“Not our problem,” Maksim responded, grabbing his things. “This is Danica’s problem.”
Alicia bade her adieus to them before collapsing back into her chair. Dee let out a low whistle while Abby filled out a spreadsheet on her tablet. “I really hope it’s not my problem like that,” Alicia said.
Nobody responded. She had forgotten how alone she was in this matter.
“Well,” Abby attempted to say cheerily, “you now own this many more shares of Moreau Industries.” She showed her boss a sizable number. It wasn’t enough, of course, but it was a start.
Either way, Alicia would need more money. And a stiff drink.
“You did wonderfully,” Danica said in the limo that evening. Alicia leaned against the seat, eyes closing and claiming the first real bit of rest all day. Shit, neither she nor her wife got out of the office on time. It was already a quarter to six. “You bought the shares as quickly as I could have. What did you say to them?”
Alicia searched for her hand on the middle seat between them. The limo ride was always smooth, but tonight she swore she felt every undulation of the vehicle as it went up against rush hour traffic downtown. “I told them they have no money and need mine. The man agreed.”
“I don’t mean to diminish your accomplishments this afternoon when I say this,” Danica began, squeezing her wife’s hand, “but I had a feeling he would be eager to sell after I talked to him a few days ago. His business partner has been bleeding their funds dry with his addiction to his new wife.”
That got Alicia to open her eyes again. “Hope that isn’t foresight on your part. I mean, be addicted to me all you want, but don’t bleed the funds dry.”
“For one thing, I have a lot more money than the Petrovs.” Danica slid closer to her, mouth instantly diving for her shoulder. “For another, I’m a lot more discerning with my addictions. Take you, for example. You’re the only addiction I’ve ever had in my life.”
“NowthatI can’t believe.”
Danica pulled down the sleeve of Alicia’s sweater, gracing her skin with light kisses. “Let’s not talk about work tonight, my love. I have a special night planned for us.” Danica intercepted her lips and bestowed her charged kisses upon Alicia’s mouth.I hate you sometimes.Alicia held her palm against her wife’s face,always delighting in how grand that skin felt against her fingers. “Tonight we’re only talking about us and our future.”
Alicia supposed that she should feel lucky that her wife wanted to talk about their future so readily. In fact, she wanted to speak about it a bit more than Alicia did.Can’t help it. Makes me nervous.She couldn’t think about tonight like that. Tonight? Things were happening tonight. Exciting, frightening things that would be hard to walk away from if they took hold.
“I don’t want to talk about anything,” Alicia said. “Not unless it’s how good you feel.”
Good thing the privacy partition was already up. Alicia and Danica may have been quite public with their relationship so far, but that didn’t mean she was game for having the driver and bodyguard watching them make out and indulge in heavy petting in the backseat.
It probably would have taken a more erotic turn if it weren’t for the limo coming to a complete stop and the driver hopping out of the front seat. Not that such a thing stopped Danica once she got started with her wife. The whole world now knew that she had fooled around with this woman. Wouldn’t the press think it romantic if they were caught heading for second base in the backseat of a limo? Or at least Alicia assumed that was her thought process as Danica continued to tongue her throat even after the door opened. The scent of open water took over their perfume for a hot second.
“Da… Danica,” Alicia giggled at the scene they created, “I think we’re here.”
“Fine.” She was off her, sending the driver the iratest look she could muster. “Later, my love. We’ll finish later.”
Danica held her hand as they passed through a brightly lit building adorned with posters advertising summer festivals and things to do on the water. Alicia hadn’t been paying attention to where they were driving, but now she beamed to find themon a date down by the marina. They weren’t anywhere near the yachts, however. Certainly nowhere near the yacht she and her wife had made love in not so long ago.
“I have a lot of surprises to share with you tonight, precious.” Danica kept an arm around her while they waited for a woman in a pantsuit to unlock their final destination. The woman opened a sliding door to reveal a wooden dock jutting out into the river. A small round table was set up alongside a glass wall. The wall prevented the breeze from knocking over rose-scented candles and from mussing Alicia’s hair. It did not prevent the couple from enjoying the view of the sunset or the boats heading up and down the river. “This is the first of many surprises.”
Alicia was still smiling as she accepted a small menu from a young waiter. Danica had already ordered their wine ahead of time. She poured it for them now.I was going to do that…Alicia had been so distracted by this destination date that she forgot the simple pleasures she loved to share with her wife.
She was more than that, wasn’t she?
“Cheers,” Danica said, clinking her wineglass against her wife’s. Alicia hurried to hold up her glass so they could properly toast. The waiter silently awaited their orders. “To us, my love. I’m sorry I can’t give you a proper wedding yet. This will have to do for now.”
“Keep it up, and we might not need to do any of that.” Alicia was still all smiles as she inhaled the wine’s fragrance and took a sip.Ooh. Is this Australian? Shiraz or Merlot? I’m so bad at this.Alicia was content to simply enjoy the taste for now.
Danica took a bigger swig than Alicia. “I would like to do that, eventually. At the very least, we should have a wedding we can show off to the world. It’s not fair to keep my beautiful bride from looking like a beautiful bride.”
“You’re such a romantic, and you probably don’t even know it.”
“I never had a reason to act romantic until I met you, Alicia.”
She could barely order her dinner, the poor dear kept giggling like this was their first real date.Actually, it’s our what… fifth? Good Lord!
“Anyway, I can’t contain myself.” Like a young intern at her first real presentation – only wearing a custom Valentino pantsuit – Danica plucked her large leather briefcase off the hardwood floor and pulled something out of it. “I’ve got so much I want to show you. You and my side projects are all that have kept me happy throughout the shit.”
That was a compliment, right? “You have time for side projects?”
