Just Deserts - Brenda Jackson [42]
She raised a brow. “What?”
“You, Renée and Alex. I don’t know of three women who probably needed each other more.”
She smiled at him before reverting her gaze to Renée and Chris. She then glanced over to where Alex and Hunter were standing. “I’ve thought that same thing lately. But still, there isn’t closure for me.”
He nodded, understanding. “It will come soon.”
She stared at him. “Did Chris tell you something?”
“Yes. He was able to pick up a few leads on the woman’s identity, but didn’t have the time to follow up on anything. I thought we would fly home first, check on things, get the ball rolling for the purchase of Shipping Source and then fly to Costa Woods.”
Gratitude shone in her eyes. “I know how busy we’re going to be at A&T with the merger and all, but you’ll take time off again for me?” she asked quietly.
He nodded as he took her hand in his. “Yes, I’ll take time off for us. I won’t be satisfied until we bring this thing to closure, as well.”
What he wouldn’t tell her was that only when there was closure would he share with her what he’d held inside him for so long. It was bursting to come out, but he had to be certain she would be ready not only to hear it, but accept it.
“Hey, guys,” Alex said, as she and Hunter joined them. “How about all of us getting together for an after-the-honeymoon party on board the Marc III when the newlyweds return?”
“That sounds like a good plan to me,” Tristan said, one arm around Danielle’s shoulders now.
It sounded like a good plan to Danielle, too. She looked at Alex and saw the sly smile on her friend’s face and knew what she was thinking. Even if Danielle hadn’t shared with Alex and Renée the news that she and Tristan were lovers, it would have been quite obvious to everyone here that they were. He had always been a demonstrative person where she was concerned, but now he was even more so. And they’d been caught kissing—the tongue-deep-in-your-mouth-almost-down-your-throat kind—when Alex had stumbled upon them last night almost in this very spot after the rehearsal dinner. Alex had been out looking for Little Sweetie, who’d gotten away from her.
“Great,” Hunter said, pulling his wife into his arms. “Then it’s final. In three weeks the two of you, along with Renée and Chris, will join us in Atlanta.”
The following two weeks were busy ones not only for Tristan and Danielle, but practically everyone at A&T. The first thing the partners did upon returning to the office was to call their top management together to advise them of what was in the works.
The main thing was to be sensitive to the people who had worked many years for Simon Craven’s father at Shipping Source. Tristan and Danielle had given him their word that they would.
Shipping Source had more than forty offices spread out across the country, and Tristan and Danielle intended to make it their business to visit each one of them to assure the current employees that, starting out, few changes would be made. However, they both knew it was important to get many of their key players in place to ensure a smooth transition.
The purchase of Shipping Source went off without a hitch, and Tristan and Danielle were grateful for that. It had taken two weeks, instead of the one they’d counted on, but when it was over, they had celebrated with dinner and champagne. And that night, they continued the celebration in each other’s arms.
“Tristan.”
Danielle whispered his name from deep within her throat when a sexual explosion hit both of them at the same time. He held her tight while her legs locked around his taut and solid thighs, pulling him even further inside her.
This was what she looked forward to each day, she thought. No matter how hectic things got at the office—and lately things had gotten crazier than ever—she knew she would always have this peace in his arms, after the turbulence of heated passion and earth-shattering ecstasy was shared.
Still locked in her body, Tristan pulled back far enough to look at her face. “I had your secretary clear your calendar for next week,