He swallowed hard and took a deep breath. “Stay with me. After the baby is born, don’t go.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Are you serious?”
Tristan rubbed her back as he nodded. “I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”
“But that’s just... Tristan, you do realize that newborns are loud.”
“Of course.”
“And a full night sleep doesn’t happen for a while.”
He shrugged easily. “Which will give me time to check in with my overseas offices in their time zone.”
She looked confused, her bright blue eyes intently watching him. “Why do you want this?”
He reeled back in surprise. “Are you doubting the way I feel about you?”
“No. But I still want to know why. You’re signing on for responsibilities you didn’t have before I came into your life. It means the world to me that you’re taking care of me while I’m pregnant. But I’m not going to be pregnant much longer and then you could have some normal back.”
Tristan moved Abby to the side and stood. He watched her face and realized that she truly wasn’t doubting, but curious. He could deal with that. “How would you define normal? Coming home to an empty house when it’s been filled with your smile for weeks? Night time phone calls and texts when I could be by your side as you take care of the baby? Is that what you want? Do you want to go back to your house?”
Abby shook her head. “No.”
“Then stay. God, Abby, before you started staying here, the silence was the loudest thing in this house. You make it a home. I would love for you to move in, permanently. “
Her eyes glistened over with tears and she smiled. “Then I would love to.”
Thank you, God! He scooped her up in his arms and swung her around, her laughter again filling the air.
“Abby, you make me the happiest man on the planet.”
“Good. It’s the same for me.” She giggled. “Except for the man part.”
Tristan sat her down and kissed her. “Believe me, I know you’re all woman. Now, would you like to go pick out furniture for the nursery?”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“It’s Saturday, Abby. I was checking emails out of habit.”
“Oh. That sounds like a good idea.” She slipped her feet into her flats and checked herself in the mirror. Tristan thought that was completely unnecessary. No matter what Abby was wearing, in this case a sundress, she was still the most beautiful woman around. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Abby took his outstretched hand, and headed for the car.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Slowly, Tristan was ticking off the things he needed to do. Next on the list was ridding Atlanta of the woman who’d upset Abby the most. He hadn’t shown Tristan’s ruthless side since his rebirth, but it was time for that to change.
Abby and her mom were receiving massages at an upscale resort, to be followed up by dinner at a nearby restaurant. He arranged this in order to be able to meet Joe Price at a local restaurant without Abby ever knowing.
“Mr. Ramirez, as much as I would love to have your business, we don’t handle corporate law.”
Tristan put his whiskey down on the bar and looked over at the next table. Joe worked with David, had been his friend, so Tristan knew he was at Dantanna’s every Thursday evening without fail. Some of the guys from the firm used to bring him here once a week in an attempt to lift his spirits, or get him drunk off his ass so he would forget his troubles. Making partner hadn’t changed the habit. Thursday, six PM sharp, one drink and Joe would leave. Tristan had timed his visit perfectly, as the man had just ordered. Joe immediately recognized Tristan—most people did—and they’d begun a conversation.
“Actually, my legal team handles anything of that nature. But I’m looking to purchase property here and your firm has quite the reputation.”
Joe’s eyebrows rose. “All good, I hope.”
“Indeed. So imagine my good fortune in finding you here. Which brings me back to the subject. Could you use my business?”
Joe briefly glanced around then quietly drummed his fingers. He’s nervous. Joe did this so he would have something to occupy his fingers since he quit smoking a few years back. “Mr. Ramirez, look around. There are two attorneys at the end of the bar who would gladly slit my throat to take my place. Of course I want your business.”
Tristan glanced over his shoulder. Yes, he knew the sons of bitches and hell would freeze over before he ever gave them his business. Not that he needed to anyway. He was only using Joe to prove a point.
“When are you looking to purchase?”
“Within the next six months. I have matters of a personal nature that need to be handled first.”
The look on his face was pure satisfaction. “We would be delighted.”
Not so fast, Joe. You may not like this. “With a few provisions, of course.”
His brows rose again. “And those would be?”
“You have an employee, Marianne Wright?”
Joe nodded once. “We do.”
“I want her gone.”
Joe’s eyes widened and he cocked his head to the side. “For what reason?”
“Personal.” Tristan lowered his voice. “Not only do I want her gone from your firm, I want her gone from the state. If you know a way to get her to the West Coast, that would be preferable.”
For a brief moment, his mouth dropped in surprise. “Mr. Ramirez, what, may I ask, has Marianne done to you to warrant such a request?”
“Abby Daniels is a friend, and Ms. Wright has been overheard bragging about having sex with David Daniels.”
Joe choked on his drink, and Tristan patted his back. The bartender came over to check as Joe gasped but Tristan waved him off. Eventually, Joe regained control and after a few deep breaths, settled back on the barstool.
“Are you okay, Mr. Price?”
“No. Not at all.” Joe looked around, apparently trying to gauge who was within earshot, then leaned in closer to Tristan. “Are you sure? David worshipped the ground Abby walked on. He would never cheat on her.”
Tristan kept the same expression, even though he wanted to cringe. To everyone else, David was the poster child for an ideal husband, but Tristan knew differently. “I can only go on what my PA overheard.”
“Are you sure it was Marianne?”
“Positive. She got a good look at the credit card before Ms. Wright put it back in her purse. And the sales girl called her by name. Apparently, she buys a lot of lingerie.”
Joe paled. Marianne came back from lunch shopping trips with lingerie bags on a regular basis.
He shook his head. “I can’t just fire her.”
“Sure you can.”
“For what reason?”
“You’re an intelligent man, Mr. Price. I’ll leave that up to you. However, I will provide Ms. Wright’s severance package. If you can get her across country, I’ll toss in moving expenses too.”
Joe finished off his drink, not taking his eyes off Tristan. “You are going to a lot of trouble for a friend, Mr. Ramirez.”
Tristan shrugged and stood, handing Joe a business card. “Trouble would imply that we’re doing something wrong, and we’re not doing anything wrong here, are we?”
“No.”
“Good. I look forward to doing business with you, Joe.” Tristan put enough money on the bar to cover both drinks then strode out the door, whistling to himself. He couldn’t change the events of the past, but he sure as hell could make up for them.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Abby draped the blanket over the crib and ran her fingers over the soft yarn. She’d finished this one today while Tristan worked. The nursery was complete. They’d decided on this room together and Tristan had got everything moving quickly. An artist was brought in to paint a mural from Abby’s favorite children’s book. Furniture was picked out, shipped and set up within a day. All the baby’s clothes and supplies were brought over from Abby’s
house. Now all they needed was the baby.
“You’re deep in thought.”
Abby smiled as Tristan approached. She knew what would happen next. He would drape his arm around her and she would lean into him, safe in his embrace. “So I am.”
“What are you thinking about?”
“You, the baby, how everything has changed so much and that the biggest change is yet to come.”
“Are you worried?”
“Naturally.” Abby turned and looked up, smiling nervously. “But I’m also very thankful.” At Tristan’s questioning glance, Abby explained. “You’ve done so much. From putting a rush on my pineapple pizza, to defending me against my in-laws to rearranging your life. You’ve made me feel incredibly special.”
“And I would do it again.” Tristan ran his fingers down her cheek and Abby enjoyed the caress.
“I know.” The last year had been an enormous life lesson, and Abby knew she should be grateful for what she had and not ask for more, so she acquiesced. “I love you.” She had to say it, even though Tristan hadn’t said it in return.
Tristan held her close and kissed her with the tenderness of a man in love. He ended the kiss and gazed down at her with happiness. Abby sighed contentedly. Tristan’s affection for her ran deep and she’d take that until he was ready to verbalize his feelings.
Her eyes grew heavy and she felt like she should lie down. “I’m kind of tired, so I think I’ll take a nap.” With one last, quick kiss, Abby walked out, grateful for once that he wasn’t following. She was too tired to do anything other than lie across the bed and close her eyes.
~
Tristan was going to go with Abby until he saw Ehron in the room, just as she walked out.
“Did you make Abby want a nap?”
Ehron shrugged. “Maybe. I need to talk to you.”
“So what do you need?”
“It’s not what I need. For a man who’s lived twice, you are fairly obtuse. When you look at Abby, what do you see?”
“The only woman I’ll ever love. Hope. The future. Forever.”
“Nice. That could be a greeting card. Look deeper than that, Romeo, and tell me what she looked like standing in front of that crib.”
Tristan took a deep breath and remembered what he’d seen as he’d stood in the doorway. Even though he was standing beside an actual angel, and he’d been to what people called “the other side,” Tristan had never seen anything more ethereal. Abby had a grace and beauty untouched by life. She was light.
“She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I see her anticipation for the baby’s birth, dignity, love,”
Ehron clapped his hands together. “Stop there. Love. Abby has given you hers. Why haven’t you told Abby that you love her?”
Abby sat in the car, tears streaming down her face, staring up at David with agony in her eyes.
The mixture of fear and desperation was powerful, but David could only reach out and touch the glass. “I love you, Abby.”
For a second, David thought she would respond. But she turned the key in the ignition and pulled away, leaving him to rush back to the office. He had to get his keys so he could get home. He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not ever. The screeching of tires and a bystander’s shouted warning were the last things he heard before a car slammed into him. As he felt his life leave his body, David realized it wasn’t death that he was afraid of, it was leaving Abby.
Tristan gasped as the memory faded and he came back to the present.
Ehron cleared his throat. “Go replace that with better memories, Tristan. Give her a reason to treasure those three words again.”
Ehron smiled in satisfaction as Tristan rushed from the room.
~
Somebody kissed her cheek, repeatedly, waking her from sleep. Abby opened her eyes and stretched her arms. Tristan sat on the bed, looking down at her.
Strands of black hair lay across his forehead and stubble lined his jaw. The rugged businessman, she thought with amusement.
He grinned and the smile lines by his eyes deepened. “Hello beautiful.”
“Hi yourself. Is everything okay?”
“I love you.”
Abby’s eyes widened, and she exhaled a ragged breath. Pure joy flowed through her, but she needed to make sure she heard him correctly. “What?”
Tristan helped her sit up. “I love you. I wasn’t brave enough to say it when you did and for that I am sorry.”
Tears flowed down her cheek, but she shook her head. “Don’t you dare apologize. You’ve said it now and that’s all that matters.” Abby pulled him to her. “You were worth waiting for.” She crushed her mouth to his, moaning softly as his hold on her tightened. He ended the kiss and smiled.
“I love you.”
“And I,” she responded, feeling incredibly blessed, “love you.”
~
That night, they were in bed and Tristan slept with his arm draped around Abby’s shoulders. Her head was on his chest and she listened to the steady rhythm of his heart.
Even at one in the morning, when she should be asleep, Abby couldn’t stop smiling. God, she thought, it felt good to be happy.
Tristan moved and Abby looked up. He murmured laughter and his face held a happy expression, as if he was dreaming something very good.
“Come here,” he said very softly. Had Abby not been lying on his chest, she might not have heard him. Tristan’s hold on her tightened, not uncomfortably, just like he was clutching something very important in his dream.
“Abigail...Marie.”
Abby hadn’t heard anyone call her that since David.
Oh God.
Tristan always called her Abby. She slipped out of his hold and swung her legs off the bed, needing to think, to walk around, to...something. She didn’t know.
Christ Almighty, why did he call me that?
She paced, wondering when and where Tristan would’ve picked that up. Of course, he knew her full name. They’d spent considerable hours talking, in the process of getting to know one another. Besides that, a man with Tristan’s substantial wealth would more than likely have done a background check on her. She exhaled, relieved that she had enough reasoning to discount her building paranoia.
David is dead. Tristan is here.
He probably was just dreaming of seeing her full name typed out on paper work at the doctor’s office. She stopped pacing and stretched her toes on the luxurious carpet. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and saw Tristan sitting up, staring at her.
“Couldn’t sleep?” He ran his hand through his sleep mussed hair.
Abby shook her head. “I’m not tired.”
He glanced over his shoulder at the clock. “It’s almost one thirty.” He slid off the bed and walked to her. “Are you sure that’s all? You aren’t hurting, are you?” His hands rubbed up and down her arms, his coal-black eyes pinning her with worry.
“Just couldn’t sleep. I’m not tired.” Abby kissed his chest. “No need to worry.”
“Okay.” Tristan inhaled deeply nodded. “Do you want some warm milk? My mother used to do that for me when I couldn’t sleep and it really works.”
“No.” Abby ran her finger along his jaw roughened with stubble.
Put it out of your mind. There is nothing to worry about.
Abby glanced up and down his body, and knew she had the perfect way to get her mind off things. “I have other ideas for tiring myself out.”
Tristan smiled mischievously and pulled her to the bed. “Well then, let’s see what we can do about that.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Abby flopped her purse down on the counter as Tristan went to the refrigerator for a drink.
“Wouldn’t it just be easier to set up a bed at the doctor’s office? I’ve been in five times this month.” And she was quite aggravated with the frequent visits. Abby knew in the last month of pregnancy, obstetrical appointments were once a week anyway, but with gestational diabetes, her docto
r monitored a little more closely.
Tristan put a bottle of water down in front of Abby and kissed her. “Just think, you’ll be thirty-seven weeks in a few days and before you know it, the baby will be here.”
Abby moaned in frustration. “Don’t reason with me, please. I just want to be aggravated and you’re being logical.”
Chuckling, Tristan shook his head and walked toward the door. “Fine. You be aggravated. I’m going to go get some work done.”
She sighed, thinking about Tristan accompanying her to every single visit. He asked as many questions as she did, he had the doctor’s phone numbers programmed into his phone and had mapped out the quickest route to the hospital. Tristan acted as if he were the baby’s father.
“How did the appointment go?” Abby looked up to see Alice approaching.
She patted her belly. “I didn’t gain any weight, and my blood sugars were great.”
Alice clasped her hands together with a smile. “That’s wonderful.”
“I think so too.”
“Abby,” Alice remarked with a nervous expression, “I am so thankful that Mr. Ramirez has you.”
“Thank you, Alice. That means a lot. Actually, I’m pretty grateful that I have Tristan. Not to sound too clichéd, but he brought light back during a pretty dark time.”
“It’s fated, really. Especially considering the way you two found each other. And this Christmas should be so much happier for you both. Losing someone you love is hard enough without it happening that time of year.”
December twenty-second was the anniversary of David’s death. Had Tristan’s wife died around the holidays too?
Abby thought about going to his office and asking, but he was catching up on work. She went to find her computer, so she could get some answers.
~
“Maybe it is Lidia,” Abby mused to herself as she clicked enter. She had tried four different spellings in the search engine and nothing came up. “Oh come on.” Drumming her fingers on the side of the laptop in frustration, she wondered why she wasn’t finding anything.
Maybe I should try Tristan’s name.
Tristan's Redemption Page 13
