“Congratulations, Robyn, you said exactly the right thing,“ Diana remarked. “I’m afraid that when I first met Colby, I didn’t have the faintest idea who he was. I’d never read a horror novel in my life.“
“She still hasn’t,“ Colby put in. “She can’t seem to get more than halfway through Shock Value.“
Robyn looked astonished. “But that’s one of his best.“
“That’s right,“ Brandon said seriously, his pride in his father very obvious. “Shock Value hit all the major bestseller lists. It was Dad’s big breakthrough book.“
“Enough,“ Diana cried. “I surrender. I admit I’m culturally illiterate when it comes to horror tales. I swear I’ll finish the book, even if it scares me to death.“
“Come on,“ Colby instructed, taking Diana’s arm. “Let’s get out of here. Brandon, you and Robyn can follow me out to Aunt Jesse’s place. I’ll be with you in a few minutes. I want to talk to Diana.“
“Okay, Dad. I’ll be in the car.“ Brandon nodded toward the sleek little two-seater Mazda Colby had bought for him when he’d gone off to college.
Colby frowned at Robyn Lambert’s dancing red ponytail as the girl walked toward the car with Brandon.
“Only a nineteen-year-old looks that good in a pair of jeans,“ Diana said laconically. “But don’t get any ideas. She’
s too young for you.“
“You can say that again,“ Colby muttered. “Too young for Brandon, too. Or else he’s too young for her. I’m not sure which.“
“They both look about the same age.“
“That’s the whole problem. They’re just kids.“ He leaned against the door on the driver’s side of the Buick and wrapped his fingers lightly around Diana’s forearms. “Now about tonight.“
Specter immediately began to grumble menacingly. The dog leaned over to stick his nose through the open window, which put his teeth very close to Colby’s thigh. Colby straightened quickly and stepped away from the car.
“Stupid dog.“
Specter growled again, pleased at having made Colby move.
“Now don’t you two start calling each other names,“ Diana admonished.
“Tell him that,“ Colby advised. “Listen, I wanted to invite myself over for dinner again tonight, but it looks like I’ve got company.“
“Brandon looks a lot like you. Except for his eyes.“
“He’s got his mother’s eyes,“ Colby said impatiently.
Diana snapped her fingers. “I knew they looked familiar. Margaret Fulbrook has those eyes.“
“Probably. Honey, I don’t want to talk about Brandon’s eyes. As I said, I was going to invite myself to your place for dinner…“
“As usual?“
“Right. As usual. But now we’ll have to change our plans.“
“I wasn’t aware we had plans.“
“Diana, don’t give me that wide-eyed, fuzz-brained look. It reminds me of your dog.“ Diana grinned and, exasperated, Colby bent his head to kiss the amusement from her soft mouth. “Now, then,“ he said a moment later. “As I was saying, we’ll have to alter our plans. Come over to my place tonight. Brandon and I will fix dinner.“
“Brandon knows how to cook?“
“Sure. I taught him how to read a cookbook.“
Diana smiled quizzically. “You know something, Colby – I think you must have been a very good father.“
“Sometimes the best thing you can say about being a father is that you survived and so did the kid. How about dinner tonight?“
“How can I resist letting you cook for me again?“ She kissed him lightly. “I was very impressed last night. You were right about the Caesar salad. Best in the world.“
“Told you so. See you at five. Leave the dog at home.“
Diana did as ordered and left Specter at the cottage. He had not been thrilled with the arrangement, and shortly after arriving at Colby’s place, Diana, herself, had begun to question the wisdom of leaving the dog behind.
Specter made a great conversation piece, if nothing else, and it was obvious to Diana that the small party needed something to distract it. A definite tension was building between Colby and his son. Robyn Lambert seemed nervous.
“Perfect tacos,“ Diana said midway through the meal as conversation came to a halt. She tried a woman-to-woman smile on Robyn. “Men are so well suited to the kitchen, don’t you think?“
Robyn blinked, her gaze uncertain as she looked at Brandon. “I don’t know,“ she mumbled, nibbling on a tortilla chip.
Diana tried again. “Brandon, this salsa is just right. Hotter than a sidewalk in August. Did you make it, or did Colby?“
“Dad made it.“ Brandon gave her a small, uneasy smile and gallantly tried to follow her lead. “He likes it hot enough to set fire to the bowl.“
“Brandon made the meat filling,“ Colby said quietly as he built another taco for himself. He took his time arranging layers of meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and salsa. The words were his first in several long minutes.
“It’s wonderful,“ Diana said quickly. “Some lucky woman is going to get a terrific husband. Imagine finding one who can cook.“
Instantly she realized she had made a terrible faux pas. If the silence had weighed heavily on the table before, it was now crushing everything in sight. Robyn stared at her plate, her lower lip trembling. Brandon’s expression was unaccountably grim. And Colby just sat at the head of the table taking savage chunks out of his taco.
Diana thought about getting up and leaving then and there. She wanted no part of a Savagar family quarrel. But something about Robyn Lambert’s wounded blue eyes made her decide to stay. It wouldn’t be fair to leave the poor girl alone here with Colby and his son if real trouble was brewing.
Without warning, Brandon set his glass of cola down hard on the table. “It’s funny you should mention marriage, Miss Prentice,“ he said tightly. “The main reason Robyn and I are here is because we wanted to tell Dad we’re thinking of getting married before going back to school in the fall.“
No wonder Colby was sitting there looking as though he were about to explode. “I see,“ Diana said brightly. “How, uh, interesting.“ She could not think of anything else to say next.
“Dad doesn’t think so,“ Brandon said.