| Colby brushed the hair from her face as she came down the stairs. She opened the back door to a very soggy Brian. Water dripped off his cap, but his eyes sparkled and his smile just took away the gloom of the dreary day. He had begun to park around back using the entrance into the kitchen telling Colby he didn't consider himself company anymore. Sometimes she would even leave it unlocked when she knew he was on his way. They had fallen into an easy relationship. "Do you believe this rain?" Brian commented as he shook out his hat and came inside. The house was cool compared to the wet, humid conditions outside. His shirt was soaked as a he pulled it from his body and a chill went through him. "Brrrr." He shivered. "Let's get you a dry shirt, Brian." Colby moved towards the back stairs. "No, I'm fine really." He insisted, but Colby wouldn't listen. She had already started up the stairs and he followed her. He had never gone beyond the first floor of the house and the upstairs was equally as large. The master suite took up half the second floor. Colby rummaged through a tall chest of drawers and found a UK tee shirt and handed it to Brian. It obviously had belonged to Rob and Colby didn't look at Brian as he took it from her. Neither one spoke and Brian sensed an uneasiness at them being in the bedroom. As she moved toward to the door Colby glanced in the mirror in time to see his lean, firm torso reflected back. A breath caught in her throat at the sight of his body. Brian looked her way and she quickly left the room. He slipped on the shirt and found her in the nursery. "You okay?" Colby nodded as she fumbled with the legs of the crib. He lifted her chin and could see the confusion on her face yet again. He had begun to recognize the look more and more. He had kept his distance, as hard as it was, trying to give her all the time and space she needed. He never broached the subject of his feelings for her and neither did she. There was a war raging inside her but Brian noticed more and more that she was trying to come to some kind of truce. Little gestures Colby did indicated to him that, maybe, just maybe the tide was turning. He would wait. He brushed his thumb across her cheek and Colby closed her eyes relishing this simple gesture. "I should have changed in the bathroom. I'm sorry." She looked into his eyes and smiled at him. The shirt was a bit big and Brian tugged at it. "Guess I'm slightly smaller than Rob was." "Uh huh. That was his favorite UK shirt. He wore it all the time. I had to plead with him to let me wash it." She laughed. "I don't know how many times I actually tore it off him and then he would tackle me and…" her voiced trailed off. She blushed slightly at the memories of those lost moments. Colby let out a breath. "So are you ready to help me tackle this?" She pointed to the array of crib pieces on the floor. "Sure. But tell me you didn't empty the box yourself?" She gave him a sly grin. "Colby! You can't be doing that. You have to take care of yourself." "I know, I know. But they say you begin this nesting syndrome as the day draws closer." Brian screwed up his face. "Preparations for the arrival of the baby, you know, cooking, cleaning, washing the layette items. Just making sure everything is ready. I must be starting. I've been finding all sorts of things that need to be done." Colby pulled over the rocker and sat down. Brian sat on the floor and began to sort all the pieces for the crib. "Okay. Sounds reasonable, but I don't think emptying this carton falls under the 'nesting syndrome.'" She chuckled at his comment. "I worry about you, you know." He smiled at her. He had been such a big help over the last few weeks and Colby had come to depend on him. They worked; rather Brian worked, for a couple of hours. They laughed as they read the directions, which they both agreed, could have been written in simpler terms. But finally the bed stood in the middle of the room. Colby ran her hand along the smooth wood, caressing it, knowing her child would sleep in its shelter. She found a sheet for the mattress and placed some small stuff animals around the perimeter. Brian watched her as he gathered up the few tools and extra bolts and screws. He came up next to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. Colby turned and Brian watched as a single tear slipped down her cheek. "It's really going to happen this time." The words came out between short gasps of breath. She leaned her head against Brian's chest and his arm wound around her shoulder pulling her close. He heard her sniff as she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. Colby looked up at Brian, "Thank you." And in a simple gesture of gratitude she brushed her lips to his. As she pulled away, Brian held her head and gazed deeply into her eyes. "Anything for you Colby. Anything." He looked between her mouth and her eyes. With his face only inches from hers, Colby could feel his breath on her face. Not waiting for permission he closed the gap and pressed his lips against hers, softly at first, but when he felt her response he deepened the kiss. Brian held her as close as he could letting his hand fall to the small of her back. Her lips were so sweet and soft as he ran his tongue along them. Colby sighed and held on tight as she grew light headed under the pressure of his mouth on hers. As Brian pulled back and broke the kiss, Colby slowly came back to reality. She brushed her hand on his cheek and murmured, "How about some lunch?" He nodded in agreement and took her hand as they left the room. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A few days later Colby and Brian were returning from the farm. The renovations were nearing completion and the prints Brian had ordered were due any day. They had lunch and just spent the afternoon on the back porch. The weather had cooled off a bit, giving Colby a break from the oppressive heat. Her feet were swelling daily and Brian was constantly urging her to put them up. He was so solicitous of her condition that Colby was still amazed that he wanted anything to do with her. She had really blossomed in the last few weeks and the baby was beginning to drop. She was seeing her doctor weekly and everything seemed to be going accordingly to schedule. She had basically given up going to the shop. "I know just the one that would be perfect, Brian. Let's go by the shop and I'll show you." Colby shifted in the seat and Brian reached out and took her hand. "I'm fine. Stop worrying. They're just fidgety." Colby smiled at him and kissed the back of his hand. Their kiss in the nursery had opened the door on the physical side to their relationship. It was more than friendship. They both knew it, though neither one said anything. Brian didn't hesitate to hold her or kiss her now and Colby returned each one willingly. "They, Colby? What haven't you told me?" Brian looked at her quizzically. "He or she. I'm not having twins, Brian. Although I feel big enough to be having a whole litter." She laughed. "I wish it was time. I want to hold this baby in my arms instead of having it press against my back and bladder." They both laughed at her comment. "Soon, Colby, it will be over and you'll be able to hold your baby. You'll be a wonderful mother." And I hope to be there with you helping you raise this child, he thought as he pulled in at the curb in front of the art shop. They went inside and Colby sifted through stack of small prints until she found the one she was looking for. "Here it is." She pulled it out and showed Brian. "See it would be perfect for the bedroom." He took it from her and placed it on the table. "You don't like it?" She pouted and went to look for something else. "No it's fine, but there is something I want more." He pulled her into his arms. She went to argue but he silenced her with his lips. Colby didn't fight him but wrapped her arms around his neck. This kiss wasn't like the others. Brian didn't show any hesitancy in his desire for her. He sucked on her bottom lip and Colby let out a low moan against his mouth. The sensations running through her were a combination of raw need and anxiety. He watched from the window as the two held each other in a lover's embrace. Their kiss seemed to go on forever. Things between them had obviously progressed further than his man had witnessed. He turned to look across the street to see the man in the car more interested in his sandwich than what he was being paid to do. I'll take care of him later, Garrett thought as pushed open the door to the shop. Neither one heard him as he entered. "Well, well, isn't this cozy." His acid voice penetrated their senses as they separated slowly. "I must say Colby, I expected better from you," he hissed as he circled them. "You spurned my advances," he leaned in close to her face, "only to take up with this no account pop star." His words seemed a bit slurred and Colby thought she could smell alcohol on his breath. She glared at Garrett as she tried to disengage herself from Brian's arms. "What are you doing here?" The fact that he had seen her and Brian unnerved her but she wasn't backing down. "I told you before you are not welcome." She walked towards the door. "Throwing out family for this, this, this flash in the pan singer." He used his fingers to make quotation marks when he said singer. "I've checked him out, as well as his cousin and the rest." Colby's eyes were like daggers as he belittled Brian. "And I'm telling you right now Colby, don't get any ideas about traipsing that child across the country while he's touring," he pointed in Brian's direction. "Personally, I don't care what you do with the brat, but father won't stand for it." "You have no right to talk to her that way." Brian lashed out and moved toward the bigger man. "Colby's a Spencer and she knows what is expected of her and she will do as she is told. We will make sure of it." "Are you threatening her?" Brian stood right in front of Garrett blocking his access to Colby. Garrett towered over Brian and Colby feared for Brian's safety. Brian had no idea of Garrett's temper and if he was drinking that would only compound his anger. She didn't want Brian to get hurt. "Garrett you need to leave now." Colby's voice was cold as steel as she stared him straight in the eye. "Is that right? Why so you can go back to being fondled by this loser. You know I just wonder Colby, who is really the father of that child you are carrying? Seems to me that you didn't waste any time hooking up with someone. And you kept saying you loved my brother. Ha!" He moved towards her and Brian watched and moved with him still keeping his body between Garrett and Colby. He was bound and determined to keep her safe from Garrett and his flaring temper. "Accidental meetings? I wonder. Maybe they weren't coincidences after all. Could be you were carrying on behind Rob's back and that child is his bastard." He flicked his head in Brian's direction. Colby glared at him as tears welled in her eyes. His cruelty had gone to far. "That's it." Brian couldn't take any more. With all the strength he had he pulled back his fist and sank a hard blow to Garrett's mid section causing the taller man to double over, coughing hard. Brian had expected to be met with some resistance, but Garrett's gut was soft and the wind was knocked out of him causing him to stumble back. Colby went to Brian. His hand stung and she took in her hand and kissed it gently. "You bastard," she screamed at Garrett tears stinging her eyes. She lunged toward him almost losing her balance. Brian grabbed her and steadied her holding her close to his body. "I hate you. Get out and tell William over my dead body will he get this child. I will not see another Spencer grow up and turn into you!" She snarled at him. The baby kicked hard and Colby grabbed her stomach, bending at the waist. She let out a gasp as the pain cut through her. "Colby, what's wrong?" Brian took hold of her. She shook her head. "I'm okay, just the baby agreeing with me." She breathed slowly trying to ease the pain in her abdomen. "What are you waiting for Garrett? Leave now," she gasped at him slowly standing erect again. "And you can tell your lackey across the street," she slowly made her way to the front door and opened it as Garrett shot her a look of surprise, "that's right, Garrett, the gig is up. I've known for a while and he can attest to it as well because I've taken him on some wild goose chases." Colby grinned pleased with her revelation as she continued to massage her stomach. Brian looked amazed as well. She knew. How? "Colby how did you…" She cut him off. "I'll tell you later." "This is not over Colby, not by a long shot." Garrett said as he stormed out of the shop the ache in his stomach bringing a grimace to his face. Colby waved to the man in the black car causing him to choke on the remains of his sandwich. Garrett glanced back to see a smirk on Colby's face. "Goodbye, Garrett. Don't bother coming back and you can tell William I'm putting him on notice." Colby slammed the door and breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly she felt her legs go weak and Brian ran and caught her before she slipped to the floor. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Come here and sit." Brian led her to the chair and went into the back and returned with a glass of water. As he placed the glass in front of her she noticed his hand had begun to bruise. Colby gently rubbed her thumb over his sore knuckles.. The baby still moved restlessly, but nothing like the jolt she had felt moments before. She massaged her body with her other hand and slowly the baby calmed down. "You need ice for this, Brian." he looked at his hand. It was beginning to swell. "There is some in the fridge in the back." Colby went to get up, but Brian held her to the chair. "No you don't young lady. Sit. I'll get the ice but first you have a lot of explaining to do." Colby continued to slide her thumb across his hand causing Brian's insides to churn at the soft touch of her fingers. She lifted her head to see Brian peering at her with deep concern on his face. She had tried to keep him out of all this, but Catherine was right, he was involved and had a right to know. Colby cared about him more than she wanted to admit and it was time to be honest and warn Brian what he was up against. "I thought I could keep you out of this family squabble, but that ended the moment Garrett started having me followed." She took a sip of water, giving herself time to gather the words she needed to explain the circumstances surrounding this latest round of Garrett's hostility. "You've made subtle comments, Colby but never elaborated. Tell me. What was all this about today? Why would he care so much about who you are seeing? And his comments about spurning him? He didn't try to…" Brian couldn't finish the sentence. The thought of Garrett forcing himself on Colby made Brian's skin crawl. "No, Brian, he didn't touch me. Well, he kissed me once. It was vile and repulsive and I slapped him." His eyes were dark, as he looked into hers trying to read her thoughts. "Where to begin, it's all so…" Brian held her hand in his bruised one. "Start at the beginning, Colby," he coaxed her, smiling warmly and squeezing her hand in support. "It goes back to the day Rob was buried. Catherine told me William decided that day he would get the baby and raise it under his roof." Her eyes took on a sadness. This child meant everything to her and he knew that she would never let anyone hurt it. "Get the baby?" Brian furrowed his brows confused by her statement. "His plan is for Garrett and I to marry to insure my child is a Spencer. This is probably the only heir he will have and it has driven him to take these outrageous measures to provide him with the security of knowing the Spencer line won't end with Garrett." She shifted in the chair. "It doesn't matter to him that he would be ruining three lives. Just that he will get what he wants." "You mentioned Catherine. She was not in on this plan?" "No. Catherine warned them against doing anything to me but they have ignored her. She told me about the investigator. She found a file they had on you and she overheard bits and pieces of conversations. They have no idea she is aware of their plan. And I worry that if they find out, she could be in danger." Colby stood up and rubbed her back as she paced a bit. "I need to get you home. Come on. We can continue this at the house." They left the shop and Brian got Colby home as quickly as possible. They got ice for his hand and he settled Colby on the sofa with her feet propped up on a pillow. Colby told him about her lunch with Catherine and everything she had overheard the last few months. How the investigator had been following her for weeks and Garrett's contact with him. Brian listened intently as he massaged her feet. It was quite a domestic scene and Colby felt herself enjoying the comfortable nature of being with Brian. He constantly amazed her. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her yet he didn't expect anything for himself except the pleasure of being with her. They sat silently for a while, Colby giving Brian a chance to digest all she had told him. Garrett's words still echoed in her head, inflaming her again. He was loathsome. She shuddered and Brian observed her look of disgust. "Hey, you okay?" He scooted closer to her draping her legs over his lap. "Yes just thinking about Garrett." She shrugged her shoulders again. "I'm sorry for his attack on you and the group." "Don't worry about that. We've developed a thick skin over the years. Believe me I've heard worse. He had no right to demean you the way he did though." Brian could see that the confrontation had taken its toll on Colby. "I'm used to it." Brian's look told her otherwise. "Okay, it hurt, but we've never liked each other. And now that Rob is gone it's open season on Colby." She laughed. "They're only words. I almost feel sorry for him. He can't love and he's miserable. Catherine was right. As tough as William is, I've seen his eyes soften when his wife comes into the room. He loves her, just doesn't show it, not openly anyway." Colby held Brian's hand. The knuckles were red and beginning to show signs of discoloration. She lifted it to her mouth and gently brushed her lips along the tender flesh. At the touch of her lips on his hand, Brian let out a low groan. "Did I hurt you?" She looked into his eyes but instead of pain she saw desire reflected in them. He held her spellbound in his gaze and Colby's heart responded to the affect he was having on her. His hand cupped her face and brought it closer to his. "Colby, I…" Brian stammered. He wanted to tell her how he felt. It was a burning desire inside him and Brian didn't know how much longer he could remain silent. She was his sunrise and sunset. She was like an unwritten song waiting to be sung. But as much as she had opened up in the last few weeks, never had those three words been spoken by either one of them. And Brian realized now was not the right time either. His lips brushed hers. "I won't let anything happen to you or the baby. I promise." He murmured against her mouth. She nodded her head and pulled him closer covering his mouth with hers. He parted her lips and let his tongue slide gently into her mouth. This time Colby moaned as he teased her, tasting her for the first time. Her head began to spin as that deep-seated hunger within her pushed to the surface. Colby clutched Brian's shoulders as her body became aroused, and a warmth spread between her legs. His lips were relentless as he sucked and nipped at them. She yielded under his ministrations until a quickening in her belly put a halt to his fervor. Colby pushed away as the tightening continued. This was different from the pains earlier at the shop and it frightened her. She felt as if her body would burst and as quickly as it came on her it subsided leaving her breathless. Brian watched as Colby placed both hands on her swollen body, as it grew taunt under her shirt and then eased. "Colby?" He turned her face to his. Her expression was pinched during the contraction and then relaxed as it dissipated. "It's too soon Brian," she panted, "but I would swear it was a contraction. Must have been all the excitement." She avoided his eyes. They had crossed another bridge now and Colby could still feel the heat coil through her body. "I think I need to relax." She went to move and Brian stopped her. "You stay right there. I'm not leaving you now." He slid off the sofa and placed her legs back up on the pillow. "I'll order us some dinner," she frowned at him, "light, and simple, nothing too heavy. And I'm staying here tonight." Colby went to protest and he put his fingers to her lips. "No arguments. I'm staying and tomorrow you are going to the doctor." He took another pillow and propped it behind her. "But…" He kissed her quickly to silence her. "No buts. I told you. I won't let anything happen to you. Now you sit and rest." He handed her the remote and Colby rolled her eyes at him. "Brian? I…" the feeling surged through her, but the words couldn't leave her lips. Not yet. "Thank you." "You're welcome." His lips came and rested gently on hers again and even with this simple kiss those familiar yearnings rose within her. His fingers brushed her cheek and Colby leaned in delighting in the loving caress. |