Diamonds and Dreams Read Free Page A

Brant from her mind.   Despite her rivalry with him, she had to admit that he was
fabulous-looking and possessed a pleasant, although sometimes moody,
personality as well.
    Could we ever be friends?   Perhaps, but it would hardly be wise for her to accept if he were ever
to ask her for a date.   Too many problems
could arise later to complicate things.   No matter how much she was attracted to Brant in the future, she must
keep her distance.

 
    “So she
didn’t like your idea?” Desi said to Brant, who sat
across from him in the station manager’s office.   “I figured she might not approve of entering
into a game of deception, even if it would boost the ratings.”
    “Something
about Lindsay makes her stand out from other women I’ve known,” Brant revealed
his private thoughts.
    “It’s
probably her genuine concern for others’ feelings.   Or perhaps it’s the inner strength that
complements her personality.”
    Brant leaned
back and folded his hands behind his head.   “I hope she doesn’t resent me too much now that we share the same job.”
    “Don’t worry
about Lindsay.   She’ll be a fair,
friendly rival.”
    “I wouldn’t
count on that.   After all, she’s a
woman.”
    “So?”
    “Aren’t
women born deceitful creatures?”   Like Sondra, he thought.
    “Not all of
‘ em .   Not
Lindsay.   You speak as if you’ve been
stung by the love bug.   Want to tell me
about it?”
    “Beneath
that hard crust you wear, you’re a perceptive man, Desi .   I was twenty-four years old and working a six
month stint as a morning deejay in New Orleans when I met Sondra Dailey, the
program director at the station.   Shortly
before that time, my dear mother died unexpectedly with heart failure, so I was
hurting badly then.”
    “And Sondra
was willing to comfort you?”
    “She showed
me understanding and compassion like none of the women I’d ever dated.”
    “You loved
her?”
    “I thought
so.   When I proposed and she agreed to
marry me, I felt overjoyed, but my happiness was short-lived.”
    “She broke
your heart, eh?”
    “For awhile , but I got over her.   One week before we were to wed, Sondra called long-distance from Miami
to tell me she changed her mind and reunited with her ex-boyfriend.   She already left Louisiana to be with
him.   I lost all respect for her
afterward.”
    “But just
because you had a bad experience with one woman, you shouldn’t be suspicious of
the rest.   Take Lindsay, for
example.   She and I have had our share of
squabbles, but I’ll admit she’s honest, considerate, and loyal as well as
bright and fun.   I’d trust her with my
life.”
    Brant
grinned.   “Are you trying to play
matchmaker?”
    “I won’t
have to because when you get to know Lindsay better, you won’t be able to help
liking her.”
    “Maybe I
like her a lot already, but I can’t stop remembering the disastrous effects
which resulted the last time I dared to mix business with pleasure.   Besides, in the event that you find it
necessary later to force Lindsay and me to compete for the same job, it would
be foolish for me to become further attracted to her.”
    The phone
rang suddenly and Desi excused himself before Brant
left.   Driving home to the new gray stone
condominium he recently purchased, Brant couldn’t stop thinking about Lindsay,
no matter how hard he tried.   He unlocked
the door, and then entered the pale gray living room where a massive stone
fireplace covered an entire wall.   Sitting
down on the modular sofa, he kicked off his tan leather loafers and told
himself that he couldn’t avoid tangling his life up with hers professionally.
    But at least I have control over any
personal involvement with her, he thought.
    For this he
was thankful because he chose to come to a new city and accept a challenging
job for a change of pace and a fresh beginning.   The last thing he needed was to fall in love with a woman who could
complicate his well-planned