Dreams (Part Two) (Dreams #2)(15)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

Besides, it’s too early to start thinking of names for the baby.“

“No, it’s not. You just want to put it off because you’d rather worry about your career.“

“I understand my career better than I understand babies.“ The hum of conversation at nearby tables and the clatter of dishes made the words almost inaudible. But not quite. Colby had heard her.

“You’ll learn.“ Colby swallowed another bite of fish. “You about ready to head back to Fulbrook Comers?

We’ve spent enough time here in Portland this week. I’ve still got a book to finish this summer.“

“I haven’t even contacted my boss yet. I was going to call Aaron tomorrow.“

“You can wait until the end of the summer. That’s what you were planning to do, anyway.“

Diana was getting accustomed to Colby’s efforts to sidetrack her every time she began to fret about her career. “I’d rather settle things as soon as possible now that I know I’m pregnant. I need to know if going back to Carruthers and Yale is even a viable possibility.“

“You know it is. That Crown character has been pestering you all summer to come back to work for him.“

“Yes,“ she admitted. “You know, I think I’m going to do it, Colby. It’s the perfect solution.“

“The perfect solution is for you to stop worrying about your career until you’ve settled into marriage and motherhood.“

“Do we have to go through this again? You know how I feel about being financially dependent on a man. I made a vow a long time ago that I would never expect someone else to pay my way in life.“

“You mean you promised yourself you’d never take the risk of trusting a man to support you either financially or emotionally. That’s a bit different than saying you don’t want someone else to pay your way in this world. Yeah, I know how you feel about it.“ Colby pointed his fork at her, scowling. “You’ve made it damned clear you don’t like the idea of trusting me to take care of you. But I think it’s time you realized that you’ve carried that particular phobia to extremes.“

“Why are you so opposed to my career plans? Don’t you understand how important that part of my life is to me? I didn’t think you were a chauvinist in that regard, Colby. You know how you feel about your writing. Surely you can empathize with me.“

“It’s not a question of being chauvinistic,“ he exploded, trying to keep his voice low. “My writing is every bit as important to me as your career is to you, but I learned the hard way that there are other things in life. It’s time you learned the same lesson. You’ve been too self-contained, too focused on your job and your narrow little world for too long. It’s time to learn what it means to be a woman who’s also a wife and, soon, a mother. You’re going to broaden your horizons, lady. The amazon bit wears after a while.“

“Ill bet you never gave up a paying job while you learned about the little joys of fatherhood.“

“All right, I had to do it the hard way. That doesn’t make it the right way. Raising Brandon alone and working full-time to support him and myself was not the ideal way to handle things. I had no choice, but you do.“

An old fear twisted into life inside Diana. “Do you know what I think? I think you’re being difficult about this because deep down you aren’t sure you like the idea that I can take care of myself.“

“That’s not true, Diana.“

“It bothers you, doesn’t it? You’re just old-fashioned enough to want me to be dependent on you. It’s some kind of power trip for you, isn’t it? In this society the one who controls the money controls everything else. That’s the way it works in business, and that’s the way it works in a marriage.“

“Your ability to take care of yourself doesn’t bother me, Diana.“ Colby spoke through set teeth. “I admire it. Most of the time. What bothers me is that you’re too damned scared about what will happen to your precious independence now that you’re a wife and a mother-to-be. I’ve told you before, you’ve got new priorities now. You’re going to have to learn how to balance all of them. And you can start learning that by giving up your cast-iron bra and spear.“

“Diana.“ The masculine voice that interrupted Colby’s lecture was the carrying kind – the voice of a man who likes to draw attention to himself and knows how to do it. “I thought it was you when I saw you a few minutes ago, but I told myself no way. You’re supposed to be tucked away for the summer in some little backwater mountain town.

What are you doing back in Portland?“

Diana looked up at Aaron Crown. She would have been grateful for almost anything that managed to interrupt the argument that had developed between herself and Colby, but she wasn’t prepared to see her boss standing by the table. She took refuge in the formalities.

“Hello, Aaron. Good to see you again.“

“It’s good to see you. We’ve missed you, friend.“ Aaron gave her his most engaging smile. He was a blandly attractive man who had the sleek, corporate look down to an art. His suit had been made to measure, his tie was vaguely reminiscent of an old school that he had never attended and his shirt was definitely not a polyester-cotton blend. Aaron Crown believed in dressing for the role he wanted to play in the organization, and that role was at or near the top.

Diana realized a pause had developed in the conversation. Colby was regarding Aaron with a cold expression, and Aaron was waiting politely for introductions. Flustered, Diana hurried to make them.

“Uh, Aaron, this is Colby Savagar. Colby, this is Aaron Crown, my boss from Carruthers and Yale.“

“Her boss, huh?“ Colby shook hands perfunctorily with Aaron. “I’m her husband.“

Diana went bright pink. She cleared her throat quickly as Aaron turned to her with a look of shock on his face. “Oh, yes, right. Colby’s my husband. I forgot to mention I just got married.“ She knew from the expression in Colby’s eyes that she was going to hear about her lapse later.

“Tour husband!“ Aaron managed a belated smile. “Well, congratulations are in order, then, aren’t they? I had no idea you were even seeing anyone on a regular basis, Diana, let alone that you were contemplating marriage. Where have you been keeping Colby here?“

“In the freezer,“ Colby said.

Diana glared furiously at him. “We’ve only been married a few days,“ she explained to Aaron. “We’re both still busy adjusting to the whole idea, aren’t we, Colby?“