Free New Way to Fly by Margot Dalton Page A

pair of long graceful legs in white fitted slacks, delicate curving hips firmly outlined beneath the taut fabric, and a slim waist circled by a narrow gold belt.
    Amanda Walker backed out of the car, struggling with another pile of boxes, hopping on one foot and reaching the other behind her with a charming awkward motion to kick the door shut.
    She called something to Mary on the veranda and then turned to set her boxes on the hood of the car, laughing in the sunshine, glancing idly up at the hilltop where Brock was silhouetted against his bank of greenery.
    When her delicate face turned up toward him, Brock’s mouth went dry and his heart began to thunder against his worn denim shirtfront.
    This woman, this Amanda Walker was without a doubt the most desirable woman he’d ever met.
    And the most shallow and selfish, he told himself grimly, remembering their brief conversation at the wedding.
    â€œI dream about having lots and lots of money so I can own beautiful things…”
    Brock waved casually at the women, then gripped a fresh strand of wire in his pliers and pulled on it with great deliberation.
    â€œThe one woman in all the world who’s born to be my dream come true,” he told Alvin in disgust. “The only woman I’ve ever met who could make me feel that way, Alvin, turn me right inside out. And what kind of person is she? A cold self-centeredwitch. Now, is that bad luck, or bad management, or what?”
    Alvin looked up at his master with miserable dark eyes.
    Brock returned the dog’s gaze, laughing heartily in spite of himself. Alvin, in his greed, had somehow wedged his entire muzzle deep into the opening of the soup bone and was now trapped, unable to move his jaws. He pawed frantically at the confining circle of bone, struggling to pry it off.
    Brock regarded the dog’s contortions with scant sympathy. “Serves you right, you little glutton,” he muttered. “Maybe we’ll just leave that thing right where it is for a week or so and see if you can lose some weight.”
    Alvin began to run around in tight panicky circles, waving his head and making harsh guttural noises deep in his throat.
    Brock grinned and glanced down at the mound of gaily-striped boxes and bags that Amanda Walker was preparing to carry into Mary’s house.
    â€œOh, great, ” he muttered to his unhappy dog, who was still pawing urgently at the trap on his nose.
    â€œThis is just great. Poor little Mary, in the clutches of a fancy woman like that. As if Mary Gibson can afford to buy a bunch of New York clothes.”
    The bone popped suddenly free. Alvin heaved a sigh of relief, gave his master a bitter haughty glanceand began, more cautiously, to gnaw at the meaty center once more.
    Brock turned aside to grin at his dog, then looked down again, watching tensely as Mary descended the steps and approached the smiling dark-haired woman.
    Brock was concerned when he saw how ill-at-ease Mary seemed, but being human and a normal healthy male, he couldn’t help giving another appreciative glance at Amanda’s shapely curving figure in the trim slacks and shirt, the glow on her beautiful face and the way her bouncy dark hair glistened with natural iridescence, as bright as a raven’s wing in the warm autumn sunlight.
    Dear God, what a woman, he told in himself in awe, pounding staples with a shaky hand. What an incredible, unbelievable, beautiful woman. If only…
    But his thought was lost suddenly, swallowed up in sympathy for Mary.
    She was trying to get out of it, Brock realized, watching his neighbor’s fine-drawn weathered face, her shy halting gestures and awkward movements as she spoke to her glamorous visitor, then turned to wave at Brock up by the fence line.
    Dammit! Brock thought furiously. Why can’t the damned fashion woman just go away and…
    But his angry thought was cut off suddenly and he gaped in astonishment as Amanda Walker reachedout to