by Jeannie Moon
Not missing a beat, he said, “One of you is driving. I might be getting drunk.”
Again, glances were exchanged, and Tris realized the tension wasn’t all about the business. One of their own was hurting, and it appeared none of them knew what to do. They looked at each other, but not Owen. Good God, this probably wasn’t his best idea.
The men retreated to their respective offices to prep for an afternoon out of the building. Tris knew he could never just walk out. He needed to be in contact with people all the time, and he called Robyn into the office.
“Taking a late lunch?” she asked as she entered the room. “Your schedule is clear except you’re expected at the Bayards’ at six-thirty for cocktails before dinner.”
“Right. Okay. Did the flowers arrive?”
“Yes, the roses arrived earlier today.” She held up a gift bag. “Here are the chocolates, and the wine you picked up earlier. It’s cool and cloudy, so nothing should melt in your car when you’re having lunch.”
“Excellent. Remind me to give you a bigger bonus this Christmas. I’d have forgotten these, without question.”
She laughed. “Count on it. College will be on me faster than you think.”
Tris leveled his gaze at the woman who kept him sane. In the past few weeks, he’d learned the horrible circumstances around her husband’s death. Robyn and her husband had a good life, but when he’d suddenly passed away, she’d found out he’d accumulated massive debt. They had to sell their large home and use the life insurance and other assets to pay off what he owed.
That left Robyn not only the responsibility of raising two little girls, but of providing a life for them. She’d lost her husband, and worse, she lost the memory of him, because nothing was as it appeared. He couldn’t imagine how betrayed she must have felt.
She’d never worry about college, because Tristan was already setting up a fund for the two girls. Along with a hefty monetary bonus this Christmas, Robyn would be gifted with a substantial trust. In the eight months he’d been at Reliance, she’d been invaluable, first by doing things quietly—knowing what he needed before he needed it—and then by becoming an extra set of eyes, ears, and a trusted right hand. He was going to make sure her daughters could do whatever their hearts desired, and she would never have to worry.
Leah had seen him poring over the trust papers one evening and was curious about what he was doing. He told her, not thinking much about it, but it earned him a teary, affectionate kiss. She had no idea that this was only money to him, that it wasn’t that important. What mattered was what he did with it.
* * *
Port Steakhouse was neatly situated in the town of Port Washington, about a block from the waterfront. Tris had never been there, but Nate, Jason, and Owen came here sometimes to get out of the office and clear their heads. Tris had heard stories about meetings conducted around kitchen tables when they were first getting the company up and running. Now they claimed a corner table at an upscale steakhouse, ordered an expensive bottle of wine and an eighteen-year-old bottle of scotch.
He was enjoying the tales of wives and families, more than he ever had before. He never thought he’d have those things in common with anyone. He liked kids well enough—when they were someone else’s—but he’d never thought about having his own.
However, he did now. He thought about it all the time. Leah was putting him in a pheromone-induced haze, shooting his bachelor existence to hell.
“So what’s going on with you and my sister?” Nate poured another two fingers of scotch into Tristan’s glass.
“We’re moving in together.”
Nate choked on his drink, coughing and sputtering while Josh patted him on the back. Tris guessed he wasn’t expecting that.
“Moving in?” He coughed again. “You barely know each other.”
“That’s not true,” Tris said calmly. “I’ve known her for months.” Taking a sip of his drink, he figured he’d send Nate into a fit. “We’ve only been together for a month or so.”
Now it was Owen’s turn to sputter. “You’d better be careful, man. He throws a mean right cross. I was on the receiving end of it once.”
“Is that the way it is?” Tristan watched Nate’s jaw tighten, the anger on his face evident. “Is there a double standard at work here? It seems Leah has a right to make her own decisions, regardless of what you think. That’s what you do.”
“It’s his sister, Tris.” Jason entered his own plea on Nate’s behalf.
“A sister he won’t listen to, or speak to about their falling-out. It’s the same with Owen. Nate feels self-righteous in his anger, but it’s not getting us anywhere.”
“You have a lot of nerve calling me self-righteous.” Nate’s eyes were slits and his jaw was set.
“But you are. Leah has apologized. And Owen? Owen has apologized to you, to Jenna, to the firm, and to your family, multiple times. Yet you are still treating him like he murdered your dog. He shot his mouth off, he apologized, now get over it so we can all do business civilly.”
“Tris, this doesn’t concern you.” Owen was firm, but not angry. For a change.
“But it does. It involves all of us if it affects the business. And it’s affecting the business.”
There was no way to avoid the problem now. He’d just thrown down the gauntlet, hoping this would calm the situation down enough so that everyone in the office could stop tiptoeing around. Every person—from the maintenance staff, to the designers, to the engineers, to the administrative staff—all felt the tension and it was affecting how people did their jobs. What often attracted people to Reliance was the culture, and at the core of the culture was the relationship among Nate, Owen, and Jason. If that broke down, even with Nate stepping back, it would affect the future of the company.
“Well? Are we all going to play nice?” God, he sounded like his mother scolding a pack of small children, but they were acting like a bunch of spoiled billionaire brats, and it was time for someone to knock some heads together.
“You don’t have to be condescending.” Jason shot him the side-eye.
“Was I being condescending? I thought I was being sarcastic. Damn.”
Josh laughed. Older than his brother and his two friends, he seemed to enjoy watching someone else play the bad guy. But damn if someone didn’t have to.
“I guess I’ve been pushing back too hard. We can’t go back, but we can all move on. Including me.” Nate finally had something to say that wasn’t laced with hostility. There was some progress.
“I am sorry, and I can promise you I’ll never say anything the least bit disrespectful about Jenna again,” Owen said.
Nate nodded and stuck out his hand. Finally, after months of animosity, there seemed to be a truce. Owen shook his friend’s hand and there seemed to be a moment between the two old friends that said more than words. “Finally,” Jason said. “Now let’s all have a drink and eat some red meat before we have to turn in our man-cards.”
They clinked glasses and Tris felt confident there was progress. If he could pat himself on the back he would. Instead, Owen gave him a solid poke in the ribs.
“Now what’s this shit about you and Leah?” Owen wore his Marine Corps scowl and did not look happy.
“Excuse me?”
“Leah.” Owen leaned in. “She’s like a sister to me. What are your plans?”
Looking at his four friends, who were all staring him down, Tris made a note to himself that next time he should leave well enough alone.
* * *
Leah helped Sally put the finishing touches on the cheese platter they would serve with cocktails, all while she was thinking about how her parents were going to react to the news that she was moving in with Tristan.
She still wondered what the hell had happened that they decided to take this step. She’d gone from wondering if they were a couple to
living together. Her head was spinning and she could only imagine how her parents were going to react. Especially Da. Da might kill him.
For some reason her parents didn’t attempt the same kind of control over Amy that they did over her. She was treated like a child in many ways, while Amy and her escapades flew under everyone’s radar. She knew it was because her sister, on the surface, was blond perfection—sweetness and light. Leah was perceived as a redheaded hell-raiser, which didn’t match the very boring life she led. Until Tris, that is.
Tristan had changed everything for her, and now she was going to take the biggest chance of her life. Leah knew, deep down, that she was in love with him. She assumed, based on the way he was acting, that the feeling was mutual. It was still a mystery, however, because neither one of them had said the words. The three little words that would change it all.
“Where’s your mind at, my girl?” Sally grabbed Leah’s fingers and gave a gentle shake. “You’re a million miles away.”
“Just thinking, I guess. This is a first for me.”
Sally’s large eyes narrowed. “A first?”
“My first boy. I’ve never had anyone come meet the parents.”
“Well,” Sally said, her brogue thick. “We do already know the man, it’s not quite the same. But it’s good you’re not livin’ like a nun anymore.”
“I was not!” She didn’t live like a nun, and if Sally knew what she’d done just that morning with Tristan, she’d take it back.
“I don’t mean now. I’m sure your young Brit is shakin’ your bedposts, but before. You were a bit too serious for your own good.”
“'Shakin’ my bedposts.’ Did you really just say that?”
Like she hadn’t just talked about her sex life like it was a porno, Sally’s expression went flat. “Well, what did you want me to say? Come on now. Pick up that other platter and let’s bring it to the living room.”
Adjusting her dress before she took the platter, she followed Sally through the dining room and then to the grand parlor at the far side of the house. The room was a tribute to the opulence of the twenties, and even though it had been updated, the soaring ceilings, intricate molding, and floor-to-ceiling windows made this a serious space. It was built to impress, and it did. Her mother was sitting on the slightly curved, brocaded sofa, looking elegant in a simple blue dress that set off her coloring. Her father was in a pair of pressed slacks, the crease sharp and straight, a blue and white striped shirt, no tie, and a navy blazer. Her parents looked like they were ready for dinner at the club—a pair of polished, wealthy members. The illusion was shattered, however, when her father let loose with a string of profanity that would have made a soldier blush.
“Liam!” her mother snapped. “Your manners.”
“Manners? There’s no one here but us!” Da never cared what he said around the family. He didn’t care what he said around most people, for that matter, but her mother seemed to understand there was something significant about the evening.
“Leah, come sit.” Mum patted the cushion next to her on the sofa. “You look nervous. Is there anything we need to know? How serious has this gotten between you and Tristan?”
Did she lie? It had never been easy to lie to her mother, but she’d consider it so she didn’t have to tell Mum and Da what was going on without moral support.
In the end, she couldn’t do it. She was a terrible liar, especially with her mother. Especially about something this important. “It’s pretty serious, but would you mind if we waited until he arrived before we discuss it?”
Her mother glanced up at her father, who raised a bushy eyebrow. “You’re not pregnant, are you, darlin’?”
“What?” Pregnant! “No, no! I’m not, but we’ve been talking about the next step and . . . well . . . I’d like him here first, that’s all.”
“Oh, alright,” her mother patted her hand and smiled sweetly, looking more than a little nervous. She imagined Mum and Da were sending telepathic messages to each other about possible wedding plans. They were going to be disappointed it wasn’t that kind of conversation.
To her surprise, her grandparents arrived, and then Amy came in with Nate and Jenna. Everyone looked wonderful, like they’d been invited.
Mum smiled. “We thought it would be nice to have everyone here. You know, a family dinner.”
She and Tris weren’t planning on facing the whole family. Wouldn’t he be surprised.
Looking around, however, affection welled up inside her. She loved her family without measure. They were amazing individuals, and it suddenly hit Leah that they may muck stalls and wear jeans ninety-nine percent of the time, even Grandma and Grandpa, but her family was rich and powerful. The picture of success. Sure, they all worked hard, but they didn’t want for anything and they had advantages most people didn’t have. She was suddenly humbled, and very, very grateful. Not only for the advantages she’d had, but for the people in the room with her.
It was perfect having everyone together. They’d do it again in a few weeks for Thanksgiving, and she wondered if Tristan would join them then. She hoped he would. Thanksgiving was one of her favorite holidays, and she’d like nothing better than to share it with him and her wacky family.
The doorbell rang and Mum’s shelties took off out of the room like a shot, with Sally following. “You beasties had better behave. No good comes from scaring the company.”
Leah rose, wringing her hands, not knowing exactly why she was nervous. The dogs were still yapping, as was Sally, God love her, but as soon as the dogs quieted down, she heard Tristan’s beautiful, deep voice travel through the house. His arrival was preceded by the ticking of the dogs’ nails on the wood floor and when he joined the group, Leah lost her breath.
That’s why.
There was nothing unusual about the way he was dressed, or his appearance. It was just everything about him. Knowing what a good person he was, how much he’d made a difference in her life . . . everything. Every time they were together, and even when they weren’t, Leah found something else to love about the man.
Most recently she was charmed by one of his Sunday phone calls with his mum. He was assuring her she shouldn’t worry about the recent cold snap, because he’d had a brand new heating system installed in the house before she moved in. He was so calm and sweet with her, even though Leah could tell his mother was giving him the business.
He stood by the large arched entry to the living room and smiled just for her.
Yep. She was dead-in-the-water-no-turning-back in love with the man.
Aware that all the eyes in the room were on them, she walked to Tris. He took her hands, kissed her softly on the cheek. “You look beautiful,” he said.
And he meant it. Leah had never felt like she was beautiful, but in that single moment—with the look in his eyes, the smile on his lips, and his simple, gently spoken words—Leah felt like the most beautiful woman in the world.
Turning, she allowed him to say his hellos and she introduced him to her grandparents.
“Tristan, the flowers you sent were lovely,” her mother gushed as she took his hand. “And totally unnecessary. But thank you just the same.”
“You’re welcome. I also brought you some chocolate truffles. I heard you’ve a weakness for them.” He handed her the gorgeously wrapped box from Sweet and Leah remembered how he’d charmed her a little less than a week ago with his well-orchestrated apology. Tris handed her father a velvet bag, and she smiled as she watched Da’s eyes widen as he pulled the bottle of amber liquid from it.
“Glenfiddich? Twenty-six years old? This is not your average scotch.”
“No, sir. But I figured I didn’t have a lot of leeway with a scotch, so I did my homework.”
“Nicely done. And thank you.” Her father shook Tristan’s hand gratefully. He was hitting every button, and her mother and grandparents, who were sti
cklers for good manners, most definitely approved.
And Leah was touched. It was obviously important to him to make a good impression on her family, and he’d gone to a lot of effort to do so. That it mattered to him was more than she could have hoped for. Tris, Grandpa, Da, and Nate were all discussing when the right time would be to crack open the bottle when Amy and Jenna took up positions on each side of her.
“You are such a goner,” Jenna said. “Like seriously head-over-heels gone.”
Leah nodded. “It shows?”
Amy looped an arm around her shoulders. “Yup. It shows. Just be careful, you don’t really know him that well. Marriage is a big step.”
“Who said anything about getting married?” Leah shook her head. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Amy.”
“It could happen. You never know.”
“Oh.” Jenna clutched her hands to her heart. “A wedding. That would be wonderful.”
“Both of you, please stop. It’s still new and he hasn’t said . . . well, you know.”
Jenna kissed her temple. “He will.”
Chapter Thirteen
Tristan had to admit, one of the most entertaining parts of living with Leah, who’d moved in only a week ago, was watching her get dressed. It wasn’t that it was sexy or sultry; it was a comedy of errors with her often dashing about the room in her lacy bra and panties, throwing things out of the closet onto the bed and trying on at least five different outfits. Tris could get a laugh and a thrill at the same time.
So he sat quietly in the chair in the corner of their bedroom as she did just that, and enjoyed the woman in his life. He had no doubt she’d be a hit at Reliance’s holiday party, but he knew she was nervous. This was a very public display of their status as a couple and he was going to make the most of it. She emerged from the walk-in closet carrying a pair of mile-high heels to go with her gorgeous black dress with full skirt that drew attention to her small waist and wonderful curves.
She’d spent the afternoon at the salon fussing with her hair and fingernails and he loved the way her flaming hair had been tamed just enough so soft waves cascaded down her back. Without all the wild curls, Leah’s hair reached almost to her waist and it was spectacular.