Dare to Dream

by Modean Moon

  "So it would appear," he answered in clipped tones.

  He remained silent as he walked her to her door, took the key from her, and pushed the door open. She hesitated as he handed her the key, knowing he shouldn't come in but not wanting him to leave while what she read as anger still tensed his body.

  "Go in the house, Dani," he said coldly.

  She put a tentative hand on his arm but made no move to enter the apartment. He stared down at her hand before meeting the question she knew was in her eyes. She knew in that moment that he would not answer it, and her hand tightened on his arm.

  "Oh, damn," he moaned as he clutched her to him. He crushed his mouth against hers, and his arms forced the breath from her as he pressed her against him. She endured his violence as his mouth plundered hers, sensing a pain in him that had nothing to do with her.

  Abruptly he released her, leaving her leaning limply against the wall for support. "I told you to go in the house," he said raggedly.

  She looked into his eyes and saw a glimmer of the pain she had sensed, and something else. Was that regret reflected in their green depths? Whatever it was, she knew that she couldn't let him leave with the anger he still felt.

  With one slender finger she traced the line of his jaw.

  "Not this way," she whispered. She caught his face between her hands, holding him still, stretched upward and placed her lips on his, moving gently, tenderly against his mouth. A shudder ran through him before he folded his arms around her and his mouth softened against hers, returning her tenderness.

  With a deep sigh she pulled away from him and then leaned against him, leaving her hands resting on his chest as she listened to the thud of his heart beneath her cheek.

  "Now," she said with only a slight quaver in her voice, "I think I'd better go in the house."

  He held onto her arms as he pulled away from her and studied her face. "See you tomorrow?" he asked.

  Wishing with all her heart that she had the courage to ask him to stay with her now, she hesitated before answering, and his hands tightened on her arms. Words deserted her. She managed to smile at him and to nod her head in agreement. He didn't return the smile, but he did brush a kiss across her forehead before turning her and pushing her toward the open door.

  "If I didn't know you better, D.J.," Marcie said as she entered Dani's office and caught her absently staring out the window while the melody of Cole Porter's "Night and Day" whispered through her mind, "I'd say I was looking at a woman who's falling in love."

  Dani snapped out of her reverie and jerked upright in her chair. "Don't be ridiculous, Marcie. Just because I've gone out with a man a few times, it doesn't necessarily mean—" She broke off when she saw Marcie's broad grin. "I am acting kind of silly, aren't I? Staring out the window and jumping when the phone rings. It's just that it's been so long since I had any kind of life outside this office."

  "Hey," Marcie interrupted, "I think it's great, and it's certainly been easier on me since you stopped working sixteen hours a day."

  "Speaking of work," Dani gave a soft chuckle, "what brought you out of your dungeon?"

  "Chet Davis," Marcie told her. "He asked if you'd have time to see him this afternoon. Do you want me to set up a time for him?"

  "No." Dani closed the unread folder on her desk.

  "I'm not getting anything done here. I think I'll just go on down to his office."

  A wraith of a young woman with vulnerable gray eyes looked up guiltily from a folder, stifling what suspiciously resembled a yawn as Dani entered Chet's outer office.

  "Miss Simms," she said, "I… We…"

  "You're Robyn, aren't you?" Dani asked gently.

  She nodded.

  "If Chet is such a slave driver that he's worn you down already, it's no wonder he can't keep a secretary," Dani teased in a light voice, sensing her embarrassment.

  "Oh, no," Robyn stammered. "Mr. Davis is a wonderful boss." She flushed a bright red and dropped her glance to the folder on her desk. "It's just that I had a late date last night."

  Having had a few late nights herself, Dani smiled sympathetically at the girl. "I know the feeling."

  "D.J.!" Chet said as he stuck his head around the partially opened door. "What brings you to the catacombs? Come on in."

  Raising an inquisitive eyebrow, Dani entered his office and crossed to the window, looking out over the city. "I'd hardly call the fifteenth floor the catacombs, Chet," she said dryly. "Although," she added, grimacing as she studied the stacks of folders on every available surface, "if you keep at it for a few more months, you probably will have a giant maze in this room."

  He laughed good-naturedly and settled himself behind his desk. "Make yourself comfortable."

  She scooted a stack of folders to one side and perched on the credenza in front of the window. "Is Robyn going to be allowed to make any headway in this mess?" she drawled, "or are you going to chase her off before she has a chance to get it straightened out?"

  "Robyn is the reason for this mess," he said, chuckling. "She convinced me my filing system was 'antiquated' and is now in the process of making my office as organized as the rest of the firm."

  Dani gave a low whistle of appreciation. "If she can do that, you have found yourself a jewel."

  "Yes. If I can just keep her."

  "Problems already?"

  "Not really," he said. "She wants to be a paralegal, and she's certainly bright enough, and ambitious enough, even though she is awfully young." He smiled grimly. "I'm going to have to recommend that we give her some tuition assistance just as soon—"

  "As soon as she gets your files straightened out?" Dani said, laughing.

  "That, too, and as soon as I'm convinced that this new boyfriend of hers isn't going to drag her off to Glenpool or Broken Arrow to start raising babies instead of pursuing a career."

  "Poor Chet." Dani clucked in sympathy. "Either way, you'll be back in total disorganization within two weeks." Her eyes flashed with a delighted gleam. "But you can't have Marcie."

  His laugh boomed through the room. "I knew you'd say that. That's why I didn't bother to ask." He picked the stub of a cigar from his ashtray and relit it. "But I do want to talk about Marcie. It's time for her annual evaluation."

  "Already?" Dani asked. "It seems that it was just a few months ago that we went through this."

  "No. That was the merit raise you recommended for her. Any problems?"

  "You've got to be kidding. She keeps me organized. She gets my work out on time, she keeps her mouth shut about our clients, she pampers me, and even feeds my ego. No, I don't have any problems, Chet. In fact, she's so blasted competent that I sometimes wonder if she couldn't run things without me."

  Dani twisted sideways on the credenza toward him, stricken by a disturbing thought. "Oh, Chet."

  "What's the matter, D.J.?"

  Dani massaged the back of her neck with one hand and studied the floor for a moment before speaking.

  "With training, she wouldn't need me," she said finally. "I've felt so lucky to have her as a secretary, I never considered that she might want more of a career."

  "Do you want me to recommend her for a promotion?"

  "No." Dani shook her head slowly. "No. Not until I've talked to her. In the meantime, give her the raise she's earned, write up her annual report with lots of superlatives, and I'll be back in a couple of days to sign it."

  Marcie, a slight frown on her face, was just hanging up the telephone when Dani stepped into her alcove.

  "Trouble?" Dani asked.

  "Not for us," Marcie said and sniffed. "Honestly, I don't know how those people at Win-Tech keep track of anything. That was Gene Speer from legal, calling me up to chew us out because they hadn't gotten their Creek County drilling opinion."

  "What?" Dani demanded.

  "That's what I said," Marcie told her. "I couriered that thing over to them, along with their abstracts, two weeks ago, but he wouldn't believe me until I pulled the receipt and read
him the date and his secretary's name. Now he wants a copy of the opinion and the receipt." A smile broke across her face. "Oh, well," she said as she spread the prongs of the file folder and extracted the needed papers. "It could be worse. I could be his secretary."

  "Marcie?" Dani was reluctant to say anything further, but it wouldn't be fair to the girl not to.

  "Yes, D.J.?"

  "Come into my office for a minute," she said slowly. "I need to talk to you."

  Dani closed the hall door behind them and, instead of going to her desk, sat in the. second visitor's chair, next to Marcie.

  "You're very good at your job," she began hesitantly, "but I wonder if you're satisfied with what you're doing."

  "Is there something I should know?" Marcie asked. She studied Dani intently, puzzlement clouding her normally open countenance.

  "No," Dani reassured her. "It's just that it was brought home to me this afternoon that you have the ability to do more than transcribe my dictation. You've picked up enough knowledge that you could probably fill a paralegal slot right now, and if you wanted to continue your education, you wouldn't have any trouble with law school." Dani paused, troubled, trying to find words to ask Marcie if she wanted to be promoted.

  Marcie's delighted laughter pealed through the room.

  "I hope you're not trying to kick me up the corporate ladder," she said, still laughing, "because I won't let you."

  Now it was Dani's turn to wear a puzzled frown.

  "Look," Marcie told her, "I'm not a career woman; I'm just a housewife who needs a second income. And as long as I have to work, I'm happy working with you. I couldn't take the pressure you're under. Joe couldn't take it either. He's the most important thing in my world right now—not a promotion, not more money, and certainly not more responsibility that would cut into my time with him. Besides"—Marcie paused, nibbling on her lip—"I wasn't going to say anything for a while, but I don't know how much longer I'll be working."

  Marcie walked to the window and looked down at the street.

  "Joe isn't being transferred, is he?" Dani asked.

  "No. He's traveling more than I like, but he's not being transferred." Marcie took a deep breath and turned to face Dani. A smile transformed her face. "I'm going to have a baby. That's why my doctor's appointment was so important last week."

  Dani felt as though a lead weight had wedged itself in the back of her throat, pressing her down and backward, as she looked at the woman across the room. Marcie radiated joy as she stood outlined against the window. How could she tolerate watching such happiness, being constantly reminded…

  She forced herself to smile, to appear pleased, to speak.

  "That's wonderful."

  "Yes." Marcie giggled once and then became serious. "D.J., I may not be able to quit work, but if I do, I'll help you choose my replacement, and I'll train her so well you won't even notice I'm gone."

  Dani made a noise that should have been a laugh before she walked across the room and embraced the younger woman. "You've worked some miracles around here, Marcie," she said as she released her, "but I don't think even you are capable of doing that. I'll miss you."

  She turned to her desk before Marcie could see how upset she was. "It's Friday," she said in a voice far brighter than she felt. "Why don't you give that Win-Tech mess to one of the couriers and then get out of here. Surprise Joe by beating him home for a change."

  After Marcie left, Dani gripped the desk. "Won't even notice she's gone?" she whispered. Damn it! She knew better than to let herself care for someone, but the quiet friendship she felt for Marcie had developed so subtly that she hadn't even realized it was happening until it was full-blown and already a part of her life.

  Dani remained subdued through dinner. Nick's best efforts merely evoked a halfhearted attempt at laughter from her. When she pleaded not feeling well, he took her home early, held her in the warmth of his arms for a moment, and then left her.

  The next day, though, he refused to allow her any excuse.

  "I don't know what's put you in this foul mood, but it's too perfect a day for anyone to be depressed. Put on your walking shoes," he demanded, "and grab a jacket and a scarf."

  Dani suppressed a smile as she did what he told her. Someday she was going to have to have a talk with him about being so autocratic, but for now she didn't mind having someone telling her what to do.

  The late morning bore all the promise of springtime. Across the courtyard, a maintenance man pushed a lawnmower, and the scent of fresh cut grass wafted through the air. Dani paused on the sidewalk, enjoying the warm breeze caressing her face, as she searched the parking area.

  "What are you looking fort" Nick asked as he slipped his arm around her shoulder.

  "Your car. Where did you have to park today?"

  He grinned as he led her a few spaces and opened the passenger door of a sky blue Mercedes convertible.

  "Your chariot, milady."

  She sank into the leather seat and stretched her legs out in front of her, casting an appreciative glance around the interior of the car. When Nick slid into the driver's seat, she cocked an eyebrow at him but said nothing.

  "This is strictly my fair-weather car," he said, answering her unspoken question. "I only bring it out when I can enjoy it the way it ought to be enjoyed." He turned the key and the engine purred to life. "You'd better tie on that scarf," he reminded her as he backed from the parking space.

  She needed the light jacket he had told her to bring, for the mid-April air, though warm, still carried a hint of winter into the open car as Nick guided it through the system of multilane highways looping and crossing the city, accelerating until the breeze whipped at their faces, bringing a glow to Dani's cheeks and finally a laugh to her throat.

  He turned off the highway and slowed to a more se-date pace as he followed the gently curving Riverside Drive along the same route Dani had taken to work the day she met him. This time, however, she allowed herself the luxury of truly enjoying the drive.

  The first wave of spring flowers had passed its prime. Bright yellow forsythia, vivid pink Japanese quince, and equally showy redbud still reminded by scattered blossoms of their earlier glory, but dogwood abounded, as did iris in a palette of colors from palest mauve to intense royal purple. Dani drank in the beauty of the morning, absorbing impressions of nature's awakening as well as impressions of joggers along the paths, and of the covert glances from the persons they passed. At some point she became aware of the picture she and Nick must be presenting as they sped along—that of a laughing, handsome couple without a care in the world. Why not? she wondered defiantly. If only for an hour, she would forget everything except enjoying what the day, and Nick, brought her.

  She touched his cheek and when he turned to look at her she said simply, "Thank you."

  He caught her hand and held it against his cheek as his answering smile played across his face. "My pleasure."

  He whipped across the street and into a parking place near the overlook. Wordlessly, she joined him at the front of the car and hand in hand they wandered across the narrow park and down the levels of artificial embankment until they stood at the river's edge, wavelets lapping at their toes.

  "Keystone is full," Nick said, mentioning the lake created by damning the river farther to the west.

  "Mmm." Dani leaned against a piling and watched a solitary gull dipping down over the water.

  "Do you sail?"

  "No," Dani murmured, engrossed in the beauty of the day and the play of light across the broad expanse of river.

  Nick retrieved a pebble from near his feet and skimmed it across the water. "I'll have to teach you. I think you'd enjoy it."

  "I think I probably would," Dani admitted. "I've always felt the call of water. It seems, somehow, emotionally cleansing."

  Nick skimmed another pebble across the water before turning toward her, a question in his eyes. "Dani—"

  "Mommy!" The child's high-pitched wail paralyzed Dani for a
moment, until she forced herself to turn toward the sound. On the level above them stood a little girl, silver hair clouding her face, a vision in pink corduroy, and utterly terrified. "Mommy!" she screamed again before running toward the steps. The child's foot slipped, and she slithered on hands and knees across the rough surface of the terrace.

  Dani whirled and scrambled up the steps to her, kneeling beside her almost as the child stopped sliding.

  "Ssh, baby, it's all right," she crooned as she gathered the little girl to her. "It's all right. We'll find your mommy."

  She jerked the scarf from her neck and began drying the child's tears, murmuring soft words to the girl until her sobs eased and the child looked up at her, a tremulous smile on her streaked face. Only then was Dani aware of Nick beside her, holding out his handkerchief, which, while she had been busy with the child, he had managed to dampen.

  "Let's see those hands now." Dani teased the little girl until she opened her fists for her. "Can you tell me your name?" she asked as she washed dirt from the scratches.

  "Jen-fer," the child sobbed.

  "Jennifer. That's a pretty name." She worked steadily, checking for serious injury, but there seemed to be only mild scratches. "How old are you?"

  Jennifer held up three stubby fingers. "This many."

  "Three," Dani said. She washed back a wave of weakness that threatened to overcome her, feeling suddenly that all warmth had gone from the day.

  She almost whispered the words, "Your mommy must be proud of you." She caressed the child's cheek. "You're an awfully nice little girl."

  "You're nice, too," Jennifer said matter-of-factly. "What happened to your hands?"

  Although Nick stood beside her, his voice seemed to come from a great distance. "I'll bet that's your mommy over there, little girl. Can you walk? Give me your hand and I'll help you up the steps."

  Gratefully, she heard the noises of their footsteps fading, the murmurs of the reunion, and Jennifer's giggle receding as she was carried away.

  Nick's hands on her shoulders reminded her that she still knelt on the embankment, staring blindly at her hands. She let him help her to her feet before she stuffed her tightly balled fists into her jacket pockets.