"Capital Offense" - читать интересную книгу автора (Antrim Kathleen)

TWO

Warner arrived home at nine-fifteen that evening. Carolyn’s car was parked in the garage. and he knew she’d be unwinding upstairs in their bedroom. He tiptoed into the kitchen and rifled through cupboards, finding two crystal champagne flutes and a silver ice bucket.

Grasping the flutes in one hand and a bottle of Dom Perignon and the ice bucket in the other, he made his way up the stairs. With the tip of his toe. he gently pushed open the door to the master suite.

Unaware of his presence. Carolyn sat propped up against the pillows of their four-poster bed, legs stretched out in front of her, reading. Her shoes lay haphazardly on the floor, her suit jacket tossed across the nearby desk chair, and stacks of briefs and documents surrounded her.

“What’s all this?” Warner asked. “Tonight you’re supposed to celebrate. You won.”

Carolyn jumped. “You startled me.”

Warner raised his voice and the champagne flutes in unison. “Guilty on all counts – it’s all over the news. Or did they forget to tell you?”

A smile lit her deep brown eyes. She placed the brief she was reading on the pile beside her. “You should have seen Roit’s face. And Jessica’s. Thank you. sweetheart, but really the work has just begun. Now that I’ve got him, I want to make sure he goes away forever.”

Warner sat by her side, opened the champagne. and filled the glasses. “Surely you can take off a few hours.” Their eyes met and held. He leaned over and kissed her. “Congratulations,” he whispered against her lips.

“Thank you,” she whispered back.

“Did I tell you how gorgeous you looked on the five o’clock news?” Warner unbuttoned her silk blouse.

“No. you neglected to mention that.” she purred.

He kissed her neck. “Maybe now that the case is over, we can get down to creating the next generation of Lanes.”

Carolyn stiffened. Warner leaned back and looked into her face. She avoided his gaze as she pulled herself out of his embrace. “I can’t do this right now. I – I really have to work.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m just-”

“Just what? We aren’t getting any younger. It’s time to start our family. Hell, it’s way past time.” he said.

“Worried about your biological clock?” She forced a laugh at her lame joke.

He shook his head. “What happened to all our plans of a big family? Lots of kids? Shit, that’s all we used to talk about.”

“I can’t discuss this right now.” She got to her feet.

“Why not?”

“Why does everything have to be on your time schedule?” She turned to face him.

“My time schedule? It’s been ten years. I hardly think I’m being pushy.” Gone was the smooth politician; he could hear the hurt and confusion in his own voice.

She closed her eyes and took a breath. “Can we discuss this later?”

“Just tell me what the problem is.”

“There isn’t a problem. I’m just tired, and I have to get some things done before tomorrow. Can I have a rain check? Tomorrow’s Friday. I’ll be able to relax then. I promise.” She kissed him quickly, but Warner could feel that the passion was gone.

He sat up. legs over the side of the bed. his gaze on the untouched champagne. From the moment they had met. Talking about a large family had been their favorite topic. They both wanted children, lots of children. But they’d put it off in order to solidify their careers. Now ten years had passed. Warner gulped down his drink. Was he asking too much?