Just Deserts Read Online Free PDF Page B

you felt?”
    “No, I never told him. I came close to doing so one night when he called, but before I got the chance he told me about his orders to go to Iraq. Now I’m glad I never told him. You know Paul. He would have left worrying about me.”
    Tristan didn’t want to tell her that Paul had worried about her, anyway. That was one of the reasons he’d asked Tristan to look after her if anything was to happen to him. Paul had also been proud of her. Tristan would never forget the time Dani made the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. Paul had purchased all the magazines off the rack at one particular store to give copies to their customers.
    “Are you really happy working at A&T, Dani?”
    “Yes, that’s the only part of my life I’m enjoying right now. I feel close to Paul there. The business was his dream and when you told me he left his share of the business to me, I was deeply touched. I know how hard the two of you worked to make the company a success. I like handling new accounts and watching sales increase, and making sure we’re meeting those companies’ needs and doing whatever we can to better serve them.”
    Tristan nodded. She was smart and did an excellent job; she’d become a real asset to the company. But then, he’d figured she would. He’d had no qualms about her taking over for Paul.
    He saw her smother a yawn and knew she was probably tired. It had been a long flight, they were now in Pacific time but their bodies were still thinking Florida time.
    “Do you want to take a nap before dinner?”
    She smiled. “I think I will. Do we need to make reservations for dinner?”
    “Yes. I’ll take care of it.”
    “Thanks.”
    He watched as she stood and covered her bikini with the cover-up. “What time do you want me ready and dressed for dinner?”
    “Um, how about around six?”
    “That’ll work.”
    He stood, as well, and together they began walking toward the door that led to a bank of elevators. When he placed his hand at the small of her back, he actually felt heat there. And he couldn’t help but look forward to dinner with her later.

Chapter 3
    O nce Danielle had changed out of her bathing suit and slipped on comfortable lounge wear, she contacted Alex and Renée.
    Alex answered, seemingly more alert than she had been the last time they’d spoken. The same thing with Renée. When both women said they were alone and their men hadn’t come in from work, Danielle appreciated the difference in time zones.
    “Has either of you discovered anything else?” she asked, dropping into the love seat in her room.
    “Before we answer that, we want to know how things are going in San Francisco. How is Tristan?”
    Danielle rolled her eyes, knowing why they were asking. “That’s not the issue here, ladies.”
    “We think it is, Danielle,” she heard Renée say. “We’re worried about you. We care.”
    She couldn’t help but be touched. Over the past two months, they had endured a lot together, had felt the same pain, had been cut by the same deceit. Only difference from her was that they had moved on and had lives.
    But she mustn’t allow herself to dwell on that right now. The most important issue, the most pressing issue was the fact that there was another person out there somewhere, another of Marc Foster’s victims. That was what she had to focus on.
    “I’m fine, really. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m tough. I can hang. Tristan is a good friend. He’s always been there for me and I appreciate him.”
    When neither women said anything, especially Alex, who was usually upbeat, Danielle got a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. What were they trying to prepare her for? “You have found out something,” she said slowly, almost certain of it. “What is it?”
    When neither said anything for a moment, her throat tightened, a sign of anxiety creeping in. “Hey, don’t hold back on me now.”
    It was Renée who finally spoke. “We don’t want to