Later that night, after a round of leisurely lovemaking back at the hotel, Dominique cuddled up next to her gigantic teddy bear. “I really love your family,” she whispered, rubbing her hand over his muscular shoulders and down his back.

“They love you, too,” Jake replied. “Especially Mama. She’s never acted so comfortable with any of the women I’ve brought around as she did with you.”

Not even your late wife? Dominique thought but did not voice. She’d won Miss Bernie’s approval, something that the wives had privately told her was no small feat. “If Miss Bernie likes you, that’s saying something,” John’s wife Cynthia had told her when they’d both ended up in the kitchen alone. And then she’d added something that had given Dominique serious pause. “I’m glad Jake finally found you so he can get married again. He’s not much for the single life.”

Dominique turned her back to Jake so she could spoon up against him. She loved the fill of being in his embrace, his weighty arm slung around her waist, his thick thighs pressed against hers. “I love you, Jake,” she whispered, thinking he was asleep.

But he wasn’t, as she found out when he answered, “I love you, too.”

47

47

Dominique returned from the Thanksgiving vacation refreshed, and very thankful. Meeting Jake’s family had not only solidified their relationship, but it had bolstered her belief that relaxing her rule on not dating anyone seriously and giving Jake a real chance had been the right thing to do. He’d proven to be the missing puzzle piece from her life, someone with whom to share and confide. Jake had turned out to not only be a good listener, but a man whose opinion and advice were solid and helpful. He’d helped her feel better about her position at Capricious, encouraged her to embrace her power, and more importantly reminded her that she’d been looking for a job when she got that one. This is the reason she wasn’t overly frazzled today when she was set to meet with the board and a number of investors. Jake’s encouragement, plus the trick that Mirabelle pulled from her sleeve, gave her the assurance that all would be well.

An hour after arriving to work, Dominique stepped into the fashionably appointed conference room. She’d dressed to impress and did so in her designer chocolate-brown power suit paired with an ivory shell and heels and gold jewelry. Her locs were shiny and freshly done, her makeup applied to perfection, and the scent of her favorite perfume clung to her body like a second skin. She walked to the table with authority, greeting those who were gathered around it. Neither François nor the magazine’s newest investor had arrived.

“Mon ami,” Mirabelle purred as she stood to hug Dominique, giving air kisses to each side of her face. “You look marvelous!”