The Rogue by Janet Dailey

you were doing and who you were with.”
    That hint of jealousy was exciting. “Don’t you trust me, Rand?”
    He seemed to force a lightness into his voice. “How am I supposed to know what you are doing when you are so far away from me? You could be seeing some of your old boyfriends, not to mention all those rugged-looking cowboys on your father’s ranch.”
    Diana tilted her head back and laughed. “You haven’t taken a close look at the men who work forus.” Still smiling, she assured him, “Outside of the Major, there is only one man in my life—and that’s you.”
    His hold loosened around her as he lifted a hand to lightly stroke her cheek and the outline of her jaw. “You are so beautiful, Diana. I don’t know if I’ll ever trust you out of my sight.”
    The burning intensity of his gaze made her uncomfortable. His jealousy was unnecessary. When she gave her allegiance to a man, it was total. Rand was to be her husband. She had been raised with too strict a sense of moral values to not take her marriage vows seriously. Vaguely unsettled by his attitude, Diana shifted his attention from her.
    “What have you been doing these last two weeks?” she issued in mock demand. “Did you find a couple of showgirls in Reno to keep you company during the lonely nights? I’m here at the ranch with the Major to keep an eye on me, but there’s no one to watch you. You might be sowing a few last wild oats.”
    “But there is a difference, my love.” Rand kissed the tip of her nose. “How I am spending my last, precious days of bachelorhood is none of your business.”
    “Chauvinist,” Diana accused with a laugh.
    “Now you know the truth about me,” he chuckled and curved an arm around her shoulders to walk to the terminal exit. “Seriously, though, I found out yesterday that a larger apartment is available in the complex where I’m living. I mentioned to the manager that we might be interested in it. My place is rather small. I don’t want us to be rushed into buying or building a home in Carson City.”
    Diana nodded in agreement. “I wish there was time for me to see the apartment next week.”
    “Don’t worry,” Rand assured her. “The manager promised to hold it for us until we come back from our honeymoon. He owes me a few favors.”
    When they had collected his luggage from the baggage claim area, Diana directed him to the ranchstation wagon. She handed him the keys to stow his suitcases in the rear.
    “Peggy Thornton, our neighbor, gave a wedding shower for me last week,” Diana informed him. “Wait till you see all the presents! I’ll show them to you as soon as we get to the house.”
    “I’m afraid it will have to wait until later, honey,” he said, closing the rear door of the wagon and walking to the driver’s side. “I have some business calls I have to make first.”
    “But I thought you came to spend the weekend with me,” she protested.
    “I did. That’s why I’m getting these calls out of the way today.” Rand opened the door so Diana could slide under the wheel to the middle of the seat.
    “Can’t you forget business this one weekend?” she demanded with faint irritation as he sat in the driver’s seat.
    “Not if I want this trip to be a tax deduction, which I do.” He smiled and started the car. “All I have to do is talk to a couple of men at the copper mines and take them to lunch. I want you to come with me so you can get some early practice in what it’s like to be the wife of a lobbyist.”
    “Are you sure you want me to come with you? I don’t know all that much about mining,” Diana admitted.
    “Darling, you don’t have to.” He slid her a twinkling glance. “All you have to do is look beautiful, smile, and be nice to the men, flirt with them a little. You see, it isn’t going to be hard being married to me.” Rand grinned. “You should be able to do it with one hand tied behind your back.”
    “It’s a snap.” Diana was willing to do what