Long, Tall Texans: Calhoun by Diana Palmer Page A

moment to register. He was having trouble breathing. His body felt rigid, like drawn cord.
    He glanced at Abby. She'd moved away and the realization

    that she was trembling brought home the total shock of what he'd been about to do. Damn it, she'd knocked him for a loop without even trying. That made him mad, and so, ironically, did the fact that she'd given in so easily. It infuriated him even more that he'd been about to kiss her. He didn't want complications, damn it, and Abby was the biggest he'd ever faced. Was she vulnerable because she wanted him or just because she'd suddenly discovered that she was a woman and wanted to experiment? ___
    "We'd better get to work," he said tersely, starting the Jaguar. He drove down the path, waving to the men in the vehicle behind them. He cut off at the next dirt road, and minutes later they were at the feedlot. "Go on in. I've got to drive over to Jacobsville and talk to our attorney for a few minutes," he said as coolly as he could. That was a bald-faced lie, but he needed time to get hold of himself. He was as tense as a boy with his first woman, and he was losing his sense of humor. He didn't want Justin to see him like this and start asking embarrassing questions.
    "All right," Abby said, her voice faltering.
    He glanced at her with narrowed eyes. She'd give the show away all by herself if she went inside looking like that.
    "Nothing happened," he said shortly. "And nothing will," he added, his voice cold, "if you can manage to stop looking at me like a lovesick calf!"
    A sob tore from her throat. Her wide, hurt eyes sought his and quickly fell away. She opened the door and got out, closing it quietly behind her. She straightened and walked toward the office without looking back.
    Calhoun almost went after her. He hadn't wanted to say that to Abby, of all people, but he was off balance and terrified of what he might do to her if she kept looking at him that way. He couldn't make love to her, for God's sake. She was a child. She was his ward. Even as he told himself that, a picture formed in his mind of Abby lying on the bed with her breasts bare. He groaned and jerked the car into gear, sending it flying down the road.
    Abby didn't know how she got through the day. It was im-
    possible to act as if nothing had happened, but since Justin knew she had a hangover he didn't question her pale complexion or her unusually quiet demeanor. And Calhoun didn't come back to the office. That was a godsend. Abby didn't think she could have borne seeing him after what he'd said to her.
    "You need a diversion," Justin remarked later in the day, just about quitting time. "How about a steak in Houston? I've got to meet a man and his wife to talk about a new lot of stocker calves, and I'd hate to go alone."
    He was smiling, and Abby warmed to his gentle affection. Justin wasn't the cold creature most people thought him. He was just a sad, lonely man who should have married and had several children to spoil.
    "I'd like that very much," Abby said honestly. It would be nice to go out to dinner, especially if it meant she could avoid Calhoun. Of course, it was Saturday night. He wasn't usually home on Saturday nights anyway, but it would be so much better if she didn't have to dread seeing him.
    "Good," Justin said, rising. "We'll get away about six."
    Abby wore a soft burgundy velour dress. It had a slightly flared knee-length skirt and bishop sleeves, and a neckline that was V-shaped and not at all suggestive. She wore black accessories with it and, because it had turned cold, her heather-colored wool cape.
    "Very nice," Justin said, smiling. He had on dark evening clothes and looked elegant and sophisticated, as he always did on the rare occasions when he dressed up.
    "I could return the compliment," Abby said. She clutched her purse, sending a restless look down the hall.
    "He won't be home," Justin told her, intercepting her worried glance. "I gather the two of you had another falling-out?"
    She