Diamonds and Dreams Read Free Page B

life.

 
    CHAPTER TWO

 
    “Good
grief!   Why is it so important that I be
at the pool party?” Brant tried to reason with Desi ,
who sat stiffly behind his desk.   “Can’t
you get someone else to fill in for me or let Lindsay go alone?”
    Before Desi could reply, Lindsay stood up from her chair.   “Wait a minute!   A friend I’ve disappointed too often lately
expects me to spend Saturday with her.   Attending the pool party would mean cancelling our plans…not getting a refund for reservations we already made.”
    Desi’s face
was etched with impatience.   “I want you
both to be there.   WBKB sponsors this
party, so it’s mandatory that the ‘weekend team’ be present as emcees.   You’ll both need to rearrange your
schedules.   Now, if you’ll excuse me, I
have a telephone call to make.”
    Lindsay rose
to leave and Brant followed her.   “Looks
like we’re stuck,” she muttered as soon as they stepped out of Desi’s office and into the hall.
    He
nodded.   “In this business, I guess we
must take the good with the bad.”
    “Did you
have other plans for Saturday, too?”
    “No.”
    “Then why
don’t you want to go?”
    “I can’t
swim,” he replied.   “What fun will I
have, sitting back and watching everyone else enjoying themselves as they splash around in the pool?”
    “You have a
fear of water?”
    “Sort of.   Actually, I was an excellent swimmer when I
was younger.   Then several years ago my
best buddy, Dan, and I worked together, building a bridge across a river in
Louisiana.   Dan was injured and fell into
the muddy river.   I dove in after him and
tried desperately to save him, but I was unsuccessful.”
    “I’m sorry
about your friend.   Is the reason you
can’t swim now because you were injured also during your attempt to rescue
Dan?”
    “Not exactly.   Since the accident, it’s odd, but
whenever I find myself in deep water, the horrible memories often come flooding back and my body freezes, so I can’t swim a
stroke.”
    Lindsay
lowered her head, smoothing a wrinkle in the ruffled floral print cotton dress
she wore.   “Hope the party doesn’t turn
out to be a long one.”
    “Right.   May I offer you a ride to the party?”
    “Thanks, but
I might be a little late, so I’d better drive my own car.”
    “Okay.   See you tomorrow.”
    “Goodbye,”
she called, noticing as he turned his back how neat and unrumpled his white dress pants and white and navy striped shirt were.   Most men paid scant attention to their
wardrobe, but Brant was always impeccably groomed.   Perhaps he had a special lady who took
pleasure in doing such chores for him as caring for his clothes.
    On Saturday
Lindsay easily located the recreational area of the city’s newest hotel where
the party was held.   With the warm, midday
sun and clear skies overhead, it was a perfect day for a gathering by the
pool.   Still, she regretted cancelling
her plans with Serita , her old college roommate.
    In the
ladies’ locker room she changed into a canary-colored one-piece bathing suit
that flattered her slender figure.   Then
she returned to where splashing sounds, laughter and music floated through the
air.   When she started across the
brick-paved patio where colorful urns filled with pink geraniums sat at the
pool’s edge and people reclined in chaise lounges, she heard someone whistle
loudly.
    “Lindsay!   Over here!” Brant called from where he sat at
a glass-topped, round table shaded by a royal blue and white striped umbrella.
    She saw him
rise and thought he resembled a movie star who’d been her childhood heartthrob
as he wore only bright red swimming trunks that revealed the dusting of dark
hair over his long, muscular legs and broad chest.   He appeared to be in perfect physical
condition, causing her to suspect that he was probably health-conscious and
exercised or participated often in various sports.
    He wondered
when the last time was that he’d seen a