Dreams (Part One) (Dreams #1)(30)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

“Come on, let’s see what’s going on out there. You ready to go?“

“Believe me, I have no desire to hang around here.“ She made to follow him out of the little grotto. “I will say, however, that this is probably the most unusual date I’ve ever been on in my life.“

“As a writer of horror fiction I felt I had a reputation to live up to. A guy like me can’t take his lady on plain, ordinary dates. She might begin to think he was a fraud.“

“You’ve got a point.“

She was going to handle this with her usual self-contained manner, he realized. So be it. If she didn’t want to talk about it, damned if he was going to say anything. But he realized he was now thoroughly irritated. The woman was too independent for her own good. She took on too much responsibility – accepted all the risks. Hell, he was a part of what had happened. She should be talking to him about it, not dealing with it all on her own.

He wondered for the first time if Diana had ever in her life turned to a man in a time of crisis – ever leaned on a male when the going got tough – ever asked one to share responsibility with her.

The more he got to know her, the more he doubted it. He wondered what it would take to get her to turn to him for help and comfort. Probably a full-scale natural disaster – say, an earthquake that registered around eight or nine on the scale.

Colby stepped out into the main cavern and relaxed as he saw the veil of white water roaring past the cave entrance. “We’re in luck. Sun’s out and the wind has stopped. Shouldn’t be any trouble getting down that path now.“

“I hope we haven’t caused Brandon and Robyn any worry.“

“I just hope they haven’t caused me any more worry,“ Colby retorted. “I’ve got enough problems at the moment.“

Diana gave him an odd glance but said nothing as he led her down the ledge path.

Colby dropped Diana off at her cottage, exchanged a few epithets with a disgruntled Specter, who had taken offense at having been left alone all night, and drove back to Aunt Jesse’s place. A glance at his watch showed it was only seven o’clock. Brandon was an early riser like his father, but Colby had a hunch Robyn wouldn’t have gotten out of bed yet. That suited Colby just fine. It would give him an opportunity to talk calmly to Brandon.

Maybe Diana had a point, he thought as he parked the Jeep and took the porch steps two at a time. Maybe the kid was trapped and had come looking for a way out. At nineteen, it was too damned easy for a man to get himself between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Especially when a woman was involved.

He’d back off, Colby decided resolutely. He’d try Diana’s advice. He’d give Brandon a chance to come to him – an opportunity to talk without feeling threatened. He and Brandon had always had a good relationship. Now was the time to fall back on nineteen years of a solid father-son bond.

He walked into the house and heard the door of Robyn’s room closing upstairs. A few seconds later, Brandon came ambling down the stairs toward the kitchen, yawning. He was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. He was barefoot and still busy fastening the snap of his denims.

All Colby’s good resolutions went out the window.

“If you haven’t got brains enough to keep your pants zipped around her, I hope you’ve at least got enough brains to be taking precautions.“

Brandon halted halfway down the stairs, startled. “Dad… I didn’t hear the Jeep. When did you get back? Where were you last night? We wondered what had happened.“

“Doesn’t look like you spent too much time worrying about my whereabouts.“ Colby slammed into the kitchen and filled Aunt Jesse’s old dented kettle. He set it on the stove and started to shovel instant coffee into a large mug. He was aware of Brandon standing uneasily in the doorway.

“I sort of figured you were at Diana’s,“ Brandon muttered.

Colby tried to get control of his frustrated anger. “I was with her. We got caught in the cave behind Chained Lady Falls. Had to spend the night there.“ He swung around. “Damn it, Brandon, have you got any idea of the risks you’re taking?“

“I’m probably not taking any more risks than you and Diana are taking,“ Brandon shot back.

Colby winced as memories of the night swamped him. “Are you using something?“ he asked roughly. “Or are you relying on Robyn?“

Brandon flushed. “Gees, Dad…“

“Just answer me, okay?“

“I’ve got protection. Don’t worry, we’re not taking any chances. For crying out loud, after all those books you had me read, and after all those talks you gave me on the subject, how could I forget to use something?“

“Sometimes it’s too damn easy to forget. Believe me, I know.“ The kettle began to shriek. Colby swiped it off the stove and poured boiling water into the mug. Too damn easy.

“You’re so afraid I’m going to make the same mistake you made – you can’t get past that, can you?“ Brandon asked moodily. He trooped over to the table and flung himself down in a chair.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what scares me.“

“What’s so bad about getting married at my age?“ Brandon asked.

Colby started to lose his temper all over again. Then it occurred to him that if Diana’s theory was right, his son’s question might be a legitimate opening for rational discussion, not a challenge. With great effort, he got control of his anger. “You want some coffee?“

Brandon gave him a surprised glance. “Sure.“

Colby fixed another mug of instant and carried it over to the table. He sat down across from Brandon and stared out at the bright, sunny morning for a moment. “You really want to know what’s so bad about getting married at your age?“

Brandon toyed with his mug, giving the impression he was already regretting the question. “I know it might be a little rough trying to finish school while being married, but…“

“Rough?“ Colby leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “You want to know what rough is? I’ll tell you. Rough is wondering how you’re going to pay the rent when you’ve just lost your job and you can’t get another because you don’t have any experience or fancy degrees. Rough is having to worry about a young wife who gets bored and restless after the novelty of being married wears off and she has to sit home while her girlfriends are out on dates.“