Diamonds and Dreams

by Brenda Bone

  “Are you disappointed that I did? If I’d been less dynamic, you could feel more secure about your position here if I presented no competition, right?”

  “I enjoy a challenge more than I like giving in to ugly feelings of jealousy. Envy destroys any kind of relationship.”

  He arched his eyebrow. “You impress me. Surely, I didn’t expect you to act like such a friendly rival toward me, the person who can steal your job.”

  Lindsay met his gaze directly. “You won’t steal it. If you become WBKB’s only weekend disc jockey, you’ll have earned the honor because I don’t intend to let you gain the position so easily.”

  “So, this is war? Only without the heat?” He teased her, but there was a hint of truth to his words.

  “You bet it is! May the best host win.”

  A short time later, she reached her brown brick, ranch-style house several miles east of Columbus where office buildings and paved parking lots were replaced by sweet-smelling meadows and fresh air. Lindsay sat at a table in her tiny jasmine-colored kitchen that smelled of spicy dried flower wreaths which hung on the walls and tried in vain to banish all thoughts of 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 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 bathi
ng 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 more beautiful woman. “You look terrific. Are we ready to begin? The sooner we start, the quicker we’ll finish.”

  “Yes. Let’s get the party rolling,” she replied, walking with him to the make-shift broadcast booth where he turned on a microphone and addressed the guests.

  “Welcome, everyone! I’m Brant Diamond of WBKB, Columbus’ leading rock station. My partner, Lindsay Blair, and I are glad you could join us today for some fun in the sun. We have exciting contests with great prizes planned for you, so here’s Lindsay to tell you about these activities.”

  Clearing her throat, she accepted the microphone from him and smiled as the audience applauded. “Thank you. We’re here to see that everyone has fun, so we have swimming races and diving contests planned, and of course, lots of free refreshments for you. Brant and I will play the top twenty songs from this past week while you enjoy yourselves.”

  She proceeded to introduce the hotel manager and members of his staff since Desi arranged for some of these people to serve as contest judges. After a brief explanation of the rules, she blew a whistle as the signal to begin the relay races. Swimmers smoothly cut through the water, quickly reaching the far end and splashing their way back to tag the next swimmer on their team.

  “Don’t look now, but there’s a spy watching us from among the crowd,” Brant whispered, leaning so close to Lindsay that their shoulders brushed each other.

  “What?” She couldn’t be sure if was serious.

  Brant continued to speak in a hushed tone. “See the blonde-haired guy with the beard? The one wearing denim cut-offs and a pale blue muscle shirt. That’s Mike MacDonald, one of the hosts from WQXL. He’s probably here to check us out…probably wants to see if we’ll be stiff competition for him.”

  “For a newcomer, you seem to know a lot about Columbus and its people. How long have you lived here?”

  “Two months. I met Mike a few weeks ago when I applied for a job at WQXL, but there were no openings there, so I came to WBKB.”

  “If I were you, I wouldn’t tell Desi that your first choice was WQXL.”

  “Why?” he asked, confused.

  “WQXL is WBKB’s biggest rival station. Desi regularly wages a ratings war with the folks at WQXL since they’re the only other station that plays the kind of rock music WBKB does.”

  “Hmm,” he murmured thoughtfully. “Thanks for the tip.”

  “Sure.” Why did she get the funny feeling that she just outsmarted herself by the admonition to Brant?

  Watching the swimmers frolic in the oval-shaped pool, Lindsay yearned to take a dip in the inviting water that offered a cooling respite from the blistering heat. Yet she resisted the temptation and remained near Brant so that he wouldn’t feel out of place or uncomfortable.

  He guessed what she did and refused to let her pity him. “Don’t stay here on my account. If you want to swim, go ahead. We have time until we need to make more announcements. We don’t have to monitor the rest of the music since it’s all pre-recorded to play consecutively, so you have a little time for yourself; use it.”

  “I prefer to work on my suntan.” She spread a long pink towel on the grassy area nearby.

  The muscular lifeguard with sun-bleached hair sounded a buzzer before he announced through a megaphone, “Ten minute rest break. Everyone, out of the pool!”

  Reluctant swimmers complied, leaving the pool to relax in wooden chairs on the patio. Others stretched out on the fresh-smelling clover while even more headed for the concession stand. The lifeguard climbed down from his post and disappeared inside a small red-brick building with a sign on the door that read: EMPLOYEES ONLY. Rising, Lindsay decided to escape the crowd and join Brant, who said “hello” to a group of people at the far end of the pool.

  Mike MacDonald started to pass by them, but slipped on the wet concrete and fell against Brant. A loud splash pierced through the air as Brant lost his balance and tumbled over the edge at the water’s deep end. Immediately large ripples formed on the shimmering surface.

  Panic swept through Lindsay and in seconds she inhaled, plunging in after him. Please, let him be all right, she prayed silently as she swam in strong, even strokes toward him.

  She reached him quickly, and grasping his arm around her shoulder, managed to push his head above the water only to see him sink below it once more as she suddenly lost her grip on him. Kicking with all her strength, she forced his face above the surface again. This time she felt relief when he sputtered and coughed up water that he swallowed. She tried dragging him to the side, but he struggled to break free.

  “Get away, Lindsay! What are you trying to do—drown us both?” he shouted.

  “I was only trying to help.” She was soaking wet as she stepped out of the pool. “I didn’t know if you could make it on your own.”

  “You over-reacted and didn’t give me a chance to get out on my own.”

  Frustrated, he climbed over the rim of the pool and tried to ignore the curious stares directed his way. Nagging doubts plagued him. Could he have saved himself? He really didn’t know since Lindsay pushed his head above the water before he had time to think rationally. And did Mike MacDonald, who was nowhere in sight now, shove him into the pool on purpose to try and make a fool out of him? Did he use his cell phone to snap pictures? Perhaps he planned to release the awkward photos to the public to further humiliate Brant.

  Lindsay’s blood boiled over Brant pretending that she made a spectacle of herself with the dramatic rescue scene. “Honestly, Brant, I thought you were in danger. You told me you couldn’t swim.”

  “And were you so concerned about my safety that you dove into the pool to rescue me before you even waited to see if I came out by myself?” He reached for a towel and dried off.

  “Well—yes.”

  Scowling, he wondered if her motive was sincere or a devious reaction on her part to ingratiate herself. “Is the real reason you acted so quickly because you care about my well-being or because my awkward moment gave you an opportunity to score a few points with our many listeners here?”

  Resentment flared within her. “How can you doubt my intentions when I may have just saved your life?”

  “Because I’m sure our audience was impressed by your heroic deed,” he pointed out. “Since you and I could easily compete in a popularity contest soon, it’s always nice to have the advantage in such a situation.”

  “That thought never entered my mind when I saw you get shoved into the water.” She began to raise her voice. “I expected you to be glad I came to your aid.”

  “I am.” He looked away from her. “It’s just that I…”

  “Your pride won’t allow you to admit that there might be a real possibility that you could’ve drowned? That’s it, isn’t it?”

  “You’re impossible,” he grumbled before walking away.

  How did she know exactly what bothered him? The fact that this woman he met only recently possessed the ability to fathom his innermost thoughts irritated Brant even more. Gloomily he strutted toward the refreshment stand where he ordered a cold drink. Although the soft drink was sweet, only a sour taste remained in his mouth after he sw
allowed, so he poured the rest of the liquid onto the ground and tossed the plastic cup into the trash can.

  Glancing at Lindsay, who sat on a beach towel as she applied sun tanning lotion onto her slender body, he frowned. Is she my friend or enemy? Only time would answer the question that tormented him like a nagging mosquito.

  Lindsay wanted to trust Brant, but couldn’t…not yet…not fully. Would he resent her no matter how nice she treated him simply because they both wanted to keep the same job? And did Mike MacDonald arrange for him to fall into the pool on purpose, or had it been an accident? Mike’s sudden disappearance afterward led her to suspect that the incident might have been planned. She reminded herself that if Mike was childish enough to strike out at Brant because he presented competition, then the rival deejay might also try to scheme against her since she and Brant were on the same team. In the future, she’d have to keep her best guard up, at least until the current ratings war ended.

  CHAPTER THREE

  I’ll show him who’s best at this job, Lindsay thought, watching Brant greet a group of teenage girls clad in bright bikinis. And I won’t need to resort to unscrupulous tactics like the one he accused me of either.

  Remembering that Desi asked for volunteers to do additional work, such as interviews and taping commercials, she decided to enlist on her own accord. If she were to prove to Brant, and to herself, that she was the most qualified radio personality, she would have to work harder than ever. That was exactly what she planned to do. Meanwhile, since they’d work closely with each other, cooperation would be her best course of action.

  Joining Brant, she said, “I’d like to talk with you later.”

  Curious, he replied, “Sure, but I have a few errands to run after I leave here. Why don’t we talk over dinner?”

  “Fine,” she accepted his invitation. “Where shall I meet you?”

  “There’s no use in both of us driving. I’ll pick you up at your place around five-thirty.”

  “Okay. My address is 939 Brooksong Lane.”

  As soon as she arrived home, Lindsay headed for the pink and blue floral-striped bedroom where she slept and displayed her favorite porcelain pieces. A cool, invigorating shower left her feeling much better. She shampooed her long hair, the color of moonlight, and then quickly toweled herself dry before she began the task of combing the tangles from her shoulder-length tresses. In a few minutes she brushed her hair into place and put on fresh undergarments before she slipped on a sky blue pants outfit with a frilly white lace blouse and high-heeled white leather shoes with open toes. She took special care with her appearance while she tried convincing herself that Brant was not the only reason for doing this. As a finishing touch, she opened a bottle and dabbed her favorite Carolina Herrera floral-scented perfume on her purse. Then she dabbed a little fragrance at the tip of her nose so that she, along with others, could enjoy the sweet, heady aroma.