by Sarah Gerdes
Danielle was blunt. “You were mortified you got called out?”
Lars kept cutting his meat. “When I realized that we couldn’t be together due to the children issue, I decided to proactively break it off. In fact, the very day I went to the hotel to meet her, not have sex mind you, but to end it, my driver called my wife, disgorging the entire affair, every sordid detail. She in turn, called up my client and told him everything.”
“Did he…confront you?” she asked in dread.
“Yes. He chose to do so in front of the partners at the office.” Danielle raised her hand to her mouth, horrified. “The irony of course, is that she’d been broken-hearted, as was I, but agreed our break-up was for the best. You see, she still loved her husband, just as I loved my wife, but we just…loved each other more…or differently, I guess you could say.”
Danielle’s fork lingered over her food. “You would have stayed with your wife and just not told her?”
He took a bite. “That was my plan. I thought we’d eventually come back here, live out our lives and I’d never repeat that particular mistake again. She had other plans.”
Danielle winced. “But you were divorced when you met up with the second client’s wife—right?”
He nodded. “Still foolish, but at least I was no longer married.” Danielle didn’t have to dig deep to realize she didn’t have much compassion for him. He’d made his choices and the resulting outcomes had played out accordingly. Still, he’d learned from his heartache and had put rules in place to prevent others from suffering from similar mistakes.
“You know, despite all the rules, it’s pretty hard to combat attraction and love when it comes along, don’t you think?” She’d been hypothetical type of a way, but he caught her eyes and held them.
“I do.”
Danielle woke to the sound of the shower. She glanced at the clock: 4:45 am.
She padded into the marble-lined bathroom. She used the mouthwash, ran fingers through her hair, and then went to the glass of the shower. His head was tilted back as he ran his palms over his hair. When he saw her, he smiled wide.
Danielle let the bathrobe slip off her shoulders, the door already open for her. He adjusted the second showerhead on her back, his palms cupping her face, kissing her with wet, full lips.
“Now,” she said, the word more demand than request.
Ten minutes later, she was panting, her arms looped over Lars’ shoulders, relishing in the last few moments they’d have under the water.
“This may be the best Tuesday morning I’ve ever had in my life,” he said, his tone causing her to giggle.
“Well, I know it can’t be the worst.”
He grumbled when she wouldn’t let him continue postponing the job of cleaning, but she responded by telling him she wasn’t going to allow both of them to be late. She delayed her own task of getting dressed by observing him from the bed as he selected clothes to wear, adjusted his tie and fastened his shoes.
“You look so fascinated,” he remarked.
Danielle sighed and shrugged. “I am. I’ve never seen this side of you.”
Lars crossed to her, sitting next to her on the bed, running his fingers through her still-wet hair. “Nothing more?”
“Unlike you, I’ve never lived with anyone nor been married. The little things like watching you button your shirt is extremely sexy.”
He caressed her face tenderly. “I think we need to take a few hours off tonight, don’t you?”
She breathed deep, shaking her head. “You didn’t hire me to be lazy, Lars.”
His eyes narrowed in humor. “You don’t know the meaning of the word, Athena.”
“That would be Aphrodite to you. I’m still in bed.” She lay back on the bed, pulling Lars above her. “Are you going to channel your inner Zeus for a few minutes?”
“At least a few.”
CHAPTER 47
That day Lars didn’t drop by but called her once to check in.
“I can force you to leave,” he warned good-naturedly, although Danielle felt his voice carried a hint of strength.
“No need. I’m exhausted and will be going home soon.” At home she received a call from Giles, who told her the season was officially done and that he was closing the shop.
“It’s ski time,” he said happily. He told her he’d see her at the restaurant. “I grew to like the turkey dinners with stuffing when I was in the States. Good for my pot belly.”
That night, Lars called and kept her talking until eleven, despite what he’d said about letting her get some sleep. Wednesday night she let the conversation continue until ten, and then she stopped him short.
“If you are going to be such a distraction and kill my numbers, you should have just come over here so we could talk in person while I trade.”
He laughed. “My counterproposal is that you bring your laptop and a change of clothes to my place. I’ll make dinner while you work.”
“No way!” she said.
“How much longer are you going to stay with the weekends-only thing?”
Danielle impatiently tapped the keyboard, watching the seconds tick by on the computer.
“You know exactly how long and the reasons for it. Of course, I’d love to hear how that conversation with Ulrich is going to go, with a discussion about how lower rates of return are acceptable.”
Lars agreed with her conjecture, but it didn’t alter his desires. “A night or two here during the week isn’t going to hurt anything and if it makes you feel better, we can both pull out our laptops and get some work done. It’s what couples do. Work from home, side by side in the bed.” As if that were decided, he told her to bring a change of clothes every time she came over.
The whole notion of becoming a semi-permanent fixture at his apartment was thrilling and scary. “Are you sure?” She asked, her heart picking up speed.
“Danielle, this is what couples do,” he said, as if she’d missed the most obvious part of being in a relationship. “They are together, all the time.”
“Except at work,” she interjected.
“Where we don’t interact all that much. I know you want this Danielle, as much as I do. Don’t be scared of it. It will be as natural and wonderful as everything else we’ve experienced.”
Danielle renewed her focus on work and Lars did his part, doing his best not to distract her for the rest of the week. Friday he picked her up, they went to Zermatt and spent the weekend roaming the countryside by foot and also by horse. She made good use of the hot tub and sauna. Lars even called in a masseuse to provide his and hers massages in the downstairs spa. It was heavenly.
Two months after she’d started seeing Lars, she gave in and spent Wednesday night at his apartment. She arrived expecting to be nervous, but she wasn’t. In fact, she slept great, traded above par, and at Lars’ insistent request, spent Thursday night with him as well. Then it was Friday and another weekend in Zermatt.
That pattern held for the following two weeks and somehow she was able to maintain her numbers. Lars shared her love of food and took great pleasure in introducing her to out of the way places she never would have found herself. She was invariably exhausted each evening, soaking in the hot tub before they relaxed next to one another, speaking half-English, half-German.
“You have to be the soundest sleeper I’ve ever been with.”
“It’s because I’m getting a lot of exercise, in and outside of the home,” she replied suggestively.
She’d planning on going home for Thanksgiving but her father talked her out of it.
“You’ll be coming home for three weeks over Christmas,” her father said, his voice sounding tired. “This is the end of the year for you, the final push. Don’t miss four days for me when we can enjoy more time together in December.” He was so insistent she ultimately agreed.
Thanksgiving dinner was at Stars & Stripes, her helping out the wait staff because they’d made the decision to stay open extra hours. The waiting list was enormous and neither L
ani nor Danielle felt good about Americans missing a good homemade turkey dinner. At 12:01 am, Danielle switched the music over to Christmas carols, causing the patrons to erupt in a spontaneous cheer.
It was strange and uniquely American, she told Lars, who stayed the entire night. She eventually ate at 2 am, when the last patron left and Stephen locked the door.
At home, Lars rubbed her feet before kissing every part of her body. Before she fell asleep, Danielle said a prayer in her heart for her father. Her last thought was one of joy at being in the arms of a man who loved her more completely than she felt possible. She’d never been happier.
CHAPTER 48
Danielle was on her back, caressing Lars’ cheek with her fingers. He had the stubble of morning growth and she thought it sexy, but also loved his smooth, clean-shaven look he normally wore. He was a rare man who could go either way. When his fingers touched her nipple she winced.
“Sensitive?” She nodded, not wanting to tell him how much.
“Hmmm,” he rumbled with satisfaction, his fingers going down her side. She asked him what he had planned for the morning if anything, and he said he needed to make a call.
Danielle happily watched him lean over to the nightstand and pick up his cell phone. He spoke rapid German and then hung up. “Having Dominic bring me something from the store,” turning back to her. “How about we lounge in bed for a little while until Dominic comes?”
Danielle raised an eyebrow. “Lounge?”
Lars moved down to her. “My version of it.”
Danielle was lying on her side when Lars’ picked up his ringing cell phone, said one word and hug up. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere, including into the bathroom.”
She giggled, wondering what he else he had in mind. She listened to the sounds of the door opening, a brief conversation and then Lars coming to her. He was dressed in his pajama bottoms, the dark blue cotton and linen pants with a draw string dotted with grey diamond shapes.
Lars sat on the edge of the bed. Something in his look made her hold her breath, the anticipation of an adventurous activity.
“I have something that I want you to use when you go to the bathroom,” he began, his face betraying no trace of sexuality. He reach in and pulled out a box, and her eyes popped. She didn’t need to read the foreign language to understand what the pencil-like image meant.
“A pregnancy test?” He pulled out another. “Two? Are you serious?” she asked, a half-lilt of humor in her voice.
“I’ve never seen you have a period, and it’s been a couple of months. Your breasts are larger by a half size at least, which only improves upon perfect,” making her smile. “Your nipples are tender, and a little darker and your hips—you have a microscopic layer of fat around your belly now.”
As if understanding that she was starting to get upset, Lars took her hand and raised her up to him, putting his arms around her, his voice comforting as he hugged her. “Just go in and take the tests.”
Danielle numbly took the tests into the bathroom. When she was done, she stared at the tubes and immediately saw the single pink line in the window, counting the time out in her mind. She hadn’t finished the first sixty seconds when the second line appeared on one, and then moments later, the second line appeared on the other test.
Danielle couldn’t breathe. A knocking at the door followed. Lars had been counting as well. She told him to wait just a minute, her voice shaking on the last word. She had just stood when the door opened. The tests were in her hands when he put his arms around her, holding her still.
Danielle couldn’t speak. Lars warm arms held her tight, the soft presses on her head comforting kisses. She processed the options. Have the baby with Lars, have the baby without Lars, but either way, live here. Wait until her body ejected the baby, go through tears of misery and pain. She couldn’t think.
“Danielle, may I say something?” Danielle squeezed her eyes shut, nodding her head yes. “I would like to be the father to our child.” One hand moved up her back, as he spoke into her hair, his warm breath and lips penetrating her skin. “I can think of no one else I’d rather be a parent with than you.”
Danielle concentrated on breathing in an out, one inhale at a time. A baby, with Lars. Perhaps she would keep it, most likely she wouldn’t. Either way, she was going to experience months of pregnancy, along with the highs and lows of potentially being a mother.
“How are you going to justify this to the partners?” she asked, thinking of the stir it would cause.
Lars remained steady, watching her reaction. “I love you Danielle. I’d walk away from my world to be in yours.”
While Lars was in the bathroom, Danielle pulled out her phone, and sent two texts, one to Lani and the other to David. Lani didn’t have an OB she could recommend since she had been using infertility specialists but she would ask around and have an answer by tomorrow. Danielle said nothing of a pregnancy, just that she needed a checkup. David, her former boss called her back within five minutes.
“Dammit Danielle. When I told you to move mountains, I don’t think I added parting the Red Sea.” He then turned paternal. “To answer your question, I haven’t seen a partner and trader connecting,” he said, emphasizing the word with a bit of humor. “It all depends on how it’s perceived at the firm and the culture. Technically, there are no laws against it and since you have a manager in between the two of you, it might work out. You can imagine others in the office wondering about preferential treatment, but it may not come up because it’s all return based, and that can’t be faked. The part where he gave you a billion dollars though, well…”
“But my numbers are higher than everyone else, by a long shot.”
“True, and that might negate any comments you may experience.”
Danielle emitted a little laugh, but it wasn’t from worry or stress or exhaustion. She was actually consumed with the force of love, and the knowledge she was going to build a family with Lars, assuming she carried the baby to term.
David joined her laughter. “Well, I suppose I get a big part of the blame. I did tell you to make the most of yourself, and now you’ve gone and done it.”
That she had.
Danielle walked into the bathroom to find Lars out of the shower, a towel around his midsection. She wrapped her arms around his still-damp body.
“How are you feeling?” she asked. “Any different with the news you are going to be a dad?” In truth, she didn’t need to ask. He was glowing with an internal light she’d never seen.
“I am pretty damn excited,” he admitted. “You’ll want to send your father ultra-sounds,” he added.
“You’re already giving me pregnancy pointers. I love that.” Then she turned serious. “You do realize that the odds are low I’m going to be able to keep this baby? And I won’t tell my father until I’m a bit further along.” Lars was still facing the mirrors, her hands around his waist, her chin on his shoulder. He reached his right hand to her cheek, caressing her tenderly.
“I am aware that this may be a false high, yes,” he answered, his eyes consuming her. “But until that changes, I’m going to approach it as though we are having a family. That we are a family.” Danielle felt dizzy with joy. “I knew getting that piano engraved was a smart thing to do,” he said smugly.
She spent the rest of the weekend in a happy daze. Lars too, was caught up in the euphoria of the situation, eager to sit on the high-backed fur-covered chaise lounge and flick through the Internet for information on everything from what she should or should not eat, to all the activities she should now avoid.
“No more hot-tubbing,” he said, grateful she wasn’t that far along. “The heat can cause a miscarriage.”
Sunday afternoon, Danielle made an observation. “We’re doing what people call nesting, do you realize that?” Lars was unfamiliar with the term, and she gave him the simplistic definition. “Staying in, looking for things for the home, scouring the Internet for things we need.” It was t
rue. Lars had already started anticipating which bedroom would be best for the nursery until she suggested the baby might be in the bedroom with them so she could nurse during the night. He looked at her dumbfounded.
“Oh, right. I didn’t think of that.”
Danielle smiled and pointed to her chest. “That’s actually what these are for.”
“One thing,” he replied, his manner altering completely. He carried her to the bedroom, loving her so deeply and passionately she was left gasping. When she was nestled in his arms, she silently thanked him for making the rules not to date clients. Had she not broken up with Andre, she never would have known the love with Lars. Looking back, she would gladly experience the heartache for the joy she now had.
CHAPTER 49
Danielle received the names of two OBs and got an appointment with one for the following Tuesday. Once it was confirmed, Danielle called Lani. She was in the middle of prepping her food for evening, but Danielle knew she’d catch hell if she waited too long to disclose her situation.
“You’re kidding me,” was all Lani could get out. When Danielle confirmed she was definitely not joking around, Lani demanded to know all the details and Danielle laughed.
“You know as much as I do! We’ve been together and this is what happened.”
“But…do you love him? Are you going to keep it? Are you moving in together? This is your life!” Lani said emphatically.
“Yes, I love him,” Danielle replied, feeling almost giddy as she said the words. “To all the other questions, I’ve practically been living with him, and yes of course, we will keep it.”
“But you’re not going to get married,” Lani said as a statement.
“We haven’t talked about that specifically, no, but he did say he’d leave his world to be in mine.”
Lani audibly exhaled. “Wow.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay, then. Keep me posted. I still can’t believe this…” Lani said, talking in fragments. It set Danielle laughing again.