Now and Forever by Brenda Rothert Page B

want?”
    “Of course it matters, baby. But you can’t have it all. Look at us now. We don’t meet up for dinner until close to seven most nights. Neither one of us would see much of our kids with our schedules. I don’t want a nanny raising our kids, do you?”
    “No. You’re right. Our schedules are overwhelming. But I make more money than you do, so why don’t you quit your job when the time comes?”
    Ben gaped at her for a few seconds. “The fuck? You don’t make more money than I do!”
    “My annual salary is higher than a police sergeant’s.”
    “I own real estate, too, sweetheart. Rest assured I make more than you do.”
    “But that’s passive income,” she said. “You’ll continue making it whether you’re a detective or a stay-at-home dad.”
    “This is insanity,” Ben said, pointing a finger for emphasis. “I don’t know the first thing about raising kids.”
    “You think I do? Just because I have ovaries, I automatically know how to change diapers?”
    “Women are naturally better at all that stuff. I’m naturally better at providing.”
    Layla sprang off the couch and turned to face him. “Bullshit! I am so pissed at you, Ben! Damn you! You make yourself out to be all noble and strong and loving but in the end you’re just a run of the mill chauvinist!”
    “The hell I am! Just because I want my kids to have it better than I did? Because I think you’ll be a great mother? Was I a chauvinist when I gave you that rock? You were all about being the woman then, weren’t you?”
    Fury blazed in Layla’s light brown eyes. “Get out,” she said in a low tone. “Before I really get mad.”
    “I’m not leaving.” Ben crossed his arms across his chest. Layla drew back her hand to slap him, but he caught her wrist.
    “What the hell are you doing?” he demanded.
    “I’m crazy pissed right now, Ben! You dangled my dream in my face and just jerked the rug out from under me! I can’t be around you right now.”
    “Too damn bad, sweetheart. We’re getting married, and you don’t run away when problems hit in a marriage. You work them out.”
    Layla’s face crumpled. Ben let go of her wrist, and her arm fell limply at her side.
    “That’s the thing, Ben,” she said softly. “Now that I know you don’t respect my career, I don’t think I can marry you.”
    He drew back, a sense of unease lodging in his chest. “You don’t mean that.”
    “I wish I didn’t,” she said, tears welling in her eyes. “But I do. I waited tables and clerked for assholes and worked twice as hard as a man to land a decent job because of the way I look. People don’t take a former beauty queen and cheerleader seriously. I’m proud of where I’ve gotten myself.”
    “I’m proud of you, too,” Ben said, resting his hands on her waist.
    “You’re not. Not if you’d dismiss my career over a drink and cigar with my dad.”
    “Layla. I didn’t mean to do that. You’re overreacting.”
    “What choices do you see for us when we have kids, other than me quitting my practice?”
    Ben shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know. This caught me off guard. I thought you’d like the idea of me taking care of our family financially so you wouldn’t have to worry about any of that.”
    “I don’t just work for money.” She shifted herself so his hands fell away from her. “Look, I’d really like you to go. I need some time alone.”
    Ben sighed and retrieved his dark wool coat from the couch. “Alright. When are we going to talk about this?”
    “I don’t know. Not tonight. I need some space.”
    A shiver of foreboding ran up Ben’s spine. He’d had no idea his conversation with Layla’s father would create this roadblock between the two of them. He couldn’t help letting his hand wander to her shoulder, where he grazed the soft skin of her neck with his fingertips.
    “Tell me you love me,” he said.
    She shook her head. “I’m not doing this right now.” Her voice was choked with