Because I Love You (12 page)

Not being able to make eye contact because she was embarrassed, Leah waited for a response. Baring her soul tended to make her uncomfortable, throwing her back to the days of her youth when she was awkward and shy and fighting to find
out who she was going to be.

She'd been a chubby, freckle-faced girl, who didn't feel comfortable at the polished prep school she and her siblings attended, so Leah's parents broke with tradition and let her go to public school. She broke out when she was there, living in the theater, learning about herself, and finding friends who understood her.

Her father often said she was like a butterfly that emerged from her cocoon. She found activities she loved, good friends, and she excelled academically, graduating near the top of her class. Every day she fought the shyness that had been so crippling. But she was happier than she'd ever been. She was accepted at Colgate University and then later went to Yale for law school. Leah worked hard, she made good friends, and she learned how to be happy in her own skin. However, every once in a while, the doubt monster would make her question every decision she ever made.

What it proved was that she was still the shy girl who felt like a shadow. Her siblings had been standouts, stars, in whatever they tried. Nate was an Olympic hopeful, and Amy was an award-winning artist. No one in her family ever held anything over Leah, but she was just smart. She wasn't talented, popular, or beautiful. She had brains. She had drive. And she had a fear of failure that made her ridiculously overcautious. Tristan's tattoo was ironic, not just because of the message, but because she could see they dealt with the same emotion in completely different ways.

How she was feeling about Tris scared her on so many levels, but she couldn't walk away from him. Not for anything. Fear, nerves, uncertainty—it all weighed on Leah's mind. But when Tristan touched her, kissed her, or made love to her, none of it mattered. He patiently gazed at her, waiting.

“Leah, love, what's really eating at you?”

It was now or never. “We were going to take things slowly, but everything is moving so fast, and I don't know what to think. I mean . . . do we step back so it doesn't get more serious? Or do we . . . reevaluate?”

For a second, he froze, staring at her blankly. Leah wondered if maybe he'd gone into shock. What she proposed was completely out of left field. Or was it?

The two of them had been spending all their time together. They slept together, ate together, and played together. He wasn't just a lover. Tristan was her best friend. And he was a best friend by choice, not by blood.

Clearing his throat, Tristan stroked her cheek. “You make me break all my promises. I don't know what's going to happen, but I can't walk away from this. You mean too much to me. So you aren't getting rid of me just yet.” Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, he smiled. She loved his smile. “And to that end, I insist that you accompany me to the Reliance dinner party in a few weeks. We'll go together. As a couple.”

Leah swallowed hard. He was a dream come true. “Do you think we can do this? I mean, this is a big step.”

“No, a big step would be you moving in with me. I think you should do that, too.”

Now it was Leah's turn to be stunned. It took her a second to process what he'd just said. “That would be a big step. But it's so soon.” Was he asking? A knot formed in her belly: It was nerves, hope, and dread all rolled into one. Great. The man of her dreams might be asking her to live with him and she was the owner of a ball of gastric freak-out. “What are you
proposing, exactly?”

His hands slid up and down her sides in a gloriously sensual rhythm. His eyes were laughing. The man was full of boyish charm and it was ever so sexy. “I remember you mentioning that your lease is almost up. Move in with me. Let's see if we can make this work.”

“Oh, my God.” He wanted to be with her. She wasn't imagining things. Something special was happening. Her eyes flooded with tears. Honest-to-goodness happy tears.

“I don't know why this feels right, but it does.”

“I think that's a great idea. I mean, I'd love to. This is weird.”

Tristan laughed, and pulled her close. “We're going to have a great time,” he said. “You're insane, so how could it be anything less?”

“I know. I'm going to drive you crazy.”

Tris's eyes went dark. With the gentlest touch, he pushed the hair away from her neck, twisting a stray curl around his index finger, and pressing his lips at the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder. Leah drew a sharp breath, and Tris took that as a sign he should do it again.

“You know,” he murmured, “you already drive me crazy. You and your curls and your wicked eyes—it's like falling under a spell when you're close to me.”

It was so easy. Leah's head dropped to the side and she didn't object as he kissed and nibbled her neck.

A sigh escaped and she felt his smile break against her skin. “Bewitching. And you're mine.”

The thought . . . to be his . . . filled her from tip to toe. “Oh, Tris . . .” She was the one bewitched. When she was with him, work never crossed her mind. The office, the silly politics, Tad, none of it mattered.

“When can you move in?”

“Impatient?”

“For you? Absolutely.” He swept her into his arms and Leah allowed herself to fall into the fantasy. “Am I going to have to watch out for your family when we start living together? Sally isn't going to try and poison me or anything, is she?”

Leah raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. “Probably not.”

Everything stopped. He froze. “What do you mean,
probably not
?”

“Sally's very protective of us.” A kiss on the cheek did nothing to change the dour look that had swept across his face. He was adorable when he was annoyed, which he thoroughly was.

“Well, if I'm going to be held accountable for soiling your virtue, I'm going to take full advantage of it.” Motioning for her to flip off the galley light. “I'm taking you back to bed, miss.”

“Oh, yay!” she said, feeling particularly silly. Running her fingers through his hair, which was probably a smidge longer than a respectable business tycoon should wear it, Leah kissed him gently. Not missing a step, she marveled at his strength as they made their way to the stateroom and he deposited her on the downy comforter. She sank into the softness,
immediately reaching for him.

Tris settled himself over her and his hands brushed the hair back from her face. It might have started out as fun and games, but whatever was going on between them had the potential to be life-changing. Leah was so set in her ways, so sure about how her life was going to turn out, that she never accounted for someone like Tristan.

The way he was looking at her was the stuff dreams were made of. His eyes, so deep and dark, told her what he couldn't say. That he felt for her what she felt for him. That he understood they were both unable to express to each other the depth of their emotion.

Leah had bottled up her feelings for years and now Tristan was allowing her to break free. She could only hope he would be able to do the same.

His kisses were gentle. Sensuous nips and tugs let her know he wanted more. His hands moved slowly over her body, easing off her clothing, touching and stroking her in all the places he knew she liked best, and when she heard her name on his lips, Leah knew this was all about her.

This wasn't about sex, this was about connection, about possession, about their hearts and souls. It was hitting her in a rush—intense, deep, and magical.

Tristan's fingers laced with hers and he drew her arms up over her head. Leah pressed her body into his as his mouth traveled down her neck, grazing his teeth over her collarbone. Sucking in a breath let him know what he was doing was perfection.

He teased every part of her, but seemed to enjoy it the most when she squealed as his mouth teased her breasts. “Ticklish, love?”

“No. It's ahhh . . .” He bit her nipple ever so gently, then settled into gentle sucking, and Leah came undone. Nerves shot pleasure and pain in every direction. “Tristan. Inside me. Please.”

He smiled at her, both satisfied and happy that she wanted him, and he made no argument. He positioned himself at her opening and Leah moaned as his penis teased her core.

“Are you ready for me?” he asked.

“So ready,” she whispered.

Once she gave permission, he started to push inside her. His penis was long and thick, fitting Leah like she was made for him. “Oh, Tris. Oh . . .”

However, his words were spare: his actions were speaking for him. Keeping himself above her, Tristan started to move. The strokes were slow and deep, the dreamy pace joining them in a way like never before. Tristan's eyes never left hers, and craving even more closeness, Leah let go of his hands and wrapped her arms and legs around him, drawing him in, matching his pace.

They settled into a perfect rhythm, sexy, warm . . . Leah had never felt so totally possessed.

Claimed.

Loved.

“Frankly, I don't know why the SEC is balking at the proposed sale.” Josh Campbell, Jason's brother and the investment manager on the IPO, paced the conference room. Josh was a big man, who under the right circumstances might look more like a Viking who went through a time-warp than a banker. “I'm getting no response from my contact there and the attorneys have never seen them so tight-lipped.”

Jason tapped his pencil, something Tris had noticed he did when he was working through a problem in his head, whether it be coding, security-based, or something to do with the business.

He was still getting to know all their personalities and it was a varied bunch, to be certain. Jason definitely gave off a geeky vibe, coming to work in sweats and superhero T-shirts when he was working through a programming issue, but when talking business or finessing clients, he had charm to spare. The man was brilliant, with double PhD's from MIT. He had more brainpower than the rest of them combined.

Owen, the retired marine officer and CIO, was sitting forward in his chair, hands folded on the table, thinking. It could very well mean he was strategizing with his military brain. It could also mean he was so pissed off he couldn't speak.

Navigating the dynamics was taking a lot of effort, and he found the long friendship of the partners made for some interesting discussions. And some interesting battles.

There were times Tris didn't know if becoming part of the company was a good idea because of the history among the men, but now that he and Leah were serious, he questioned it less. Funny how falling for someone could do that to a man.

To that end, he had to start building better relationships, and Owen was the partner who'd been the hardest to reach. Intense and brooding, the man had been to hell and back during his tours with the marines, and those demons surfaced now and again. Owen also had to mend some fences with Nate, and work on ratcheting down his intensity. He was alienating people at the office, and Tris wondered if he could act as a bridge between the men.

He didn't have all the history that would bog down a conversation. Maybe he needed to take the lead. “You know, it's near two o'clock and I'm bloody starving. Does anyone want to grab a drink and a late lunch? Maybe getting out of here will help shake some ideas loose.”

Everyone in the room froze. For a second, he wondered if he'd said something offensive. But then Jason nodded, and Josh agreed.

Owen shrugged. “Sure, why not.” He stood and walked toward the conference room door. “Steaks?”

Nate stood and slapped Tris on the shoulder. “I'm in.”

Owen poked his head out of the conference room and called to his new assistant. “Judy, please make a reservation at Port Steakhouse for five. We'll be there in about twenty minutes.”

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?”