Diana looked up from popping another tidbit between Specter’s huge jaws. “I can’t take too much of it at a time,“
she said honestly. “It scares me to death.“
Colby shrugged. “Probably because you’ve never read much horror fiction before.“
“I’ll admit it’s not my first choice of reading material. After finishing half of Shock Value, though, I now know why I’ve had the good sense to avoid the horror genre all these years. Your stuff gives me nightmares if I read it right before going to bed, Colby.“
“I guess I can take some pride in that,“ he replied smoothly. “Scaring people is what I get paid to do.“
Diana frowned. “How can you write that kind of thing? Doesn’t it bother you? Don’t you frighten yourself with your own fantasies?“
“When my fantasies succeed in scaring me, I know the writing is going well.“
Diana shook her head, aware of a curious sense of frustration. “I doubt if I’ll ever completely understand how your mind works.“
“Is that a problem?“ Colby asked softly. He leaned back in his chair, stretched out his legs under the table and swallowed the last of his wine. His gaze was sharp and questioning under half-lowered lashes. “Is that why we’re playing this look-but-don’t-touch game? You’re trying to figure out how my mind works before you’ll let me take you to bed?“
Diana became very still. Under her palm Specter came to attention. The dog glared at Colby with accusing eyes as if daring him to make any further offensive moves.
“I wasn’t aware we were playing a game,“ Diana said, mustering the sort of composure that had always served her well in the business world. “I thought we were becoming friends. If you feel I’m playing games, perhaps you’d prefer to leave.“
Specter didn’t growl, but his lips retracted just far enough to show his teeth.
Colby glanced down at the dog and then back at Diana. “Forget it,“ he said, sounding half-amused. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. But I’m not going to let you off the hook, either, you know damned well you’ve been doing your best to keep me dangling since the first day we met. You let me get just so far and no farther.“
Diana surveyed him, rapidly growing annoyed. “I see. You’re not interested in developing a friendship, then? You’
ve been inviting yourself over for dinner several times a week because you’re restless and bored? You think things might be a little more amusing here in Fulbrook Corners this summer if you had a convenient bed partner?“
Colby eyed her for a long moment. “For the record,“ he finally said carefully, “I have never found Fulbrook Corners amusing, with or without a bedmate.“
Diana flushed, sensing the savage intensity behind the words. “Then why did you come back here after being away for nearly twenty years?“
Colby leaned forward and folded his arms on the table. “I’ve already explained why I’m here. I have to make a decision about what to do with Aunt Jesse’s house, and I needed a quiet place to finish Blood Mist. I decided to kill a couple of birds with one stone this summer.“
“I think there’s more to it than that.“
Colby shook his head slowly. “You can think whatever you like. But I’m warning you, Diana. I have no intention of letting you entertain yourself this summer by trying to see what makes me tick.“
“No problem,“ she retorted. “I’m sure I can find better things to do with my time, anyway. I’ve told you I’ve got some major career decisions to make this summer and I will no doubt be much better off if I concentrate on them instead of on you. Let’s just call it quits here and now. We both made a mistake. Our judgment was off. It happens, even at our ages.“ Her smile was all challenge as she got to her feet and began collecting the dishes. “Dessert?“
“Yeah, I’ll take dessert.“ Colby’s voice was a low growl as he surged to his feet directly in Diana’s path. He reached for her, pulling her roughly into his arms.
“Colby.“ She spread her fingers across his chest as she fell against him. Her eyes flashed with anger.
Specter gave a fierce, disapproving whine as Diana struggled to find her balance.
“Call off your dog,“ Colby ordered, his mouth hovering an inch above Diana’s.
“Why should I? He’s only trying to protect me.“
“You don’t need protection from me. You can take care of yourself. Tell him to get lost.“
Diana hesitated momentarily, dazed by the implied threats, both human and canine, that seemed to cloud the air around her. Then common sense took hold.
“Easy, Specter,“ she said firmly. “That’s a good boy. Go lie down, Specter. Everything is fine. Go on, boy. Lie down.“
The big dog looked unconvinced. He studied his mistress as she stood locked in Colby’s embrace. Then the animal swung a deeply suspicious gaze on Colby.
“Go on,“ Colby said. “You heard the lady. Go lie down. I’m not going to hurt her.“
With one last, complaining growl, Specter turned reluctantly and slunk off toward the corner of the room.
There he obediently settled down, but he didn’t take his eyes off Diana.
“You’re making him nervous,“ Diana said. “You’re also making me nervous.“
“We’re even. You’ve been driving me crazy for the past few weeks.“ Colby slid his fingers into her hair, tugging the tawny mass free of its knot. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,“ he added in satisfaction as Diana’s hair tumbled down over his hands. He bent his head as he used his thumbs to tip up her chin.
Diana was suddenly breathless. The dark, mysterious fate she had been tempting for a month had finally cornered her. After putting off the inevitable for so long, she was awash with a reckless desire to surrender to it, to experience it completely.
Colby groaned as Diana lifted her arms to encircle his neck. “That’s it, honey. Now you’re catching on. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. Why the hell have you been so damned stubborn and elusive this past month?“ His mouth came down on hers with swift eagerness, and he crushed her against the lean, taut length of him.
The kiss was exactly what she’d been expecting and yet stunningly unexpected. The intimate caress was exotic, almost alien, yet the most natural thing in the world.