul had
reached out to touch hers. She felt ripples of emotion
tingling through her taut body. How strange to meet and instinctively know all about
him-as if in another life…
    "Come inside, little one."
    She turned to meet Clint. He was still wearing his suit pants
and his white shirt, but his tie and his jacket were gone. He
looked dangerously attractive.
    "I…I was just watching the car," she murmured as they went up
the steps. The shiver went through her again and without thinking
she slid her cold hand into Clint's, like a child seeking comfort.
For just an instant his hand tensed. Then it curled, lean and hard,
around hers and squeezed it.
    "What's wrong, honey?" he asked.
    She shook her head. "I felt…as if I'd known him somewhere
before. And something was wrong, I felt it!"
    "Deja vu?" he asked with a smile, leading her into the
house, and then into his den.
    She shrugged, dropping wearily down onto the sofa. "I guess. I don't know. It frightened me." She
watched him pour a neat whiskey, drop ice into it, and toss it
back. "Tell me about him."
    Clint moved across the room and went down on one knee beside
her, his darkening eyes almost on a level with her in the
position. His hands caught hers where they lay in her lap.
    "He's got cancer, honey," he said very gently. "There's nothing
they can do for him, and from what he told me himself, he's got
less than two more months."
    A sob broke from her and tears rolled down her cheeks. "I like
him," she murmured through a pale smile.
    "So do I. A hell of a man, Masterson. I've known him most of my
life." He took his handkerchief and mopped her eyes. "You know, he
accomplished more in