Although she claimed she hadn’t officially moved in, she stayed with him every night. She’d put her house on the market and he knew she was working with a Realtor to find a condo close by the office. But he figured that was going to change soon enough, once he began doing whatever it took to make their relationship permanent.
“Coffee smells good,” he said, walking into the kitchen and taking a seat at the table where she had placed a pair of mugs. She turned and smiled and reached for the coffeepot.
“Thanks. Is everything okay in Savannah?”
He nodded. “Yes. Reynolds wanted to make me aware of a huge shipment coming through. And he wanted us to know that the employees appreciated the new equipment.”
“It was long overdue,” Danielle said, pouring coffee into the mugs. “I’m glad Craven decided to go ahead and sell once he’d made the decision that he wanted no part of the business his father started.”
Tristan couldn’t agree with her more. The acquisition had been a blessing for everyone. Not only had A&T been able to retain Shipping Source’s employees, most of whom had been with the company for years, they had posted a number of new positions at all the offices. The increase in hiring was a boost to the local economy where the offices were located.
Danielle sat down and glanced at him. He saw the anxious look in her eyes. “So, what did you have to tell me about Marc?”
He could see that although she wanted to hear what he had to say, she was also uneasy about it. She had to put her coffee down when her hands began shaking.
He reached over and captured her hands in his. “Don’t, sweetheart. It’s nothing that serious.”
“You mean Chris hasn’t stumbled on a fifth woman?” she asked, affecting a playful tone.
“No.”
“Okay, then, what is it?”
He leaned back in his chair. “When Chris was able to get back to Costa Woods earlier this month to do a more thorough job of going over Marc’s apartment, he discovered a jeweler’s receipt. He paid the jeweler a visit and found out Marc had an engagement ring exclusively designed for the woman.”
Danielle raised a brow. “How exclusively designed?”
“To the tune of a half million.”
“What!”
“Yes, I understand it was six carats.”
Danielle shook her head. Tristan could tell she didn’t want to believe it. “Where on earth did he get that kind of money?” she asked, stunned.
“Chris and I figured it was part of the loot that he embezzled from Alex’s family’s company.” Tristan paused before adding, “The jeweler was also paid to design his wedding band and hers.”
He knew Danielle was taking it all in before she asked, “Was the jeweler able to provide Chris with the woman’s name?”
“No. But he was able to provide him with the name of the restaurant where Marc told the man he’d proposed to her. Because of his own wedding and then the honeymoon, Chris wasn’t able to follow up on that until this week.”
Danielle inhaled deeply. “And?”
“He visited the restaurant and the man remembered Marc. It seems Marc paid him a large amount of money for the restaurant to be closed that night at a certain time so that only he and his lady friend would be there.”
Danielle blinked. She found it totally unbelievable that the man she thought was her husband for five years and who’d stopped having a romantic bone in his body for the last three of them, had wined and dined this woman. “The restaurant’s in Costa Woods?”
“No, it’s in Dallas.”
Danielle shook her head again. “Marc certainly got around a lot, didn’t he.”
“Apparently.” After a few moments Tristan continued, “The restaurant owner remembered the woman, too. In fact, she patronizes his establishment on a frequent basis. And he’s certain that’s where she and Marc met, which was why he was so adamant about proposing there.”
Silence stretched for a long moment before Danielle spoke. “Okay, just who is this paragon who deserved all of this lavish treatment?”
Tristan studied the contents of his coffee cup for the longest moment and then he looked at Danielle. “Her name is Catherine Hodges and she runs a school not far from the restaurant.”
Danielle was staring at him as if she expected to hear more. He could tell she knew there was more. “Ms. Hodges runs a school for the deaf and blind,” he added.
She raised a brow. “And?”
“She’s blind, Danielle, and has been since birth.”
Danielle paced the kitchen. She was livid. How could Marc stoop so low? Her heart went out to Catherine Hodges, and she couldn’t help but wonder how badly the woman had gotten taken in.
“Dani, you’re going to wear a hole in the floor.”
She stopped and glanced at Tristan. They stared at each other for a long moment and then he stood with open arms and she wasted no time going into them. He held her tight, rubbed her back and whispered that things would be all right.
And then she cried.
He continued holding her, his arms enfolding her in his warm embrace, and she felt comforted in a way she never had before. And then she was scooped up in his arms and he carried her to the bedroom they were now sharing. When they got there, instead of placing her on the bed, he sat down and held her in his arms to let her continue to cry.
He rocked her and whispered that things would be okay and that in the end Catherine Hodges would be okay. Danielle wanted to believe that. She wanted to believe him. When she didn’t have any more tears left to shed, Tristan placed her on the bed and undressed her before undressing himself. Then he pulled her into his arms again.
That was when Danielle realized just how much she loved him. How could she not love a man who handled her with such loving kindness? Such warm and tender care? She had fallen in love with Tristan Adams, her very best friend.
His hands moved all over her with both comfort and passion, and each stroke on her skin unleashed desire of a deeply potent kind. She felt her body tremble in anticipation, felt the area between her legs become heated with a need only Tristan could quench.
Then he lowered her to the mattress and joined her there. He bent his head and captured a nipple with his mouth. She felt his erection against her thigh. That was what she wanted. That was what she needed.
“Come inside me, Tristan. Now. Please.”
She didn’t have to ask twice. Immediately he moved over her and entered her in one hard thrust. Yes! This was what she needed, and her groans of pleasure were letting him know it, too.
He started moving then, thrusting into her with lightning speed and then slowing down as if to savor the moment. Over and over, in and out, deeper and deeper. She felt the welcome spasms start at the soles of her feet and work their way upward.
“Tristan!”
And then it came, just like she knew it would, and with a force that left her breathless, filled her with total completion and undiluted pleasure. She knew no matter what turmoil entered her life, she would always have this.
She suddenly felt tired, as if she couldn’t hold her eyes open any longer, and she barely felt the hard jerking of Tristan’s body when he got his own pleasure. But somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind, she heard him whisper, “I love you, Dani, with all my heart,” just seconds before she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 10
Danielle slowly opened her eyes to a new day, recalling every vivid detail about last night. But the thing that stood out most clearly in her mind was what Tristan had whispered to her when he thought she’d fallen asleep. “I love you, Dani, with all my heart.” The words still echoed in her brain.
Alex and Renée had been right all along. Tristan did love her just as she knew she loved him. Even before he’d said the words, her heart had already made the decision. Knowing he loved her in return made everything so complete.
She stretched and looked around, wondering where Tristan had gone. Then she remembered watching him hours ago through
sleepy eyes as he eased out of bed before dawn, tugged on his running shorts before quietly slipping out of the room. It was Saturday and he usually went running then. Today was also the day of the company picnic. Their five hundred-plus employees and their families had been invited to the annual event, which was held each year the last Saturday in July. With the expansion of A&T, this year’s picnic would be bigger than ever. A caterer had been hired to grill the ribs and chicken and prepare all the other tasty dishes they’d selected.
Danielle closed her eyes, feigning sleep, when she heard him return. Through lowered lashes she saw him glance at her before tugging off his shorts and heading toward the bathroom to take his shower.
The moment the door was closed she opened her eyes and slid out of bed. Moving quickly, she padded across the floor to the bathroom and quietly opened the door and eased in. She could barely see his body through the steamy glass door of the shower, but she could see in her mind’s eye the broad chest and muscular shoulders, not to mention his taut, well-defined thighs. And what she considered the best-looking tush in all the world.
Her heart began to pound, a familiar sensation whenever she saw Tristan’s naked body. This beautiful specimen of a man was not only her best friend and lover, but now the man she loved. That he actually loved her in return made her want to weep for joy. But she had done enough crying last night—and for all the wrong reasons. Marc and the pain he’d caused did not deserve another tear. Alex and Renée had been right. He had gotten his just deserts and it was time for each of them to move on and live.
Alex and Renée had done just that, falling in love and marrying men who would spend the rest of their lives making them happy. Deep down, Danielle knew she had found her soul mate, too. He was a man who had always been a part of her life, a man who was so attuned to her wants and her needs. A man who was her best friend.
The ceramic tile felt cool under her feet as she slowly strolled to the shower door. She eased it open and saw the surprise on his face. “Quickie time,” she said, grinning.
He pulled her into his arms as the hot water washed over them both. Wasting no time, he lifted her off her feet and wrapped her legs around him, and just as quickly, he entered her. Her back pressed against the shower wall, he thrust into her. Once, twice. At the third thrust she was a goner, screaming his name while water poured all over them.
And then he was screaming hers and she felt the heat of his desire all the way to her toes.
After taking a shower they’d gotten back into bed and made love all over again. Now they lay cuddled in each other’s arms, knowing they had to eventually get up and get moving, since the company picnic would start in a few hours. But Danielle knew there was something she had to ask him, something she had to know.
“Tristan?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Last night, before I dozed off to sleep, you whispered something to me. You told me that you loved me with all your heart.” She paused for a second and then rolled ahead and said, “Is that true? Do you really love me? And I don’t mean the best-friend stuff. I mean the way a man truly loves a woman.”
He had been stroking her back and at the start of her question his hands had gone still. Their eyes met and held for the longest time and then he began moving his hands again. “Yes, Dani. I love you. I didn’t realize just how much until that day you called to let me know you wouldn’t be coming in to work because you had eloped with Marc.”
Her eyes widened. “You mean you’ve been in love with me all that time?”
A small smile touched his lips. “Yes, sweetheart, I’ve been in love with you all that time.”
He didn’t say anything more for a moment. Then, “Does it bother you knowing that I love you?”
She shook her head. “No. Not unless it bothers you to know that I love you, too.”
At his stunned look she smiled. “Here’s love coming back at you, Tris, because I love you. I love you, Tristan Adams, with all my heart.”
He pulled her into his arms and his mouth captured hers, and she knew at that moment that whatever happened from here on out would be okay because she was loved by a very special man.
She was loved and in love with her best friend.
“Strike two!”
Danielle turned and glared at Nero Long, their human resources manager who was acting as umpire for today’s softball game. Nero had struck her out earlier so he was definitely not her hero today.
But neither was Tristan.
She glanced over to where he was supervising the three-legged races and saw Karin Stokes all but in his face and batting her false eyelashes at him. Danielle rolled her eyes. The woman, whether Tristan chose to believe it or not, was one hot mess. Danielle figured it was a good thing she and Tristan had confessed how they felt about each other; otherwise Karin would have continued coming on to Tristan and in a moment of desperation he might have actually relented.
“Strike three. You’re out!”
Danielle lowered the bat and turned to glare at Nero. “And just how long will it be before you retire?”
The man laughed and he was doing it so hard his entire body shook—all two hundred-plus pounds of him. Knowing it would be a waste of time to challenge his call, she walked off the field and decided to go over to where Tristan was working hard to keep Hot Mess Karin at bay.
In a way Danielle felt he was getting what he deserved, since he hadn’t taken her warning about Karin seriously until today. The woman had shown up at the company picnic wearing a short top and a pair of Daisy Dukes, and she had immediately sought out Tristan. She’d even had the gall to come up to her and ask where he was.
Because everyone who worked for the company was aware of her and Tristan’s close friendship, Danielle figured none of them had a clue they were now an item, especially not Karin. The last thing she needed was for her and Tristan to become the main topic of conversation at the water cooler, but she figured something had to give. Now she knew how Tristan felt when he thought Craven and Stewart were showing a little too much interest in her.
“How are things going over here?” she asked, coming to join the group when the race was over.
Karin flashed her a smile. “Wonderful. I was trying to talk Tristan into partnering with me in the next race, but he’s being difficult.”
Danielle tried hiding her grin when she glanced at Tristan. He looked like he wanted to ring her neck. “I need to borrow him for a minute,” she said, taking hold of his arm.
“Sure, just bring him back,” Karin said, batting her false eyelashes again and smiling. Danielle wasn’t sure which of the two the woman enjoyed doing the most—flashing her smile or batting her eyelashes.
“I was wondering if you were ever going to come and rescue me,” Tristan said, putting his arm around her shoulders.
“And not let you spend time with Hot Mess Karin? Are you kidding?” she asked.
“Hot Mess Karin?” Tristan burst into a laugh.
“I’m glad I’m able to amuse you. But on a serious note, sweetheart, you do something about her or I will. This is a company picnic where most of the employees bring their families, not a hot-pants contest.”
Tristan glanced back over his shoulder at Karin. “Her shorts are kind of out there, aren’t they.”
“Out there, barely there. Yes, you could say that. And if you haven’t noticed, a few of the wives are frowning since their husbands can’t seem to keep their eyes off Karin. I’ve got a feeling a lot of them are going to be sleeping in guest rooms tonight.”
Tristan sighed deeply. “I’ll talk to her first thing on Monday. Oh, and by the way,” he said, steering Danielle in the direction of the bleachers, “I’ve made all the arrangements. You and I are flying to Dallas on Wednesday.”
“That soon?”
“Yes. Are you okay with it?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m okay with it.”
Danielle had tried not thinking about Catherine Hodges and what situation she might find in Dal
las. She had spoken to Alex and Renée, and both had given their support and suggested she handle the situation as she saw fit. The good thing was that the woman hadn’t married Marc, at least.
Tristan took her hand in his. “You still want closure, don’t you?”
She looked over at him. “Yes, I still want closure.”
Closure.
That was the main thing on Danielle’s mind when she and Tristan arrived in Dallas the following week. After checking into the hotel, they decided to wait until the following morning to show up at the school. They had called and Catherine Hodges’s secretary made an appointment for them to meet with her.
“Do you think meeting her at the school is the wisest thing?” she asked Tristan that night after they were in bed.
“Not really,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “But Chris didn’t have her home address and phone number. When we arrive at the school tomorrow, let’s play it by ear, since she doesn’t know the reason we’re meeting with her.”
“All right.”
That night after they had made love and Tristan had fallen asleep, Danielle cuddled beside him in his arms and smiled. She hadn’t mentioned anything to Tristan, but her period was a couple of days late. She didn’t want to get her hopes up, but the possibility she was pregnant filled her with more joy than she could ever imagine. If her period still hadn’t shown up by the time they got to Atlanta, where they were to meet up with Alex and Hunter and Renée and Chris, then she would purchase one of those pregnancy test kits.
She drifted off to sleep hoping and praying that she was carrying Tristan’s child.
“Ms. Hodges will see you now,” the older woman said, smiling at them. “Please come with me.”
Tristan took Danielle’s hand in his as they followed the woman, who’d introduced herself as Sylvia Pinckney, Ms. Hodges’s secretary. Upon entering the grounds of Land of Lakes School for the Deaf and Blind, they were impressed with what they saw. Students, some who couldn’t hear and others who couldn’t see, were participating in supervised sports of all types; other students were sitting in the classrooms using computers.
Just Deserts (Kimani Romance) Page 11