“I told you he’s beginning to like you.“
“Sure he is.“ Colby slung his jacket on a hanger in the closet. “And if you believe that, I’ve got a nice bridge…“
Whatever he was going to say next was cut off by the ringing of the red phone on the black lacquer table near the window.
Diana walked across the gleaming hardwood floor and picked up the receiver. She stood in front of the full-length windows, admiring her precious view of the Willamette River as she spoke into the phone. “Hello?“
“Diana? This is Brandon. I’m at Dad’s apartment. Sorry to bother you two at this time of night, but I’ve been trying to get hold of Dad. Is he there?“
“He’s here. He’s busy insulting my dog, as usual. Ill get him for you. By the way, how are things going at the restaurant where you’re working?“
“Fine. I don’t think I’d want to wait tables the rest of my life, but it’s not bad for a summer job.“ There was a pause.
“I saw Robyn yesterday.“
“Did you?“ Diana’s eyes flicked to Colby’s face, and then she looked away. “Is she all right?“
“Yeah. Guess I didn’t exactly break her heart after all. She’s dating some preppy type she met at her parents’
country club.“
“What about you?“
“Me? I’ve sworn off women for at least another week.“
Diana laughed. “Ill get your father.“ She held out the phone to Colby who took it with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah, Brandon?“
Diana listened to the one-sided conversation as she slipped out of her high heels and went into the kitchen to find a snack for Specter.
“Okay, I guess that’ll work. Put one scratch on the Jeep, though, and I’ll nail your hide to an outhouse door. Right.
Well see you in the morning.“ Colby tossed the receiver back into the cradle.
“What was that all about?“ Diana asked from the kitchen.
“Brandon wants to borrow the Jeep for a few days. He and some buddies from the restaurant want to take it over to the coast and do some off-roading. We’re getting the Mazda for the week. Hell drive the Jeep up to Fulbrook Corners on his next day off and switch back.“
“Sounds complicated.“
“Teenagers and cars are always complicated.“ Colby wandered into the kitchen in time to see Specter wolfing down the last of his snack. “What’s he eating?“
“A dog biscuit. Want one?“
“No thanks. I’d rather nibble on you.“ He put his arms around her waist from behind and kissed the nape of her neck. “I’m sorry about that argument at the restaurant.“
Diana was startled by the quiet apology. She turned in his arms and hugged him. “This is a time of adjustment for both of us. After all, you may know something about raising kids, but you don’t know much more about marriage than I do. You were only married for less than a year and that was twenty years ago.“
“That’s true. I may not be the world’s, leading authority on the subject. But I’m way ahead of you. You’ve never been married in your life.“
“All you wanted this summer was an affair.“
“I wanted you,“ he corrected harshly. “I didn’t much care how I got you.“
“And I wanted you,“ she admitted. More than she’d wanted anything or anyone in her life.
“Looks like we both got what we wanted.“ His hands tightened around her waist.
“But not quite the way we had planned.“
“So we got a baby thrown in for good measure. We'll manage.“ His hands slid to her bu**ocks, and he drew her more tightly against his lean, taut body. “You know, when we come back to Portland at the end of the summer, I think I
’ll give up my apartment and move in with you. Your place is nicer than mine. More style. It suits you better than my apartment would. You’re used to being around nice things, aren’t you?“
“Only in recent years when I finally got to the point where I could afford them.“
“I can afford them, too, honey,“ he said meaningfully. Then he smiled. “The doctor said something today about getting plenty of rest. You ready to hop into bed? I’ve got some interesting ideas on how to spend the rest of the night.“
Specter growled.
Diana lifted her head and smiled. “Just as soon as you take Specter out for his evening walk.“
Colby groaned and released her. “Any objections if I accidentally lose him during our little tour around the block?“
“Shame on you. He’s just an innocent dog.“
“The hell he is.“ Colby picked up Specter’s leather lead. “If he returns without me, call the police and tell them to suspect foul play.“
Specter grinned his wolfish grin. Colby grinned back, showing just as many teeth.
Diana watched them go out the door and then she walked over to the windows to gaze out into the night.
She was in love with Colby Savagar. She had known it for some time now. But she wished desperately he had not felt obliged to marry her because of the baby. Now she would never know for certain how long their affair would have lasted, or whether it would ultimately have ended in marriage.
There was no way she would ever know for certain if Colby would have eventually fallen in love with her.
It felt good to be behind the wheel of Brandon’s sexy little two-seater. Colby took pleasure in the firm, sure glide of the gears and the responsive steering. The narrow mountain road was a challenge that both he and the car accepted eagerly.
“If you don’t slow down, my dog’s going to get carsick,“ Diana announced from the other seat. The sunroof was open and the big dog, who was scrunched into the small space behind the bucket seats, had his head stuck out through the opening.
“There’s nothing wrong with my driving,“ Colby said with a grin. “But I’ll tell you one thing, if that dog gets sick in this car, you’re going to have to explain it to Brandon.“
“I wouldn’t dare. Brandon loves this car.“
“Yeah. The kid’s a good driver. I wanted him to have a good, responsive car.“
“I don’t think I approve of fast cars and drag-race-style driving. I’ll stay with my Buick.“
“Like your mother said, sometimes you’re a real stick-in-the-mud, honey. Lucky for you I came along, or you would have spent the rest of your life with your nose to the grindstone and stuck behind the wheel of a dull four-door. By the time you were forty, you would have been so bored with yourself you’d have gone nuts. About time you learned to live a little.“