One Love (17 page)

“
Sure, because he knows a
workaholic like you will work until after midnight for the next few
nights.” Lanessa grinned at her.

They left but not before Lanessa gave
Robyn a few short instructions. All through lunch Lanessa kept
thinking of Metoyer and Dawson. Why did they keep running together
in her mind? She had a feeling she was missing something important
that was right in front of her.

The next few weeks passed like a
whirlwind. Lanessa had two major projects as a direct result of her
work for Paxton-Waite. Her reputation for knowing how to find
information on the World Wide Web made her much in demand. Of
course that meant a lot of business socializing. For a solid month,
Lanessa spent as much time at dinner parties, luncheons and company
picnics as she did in her office. Yet she was determined not to be
separated from Alex. Whenever possible, he came with her. She
convinced him that he could make contacts as well. At his
insistent, Lanessa spent several Sundays with Alex and the twins.
Tia and Nia were not openly hostile, but there was a measure of
reserve toward Lanessa. Lanessa did not look forward to those days
to be honest. It was not at all relaxing. Being with Alex was the
prize.

“
Goodness. Another day when
I hardly came up for air.” Robyn let out a long breath. She glanced
at the clock. “Consider me gone, boss.”

“
See you tomorrow.” Lanessa
did not look up from the computer screen. The buzzer on the outer
door sounded.

“
Darn it! Don’t these people
think we have lives?” Robyn grumbled. She stomped out.

“
Hello,” Alex strolled in
with a smile. He leaned down and kissed Lanessa’s cheek. “Robyn
peeled out of the driveway like a race car driver.”

“
Hi, babe.” Lanessa accepted
his kiss with a distracted air. I should be through in a minute.”
Her eyes followed the lines of text scrolling down the
screen.

“
It’s after six o’clock.
Time for all sensible people to go home.” Alex put an arm around
her shoulder. “There’s a steak waiting my love.”

“
Too heavy, I’ll have
shrimp.” Lanessa let out a small squeak. “There it is!”

Alex jumped. “What?”

“
I’ve been searching for
hours. I finally found the listing of products I want in the Code
of Federal Regulations. Come to mama.” She clicked on the printer
icon and smiled as sheets slid out with the information she
wanted.

“
A cause for celebration.
Let’s go.” Alex tugged at her arm.

“
Sure, sure. Just let me
finish printing out a couple more...” “

“
No. The last time we ended
up ordering pizza and eating it here.”

“
I was understanding when
you had to work on that new networking project for Tri-State or
whoever it was.” Lanessa glanced up at him. “Remember how patiently
I waited?”

“
We’ve both been working too
many long days. Now it’s time to kick back.”

“
Sure, babe. But Info, Inc.
is a two-woman operation. Running a business means I do it all.”
Lanessa picked up the stack of papers. She read the first page with
a critical eye. “More business means more work.”

“
I know.”

“
I’ve gotten two great
clients just in the last week. Info, Inc. is building a reputation
for knowing all the best stops on the information
highway.”

“
Your brains and hard work
are an unbeatable combination.” Alex sat down next to
her.

“
Mostly hard work. Power
networking at fancy parties doesn’t hurt. Not to brag, but no one
else in Baton Rouge or New Orleans does what I do.” Lanessa
chuckled.

“
I’m really glad your
business is taking off. Just don’t leave me behind.” Alex wore a
slight smile.

Lanessa heard the underlying tension.
“Sure I’ve been busy. But we’ve been together.”

“
Yes, dinner at Chalet
Brandt with Gulf Systems. A party at the Oakwood Club. But by the
time we left those places, we were both tired and had to get up
early for work the next morning. Not exactly my ideal evening with
you.”

“
I agree, sweet stuff,”
Lanessa said. “And you’re the best for putting up with
it.”

Alex took her hand. “Let’s forget work
for a while. Go one week without some business meeting disguised as
a social event.”

“
Uh, well. . .” Lanessa bit
her bottom lip.

“
Now what?” Alex raised a
dark eyebrow.

“
I told Caine Dawson we’d be
at a dinner party Saturday night.” Lanessa squeezed his hand when
he pulled back. “But, baby, I promise no more for a while. I
haven’t gotten any other invitations lately.”

“
Which is the only reason
why you won’t be going anywhere,” Alex said.

“
You of all people know what
it’s taken for me to get here. Those parties are the best place to
make contacts.” Lanessa gazed at him. “I need you to be
supportive.”

“
I am,” Alex said quickly.
He brushed his fingers through her hair. “Whatever it takes to make
you happy is what I want. You love the dazzle and glitter of nights
on the town.”

“
I’m thinking of the bottom
line.” Lanessa’s lips curved up at the look he gave her. “Okay, I
like partying with the rich and famous, too. But I’ve got my eye on
what’s in it for Info, Inc.” She held up several pages that had
come out of her laser printer.

“
All right, Ms.
Tycoon.”

“
I promise we’ll be out of
here in no time.” Lanessa brushed her lips across his before
turning back to the computer. “Just one more download.”

Alex nuzzled her neck while his hands
held her shoulders. “I think we should leave now. The longer you
stay, the more work you’ll find to do,” he murmured.

Lanessa tilted her head back to enjoy
the feel of his lips on her skin. “Hmm, you’re making an excellent
case. I don’t have to print this all out tonight.”

“
Just bookmark the web
site.” His mouth moved against the soft skin of her neck as he
spoke. “That way it’ll be easy to retrieve tomorrow.”

The vibration from his deep voice set
off a humming in her body. Lanessa relaxed and forgot the lines of
black text on her computer monitor.

“
You’re right.” With her
attention really on the way he was making her feel, Lanessa saved
the website with the click of her mouse.

“
We can continue after
dinner. Turn off the computer.” Alex drew away.

“
Tease!”

Alex walked to the door and held out
his hand. “I hope it’s working.”

Moving quickly, she shut down the
computer system and got her purse. “You better believe it
is.”

They arrived at Outback Steakhouse
within fifteen minutes. It was crowded since the food was so good.
The hostess handed them a small pager that would signal when their
table was ready. They sat on the porch outside waiting for a table.
Lanessa did not mind at all. Just being with Alex gave her a sense
of peace. She looped her arm through his and enjoyed the early
evening breeze. Laughter surrounded them from other good-humored
customers. The grounds were landscaped with oleander down one side
leading to a small pond. Pink and white flowers clustered in neat
beds. Tall oaks trees draped with Spanish moss that stirred like
long beards in the wind made the setting complete.

Alex breathed deeply. “Smell that
prime beef. Hope we don’t have to wait too long.”

“
Hmm.” Lanessa leaned
against him. She did not care about food at the moment. Just being
here with him was enough.

“
Well, you certainly took my
lecture to heart.” Alex smiled at her with affection. “You seem
completely relaxed.

“
You have that effect on
me.”

“
About what I said back at
your office, I’m hope I didn’t sound too selfish.”

Lanessa put her forefinger on his
lips. “You were right. The last thing I want to do is repeat an old
pattern.” She looked at him.

“
It’s not like that.
I--”

“
I said you’re right. Gee,
you’d think having me tell you that would bring on the dance of
happiness.” Lanessa chuckled. “Especially after all the times you
lost arguments with me.”

Alex joined her in laughter. “I wish I
had a recorder to preserve this moment. I might need it later
on.”

“
Okay, that’s enough.”
Lanessa poked him in the side. “Our table is ready.” She held up
the pulsating pager.

Seated across from him in the softly
lit booth, Lanessa enjoyed a different view now. Alex was splendid
in a white knit cotton shirt with two navy blue stripes down one
side of his broad chest. He wore navy pants with a burgundy leather
belt. As they’d walked to their table, a group of women openly
stared at the tall handsome man with skin like gourmet milk
chocolate. Once more Lanessa marveled at having another chance with
him. She was not going to blow it this time. Her first task in the
morning would be to take stock of her projects. If she wanted to
keep him, she’d have to work just as hard at this
relationship.

“
About
Paxton-Waite--”

“
Ah-ah, you said we would
leave work behind,” Lanessa said with an impish grin.

“
We will right after I tell
you this. You mention Lake Des Allemands.”

“
Yes, they’re interested in
developing the area. Some hush-hush plan they don’t want the
competition to get wind of.” Lanessa sipped her tea.

“
I might be able to help.
I’ve got connections, too. My dad has land there. So does the guy
Shauntelle is seeing.”

“
Yeah. Alex, about
Shauntelle...” Lanessa fidgeted with her the plastic straw in her
heavy glass mug.

“
What about her?”

“
You and she seem pretty
close and all.” Lanessa did not look at him. “I mean, you spend
time together.”

“
Lanessa, there is nothing
between us.”

“
No, no. I don’t mean that.”
Lanessa folded her cloth napkin in several shapes. She was working
out a way to approach the subject of Metoyer.

Alex misinterpreted her hesitation to
speak. “We share parenting, that’s all. I’m telling you; don’t make
something out of nothing.”

“
Listen--”

“
Of course I like that
you’re a little jealous.” Alex wore a sexy half smile as he leaned
across the small table. “Makes me hot,” he whispered.

“
Cut it out,” Lanessa looked
around with a giggle. She grew serious again. “I’m not talking
about you and Shauntelle. It’s this guy she’s dating, Charles
Metoyer.”

“
Huh?” Alex looked baffled
at the twist in the conversation. “What’s he got to do with you
being jealous?”

“
Stop riding the giant male
ego express,” Lanessa shot back. “Here’s the thing, Metoyer is
dating my friend Yasmin,” she said low.

“
Say what?” Alex
yelped.

“
A little louder, a few
people in Baton Rouge didn’t hear you.” Lanessa scowled at him.
“

“
Sorry. It’s just you took
me by surprise.” Alex blinked at her. “Are you sure this friend
said Charles Metoyer? I mean, it could be someone else.”

“
Charles Auguste Metoyer,
IV. Rich, old family and lots of land in south Louisiana.” Lanessa
spoke each word with deliberation. “Well?”

“
Okay, I was hoping for a
long shot.” Alex shook his head slowly. “Shauntelle is really into
the guy. She says he treats her like a queen.”

“
Exactly the way Yasmin
talks.” Lanessa fell back against the padded back of the bench. “I
don’t know how to tell her.”

He shook his head with vigor. “Bad
idea. Stay out of it. I plan to, believe me.”

“
I can’t let one of my best
friends get trashed by that... dog. And besides, she’d never
forgive me if she found out I knew.”

Alex cut off his reply when the waiter
came to take their order. When the man left, he went on.

“
They’re adults. We should
let them handle their own affairs.” Alex grimaced. “No pun
intended.”

“
Well, I’m going to look
into this guy.”

“
Lanessa, you’re ignoring my
advice,” Alex said.

“
He’s somehow connected to
this Paxton-Waite deal. I would have been reading up on him
anyway,” She said in a defensive tone. “You even said as much a
minute ago.”

“
He owns property in Des
Allemands. But so do a lot of other people. You’re using it as an
excuse to meddle.” Alex looked at her hard.

“
All right it’s true. But do
you really want to see this pile of--”

“
Calm down,” Alex broke
in.

“
Do you want Shauntelle to
become his hit and run victim?”

“
A very descriptive way of
putting it.” Alex looked thoughtful. “I’ve heard how he operates. I
even mentioned it to Shauntelle. But she insists it’s all
history.”

“
Humph, I don’t think so,”
Lanessa said. “Speaking of his reputation, seems I remember
something from my days down at the state legislature. I’m going to
find out.”