Bittersweet Chocolate (42 page)

“It’s strange. JC and CJ took to Tristan’s brother right away. The big one, Christopher, he’s out back playing with the dogs.”

“Thanks. Tell everyone I’ll be down shortly.”

Marissa ate her breakfast while she mulled over the events of the previous day. The Corbetts were impressive, and Tristan had told the truth about being the runt, if his two brothers were examples of Corbett men—wait, Vi. She almost forgot about Vi’s attraction to Christopher. In fact, it seemed like a mutual attraction. That had possibilities she’d have to remember to pursue, when her life returned to normal.

For now, she needed to get to the hospital, see Tristan, and tell him about her new suspicions. She could be wrong, but if they hashed it out together, maybe they would get it right.

Setting the tray aside, she eased out of bed, had a quick shower, and shimmied into panties and a bra. She donned a white, denim knee-length sundress, topped it off with a short-sleeved, black linen bolero jacket, and slipped her feet into a pair of black, wedgie sandals. Hurrying from her room, she headed for the nursery, but noticing the door ajar, her pace slowed and came to a stop on the threshold. Daniel and Clarisse stood between the cribs, peering down at the two sleeping infants.

“Good morning,” she said.

The couple turned in unison and Clarisse said, “Marissa, how are you? You look rested.”

“I’m fine, thanks. I’ll feel a lot better, once I’ve seen Tristan.”

“Marissa, the babies are beautiful,” Daniel said, turning back toward the cribs. “I wish we could have started out on a better footing.” He sighed. “I hope we can put it behind us, and you’ll let us get to know you and our grandchildren.”

“Daniel, I totally agree.” She moved toward the cribs. “The babies are beautiful. But what else would a mother say.” Bending over each crib, she kissed the sleeping infants, walked to the door, and waited for her in-laws to precede her from the room. It surprised her to see them grinning as they passed her.

“I’ll meet you downstairs,” she said and left them standing in the hall.

* * * *

“I could become quite fond of Tristan’s wife,” Daniel whispered. “No shy miss there. She didn’t bother to respond to the second part of my statement.”

Clarisse chuckled. “As an attorney, I’m sure you appreciated her indirect response,” she teased. “Not being a slouch at sizing people up, I think it’s going to be a slow process, getting her to commit to people who’ve slighted her. But if she does, she’s going to fit right into this family. Hell. I think her and Christopher are kindred spirits. I noticed he appeared impressed with her as soon as he met her. Very few people impress Chris.”

“I think you’re right. I just hope our obstinacy and outdated bigoted assumptions haven’t ruined our chances of a relationship, because I’m positive of one thing. Marissa is not the type who takes a slight lightly, or forgets and forgives it easily.”

* * * *

Marissa went downstairs looking for her father and found him in Tristan’s den, on the phone. He finished his call as she walked into the room. “Dad, what have you found out about Joel?”

“No one in Philly can locate him.”

“Damn,” she mumbled. With Joel on the loose, her other theory shot to hell, she was back to square one. He had the most viable reason for revenge. Nonetheless, she didn’t want to put all her money on him. She’d wait and talk to Tristan.

“Marissa, why didn’t you call me, tell me about Joel?” Stephen blurted out, intruding on her musing. “All these years, I could have taken care of the little bastard. Was the attempt on his life your handiwork?”

“Yes, and I know what you’re going to say. I’d heard you say it so many times. Always make sure your enemies can’t come back for revenge. What did I do, I screwed up.”

“Honey, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it now,” he said. “By the way, I had a long talk with the Corbetts. Did you know about the two brothers? Besides being attorneys, they have some kind of background in law enforcement. They wouldn’t specify, but I suspect something to do with the federal government. Do you know what they do?”

“No, Tristan never said, and I didn’t probe. I never thought I’d meet them, or they would be involved with me and Tristan, after we married.”

His expression dubious, Stephen said, “I think it’s strange they don’t want to discuss it. Just be careful, don’t say too much around them.”

“I know, and Dad, thanks.”

“Thanks, for what?”

“For coming to help and still caring.”

“Marissa, I love you. I’ll always care. I might not have liked everything you’ve done, but as Daniel said last night, we’re family. Besides, you’re the way you are because I encouraged you to be tough, since you were a little thing. You never were prissy like your sisters. You’ve always been my little tomboy.”

She walked around the desk and hugged him. They left the den and joined the Corbetts in the kitchen.

“Kate, we’re going to the hospital. I’ll get the dogs.” Marissa retrieved the cool metal resting between her breasts and put the whistle to her lips. JC and CJ scurried through the panel in the kitchen’s sliding glass door and rushed to her side. She petted them and said, “Up!” The dogs rushed for the stairs, jostling each other as they went.

Marissa and her father drove to the hospital in her car. They rode in silence, her mind on her dilemma. She needed to discuss her new supposition with Tristan, but if he agreed with her, he’d insist she let him deal with it, and he could be out of commission for days. After the botched break-in the other night, she feared another attempt to get at the twins. Besides, if they concluded Joel wasn’t the problem, she knew who was, and no one but her could get close to that person. She’d have to act alone and that wouldn’t go over well with Tristan.

At the hospital, she requested a few minutes alone with Tristan, entered his room, and was surprised to find him sitting up, looking alert, and so damn sexy. Holding his gaze as she approached the bed, she struggled to refrain from jumping his bones. She reached his side and settled for a light kiss on his mouth.

“Tristan.” Her eyes narrowed. “I think you forgot to tell me something the other day?”

“Rissa, I’m a sick man.” The corners of his mouth twitched.

“You’re sick, all right. We have a house full of guests. Nice family reunion.”

Tristan’s manner became serious. “Honey, I wasn’t expecting our friend to move so quickly, and I definitely wasn’t expecting to be the target. Who showed up?”

“My father, your mother and father with two of your siblings in tow, and you are the runt, aren’t you?” She grinned. “You have a damn impressive-looking family. Your brothers are almost as handsome as you are.”

“Marissa, don’t even go there.”

Ah, the dreaded Marissa.

“Is that jealousy rearing its ugly? Feeling better, huh?”

“Marissa.”

She held up her hand to stop him from saying more. “Okay, on a serious note, I was up most of last night reconsidering our earlier conclusions, trying to find another villain in this piece. Suppose we’re wrong, and it’s not Joel. Pinning all our suspicions on him, we’re leaving the field open for someone else. I think—”

* * * *

“Come on, Marissa, we need to talk to Tristan,” Stephen grouched as he entered the room with the Corbetts close on his heels.

Tristan’s fascinated gaze shifted between Marissa and her father. “The resemblance,” he whispered to his wife in awe. “Identical amber eyes, you never said.”

“Like father, like daughter, as yours and Kristen’s are.” She laughed and started to introduce her father. Christopher interrupted.

“Tristan, did you see anything? Think, someone lurking around the parking lot?”

“Yo, Chris, do you mind?” Tristan chuckled. “Can I meet Marissa’s father before the third degree starts, and then I’ll tell you what I think is happening.”

Stephen stepped over to the bed and extended his hand. “Glad to finally meet you, Tristan. Sorry it had to be under these circumstances.”

“Mister Wells, it’s a pleasure, I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Nothing good, I’m sure, and please, call me Stephen.”

Tristan looked at Marissa and his mother. “Would you ladies leave us alone for awhile?”

Marissa glared at him for a moment, then bent and kissed the side of his mouth. “You’ll pay for this when you come home,” she muttered, straightened, and turned to his mother. “Let’s go have a cup of tea, Clarisse.” Smiling at the men, she led her mother-in-law from the room.

Tristan and the others stayed closeted in his room for more than an hour. Marissa returned as her father and the Corbetts were leaving, and she tried to discover what they had discussed.

“Honey, I told you I would take care of this. Hence, the family gathering, and what I can tell you is my brothers will confer with the police to see if they have anything. Afterward, knowing Tony and Chris, they’ll take over.”

She frowned. “How can they take over?”

“Believe me, we don’t want to know the details,” he remarked.

He pulled her onto the bed, kissing her until she gasped for air and he was just as breathless. To keep her distracted, he immediately started talking.

“Rissa, when your friend shot me, before I passed out, my last thoughts were about never seeing you or the kids again.”

“Oh God, that call, déjà vu. Like Graham, I thought I’d lose you too.”

His hold tightened, he kissed her again, then he whispered against her ear, “Do you know what I need?”

She sat up. “What? I’ll call...”

He put his fingers to her lips. “Shh.” Pulling her back into his arms, he said, “I need you.”

“Tris, be careful, you’re hurt.”

“Where I hurt, you could ease the pain,” he said with an overplayed pitiful look of appeal.

“Damn it, Tris, don’t tempt me. Someone might come in.”

“What’s this? Marissa Wells Corbett afraid to take a chance.” He nibbled her ear.

* * * *

She marveled at their lack of control, even at a time like this, and despite his injuries, their need for each other persisted. Easing her palm across his chest, her hand slipped beneath the covers and the gown he wore. His instantaneous response had her pulse quickening. “I won’t hurt you, will I?” The light touch of his tongue gliding across her bottom lip made her tremble.

“Only if you stop.” He coaxed her lips apart. “I dare you.”

He actually dared her, which made her think he hadn’t believed everything she’d told him about her youth, about her need to defy. Hmm, he thought she wouldn’t accept his challenge because they were in the hospital. Well, surprise.

Marissa released her hold on him, wriggled out of her panties, slid them from beneath her dress, and dropped them on the floor. Slipping under the covers, she pressed her exposed flesh against his hot thigh. He stiffened, tore his mouth away from hers, and opened his eyes.

“Marissa, don’t,” he warned in his best, dreaded-Marissa tone.

Totally ignoring his rebuke, she rolled on top of him, straddled his body, and eased down on his erection. Watching his expression—eyes squeezed shut, teeth clenched—her impetus brisk and adroit, it became a done deal in a matter of several mind-blowing minutes.

His curses were lurid but adept, before they turned to laughter. She rolled off him and the bed in one fluid motion, retrieved her panties, and walked into the bathroom twirling them on her fingers.

“Damn it, Rissa. Only you would do something that crazy, and play it off so nonchalantly.”

“And you, my dear, have to learn to curb your obscene language. For Korey and Kristen’s sake,” she said from the bathroom.

“My language,” he roared. “That coming from the only woman I know with a vocabulary of four-letter words that could make a Marine blush, and you’re worried about my language.” His look ominous, he said, “Come here, Marissa. Come close.”

Never one to back away from confrontation, she walked right up to the bed. “Oh, like you didn’t want it, or enjoy it?” He pulled her head down to his, the kiss brutal. “Whoa,” she gasped, pulling away. “If I’d known what the punishment would be...maybe I should try it again.”

“Marissa. What I think you should do is go home and take care of our kids. They’re going to release me tomorrow as long as I don’t have a fever, or any sign of infection.”

“Good. We can finish where we left off.”

His tone became serious. “Marissa, go home and stay close to the children tonight. We don’t know what else might happen.”

“Get real, with all those people at the house.” She snorted. “By the way, you really didn’t expect your little seduction to sidetrack me, did you? What were you and the family talking about?”

“Rissa, trust me? You’re not alone this time.”

“All right, I’ll leave it alone for now, only because you’re injured,” she stated. “But we will discuss this. I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

“No,” he snapped. “Tony and Chris are coming for me. I mean it, Marissa, stay close to the house.”

“Stay close to the house, take care of the kids, and trust me,” she mimicked as she drove away from the hospital.

What, didn’t he think she knew the danger? Korey and Kristen were more than safe with all their newly acquired bodyguards. Furthermore, she intended to take some time for herself, go to her office, and take her secretary to lunch.

Marissa pulled into the Garrett employee parking lot, exited her car, and entered the building. When she reached the administrative offices, she was surprised to find her offices deserted. She waited in the outer office for a few minutes, assuming Megan had taken a break and would return soon. After twenty minutes had elapsed, and still no Megan, Marissa went into her office to wait.

Sitting behind her desk, she noticed the majority of projects she’d been working on before her maternity leave were completed. Megan, as efficient as expected, had done an exemplary job, and she intended to take Megan to lunch to show her appreciation for the hard work. Hell. The woman was good, Marissa didn’t want to lose her, and she made a note on her calendar—a raise for Megan.