Land of Enchantment Read Free Page A

still tingling through her body.
    'Are you all right?' His quiet voice seemed to come from a long way off.
    'Yes,' she breathed softly when she realized he was waiting for an answer.
    Then they were no longer alone. Rick and Connie came rushing up to them, their concern dividing itself between Diana and the white jumpsuit. Effortlessly the man lowered her to the ground with one arm. Deprived of the warmth of his body, Diana shivered as she shrugged off her employer's inquiries. Connie turned her attention to the smudge mark on the knee of the slacks. The mark was too noticeable for any further photographs, but Rick consoled Connie with the fact that he thought he had sufficient. Dianawas to return to the trailer and change.
    The man was just reining his horse to leave when Diana stepped towards him. She had to tilt her head way back in order to look up into his impassive face. Her serene features were a mockery to the tumult she was experiencing inside.
    'I want to thank you for saving me from that fall.' It was amazing how composed her voice sounded. 'I admire your expertise, Mr—?'
    'Masters. Lije Masters.' It was the first time Diana had ever seen anyone smile with their eyes. The line of his mouth never changed. The quiet respect stayed in his voice. But the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly and there was a glitter of light in the stone greyness of his eyes.
    'Thank you, Mr. Masters,' she said, feeling the warm clasp of his hand take the one she had extended to him.
    'My pleasure.' Now mockery glinted as he touched his hat and turned the horse away.
    Lije Masters. All the way back to the trailer the sound of it rolled silently on her tongue. It was an unusual name. Diana didn't recall ever hearing that first name before, but it belonged to an unusual man. She was sure that the last name was particularly apt. With his strength, he would be a 'master' as an eagle was the ruler of the skies. Diana had never been so certain of anything in her life as she was that, above all else, she wanted to see Lije Masters again.
     

 
    Chapter Two
     
    THE photography session lasted the rest of the afternoon. Diana dressed and undressed so many times that her shoulders and arms ached. The muscles around her mouth quivered from smiling so much. At every opportunity her eyes had scanned the collection of cowboys that roamed about, hoping to see the man on the blood bay horse. Once only had she seen him. It had been outside of the arena shortly after their initial meeting and he had been walking his horse towards the stable area.
    Diana had believed that he would come to watch her work. By the end of the day, she realized Lije Masters wasn't the type to join the crowd of ogling cowboys. That brought up another question. How was she going to see him again? Connie Deveronne had brought her trio of models to San Antonio for a two-day session, Thursday and Friday. Tomorrow the pictures taken would be all wrapped up and on Saturday they would be travelling back to Dallas.
    'Di, honey, you were terrific today!'
    So lost in her thoughts was she, Diana jumped as Rick threw an arm around her shoulders and hugged her close to him. That was Rick, all professional during the sessions, only to turn into a wolf after they were done. He wasn't really a wolf, Diana amended, since they were dangerous. He was probably only a wolf cub. Rick liked to come on strong because he thought it was part of his image as a photographer. It was important to him to have a beautiful girl at his side, which was probably the reason Diana steered clear of him. She disliked the fact that it was her beauty that drew people towards her.
    'Thanks for the compliment.' She smiled coolly at him as she removed his arm from around her shoulders.
    'Vanessa, Connie and myself are going out tonight for dinner and all. Haven't had a chance to ask Stella what she's doing. Why don't the two of you join us?' Rick ignored Diana's attempt to put him off.
    'It would be kind of tough