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."He leaned closer, as if pulled by an unseen hand.Jessica, too, felt herself swaying into him.She might have been a stringed instrument strummed by amaster."It's okay, Jessica." He felt the trembling that went through her body, the warring emotions that were inher."The day isn't ruined.There's no need for you to feel threatened.I'll keep a respectful distance.Thatway we won't be led directly into temptation.It's not going to be easy, though, when we cued in to eachother on sight.But what the hell!" He winced and moved away from her."Shall we call a truce?" Hisvoice had more than a lick of mockery in it."I've no choice," she answered, still fumbling with her shirt."My job is at stake.""Dad's your boss.Not me." He shrugged, watching her.Then said, "You do realize you've forgotten yourbra.I know how you like to be modest.""What? Oh, blast!" It came out in a staccato burst."Why don't you just leave it off?" he suggested, plucking the scrap of polyester and lace off the bushwhere it had landed."You're in no further danger from lustful old me." He twirled the undergarmentaround his finger."This'll fit neatly in my pocket.""Why don't you just give it to me?" Her green eyes flashed as she stretched out a hand."In the old days a lady, if she were romantic, allowed an admirer to keep her handkerchief."file:///E|/My%20Library/books/ROMANCE/margaret%20wa.tback/2%20the%20cattleman%20TXT/the%20cattleman.txt (75 of 132)11/05/2010 14:37:51 file:///E|/My%20Library/books/ROMANCE/margaret%20way/men%20of%20the%20outback/2%20the%20cattleman%20TXT/the%20cattleman.txtJessica snatched the bra from his finger and stuffed it in her pocket."Well, I don't have a handkerchiefon me right now," she said jaggedly.His blue eyes burned into her."Despite that feisty rebuff I'll be seeing you in my dreams.Tonight,Jessica.I have to tell you, I think you'll be seeing me in yours."Arrogant bastard!It was Molly who took the news that B.B.and Robyn would be returning at the end of the week."All good things come to an end," Lavinia lamented."I do so love it when they're not here."Jessica had to throw off her fluctuating moods and get motivated.Because there was no time to make thetrip to Darwin, all the art supplies she'd ordered had been flown in.She had Cyrus to thank for that, butwhen they came together, the atmosphere between them was so far removed from companionable shenever did get a thankyou out.She had no excuse now for not creating a whole portfolio of sketchesenhanced by a sensitive wash of watercolors.The last thing she wanted was strong color.The vastlandscape was ablaze with it.For the interior she wanted a cool tranquillity.Pristine white with accentsof aqua, turquoise, harmonizing greens and maybe a shot of Fuchsia-pink in the huge living room.Sheand Brett had discussed antiques, rugs and artwork over the phone.She had the large, well-equippedoffice at her disposal, and ernails and faxes were going back and forth daily.Brett had vetted most of herproposals coming up with some excellent suggestions of his own, which was something she had countedon.Everything was going well.It was a great comfort to know her clever uncle had such confidence inher judgment.Lavinia took great interest in what Jessica was doing, poring over the sketched interiors brought to lifeby watercolors."There's some marvelous stuff Robyn had stored away," she told Jessica, frowning."You should get over to the old servants' quarters and have a look while you can.It's a very interestingplace.Haunted, of course, but that's not going to worry you.Once Broderick and Robyn get back, they'llbe following your every move.Robyn is terribly jealous and it shows.I remember some priceless things,Persian rugs, big rugs, dear.None of your little silk prayer rugs.Incredibly beautiful, glorious colors andpatterns, a couple of floral Herats of the Isfahan type.Deborah knew how to display things.Coromandelscreens, porcelains, furniture and paintings galore.Lovely mirrors in gilt frames.Robyn didn't evenleave them up-she has no taste whatever, but I'm fascinated by your vision.It's most sophisticated,Moira, very polished.I had no idea you were such a wonderful drawer.Exciting things going on! We'llleave these out, shall we?" She indicated the many sketches spread out all over the table."Cy will wantto see them when he comes in.It's so wonderful to see the pair of you together.But don't forget.The twoof you have to face Broderick when he gets home." She leaned forward and chucked Jessica under thechin.Talking with Lavinia was like being detached from reality.Towards late afternoon on the Wednesday, Jessica decided to take a great leap into the unknown.Sheknew the old servants' quarters were locked, but only ten minutes before Lavinia had crept up on her asshe was working, dangling something hard and cold against her cheek."Oh, goodness!" Jessica gave a start, not knowing anyone was there."Sorry, dear, did I startle you?" Lavinia asked, gentleness surging into her voice."This will solve theproblem of how to get in." She twirled the large brass key, blinking coyly."I found it in Broderick'sstudy.I actually stole it.Oops.Did I really say that?""Yes, Miss Lavinia, you did, you brazen thing! Mr.Bannerman probably doesn't want anyone to go in."file:///E|/My%20Library/books/ROMANCE/margaret%20wa.tback/2%20the%20cattleman%20TXT/the%20cattleman.txt (76 of 132)11/05/2010 14:37:51 file:///E|/My%20Library/books/ROMANCE/margaret%20way/men%20of%20the%20outback/2%20the%20cattleman%20TXT/the%20cattleman.txt"I don't care a fig for what Broderick wants," Lavinia snorted, drawing the gypsy shawl that topped offher Carmen costume around herself.It reeked of naphthalene, but it went wonderfully with all the goldmedallions hanging around her neck.She passed Jessica the key."Now push off," she said behind herhand as though someone was hiding behind the curtain."I'd come and help you, only dust affects mysinuses.Don't say anything to Cy," she warned."What's biting you two, anyhow? The air sizzles whenyou're together." Her voice dripped with interest."Nothing," Jessica assured her."Cy likes to bait me, that's all.""Works both ways, dear," Lavinia chortled."You know, Cy hated what his father let Robyn do to thehouse.You never saw a boy love his mother so much.Broderick, of course, was jealous of his own son,even in those days.He craved all Deborah's attention, but she was a mother who loved her son.Amother, I think, before a wife.Broderick couldn't take that.He's such an extreme person."Jessica wasn't about to argue with that.Inside the storeoom, it took a while for her vision to adjust to the gloom after the brilliant sunlightoutside.She had never done anything like this in her life before.In truth, she could have been about toopen a Pandora's box, so nervous did she feel.Why hadn't she waited for B.B.to come home and askpermission? To answer her own question, she wouldn't get it.She couldn't for the life of her think of himas Broderick, and calling him that was a jarring note.If a man, however rich and powerful, was startingto develop warm feelings toward her, she'd have to start praying those feelings would fizzle out.She hadno ambition whatever to become a rich man's trophy wife, even if he covered her in diamonds, rubiesand pearls.It was so embarrassing and so totally unforeseen she couldn't bring herself to tell Brett.There were several rooms, she discovered
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