Page 101 of False Evidence

“And Kendall mentioned him. When did he leave T&D?”

“A few months after you and JT split,” Lee said. “He started his own firm with a partner. Took some clients with him. It wasn’t pretty.”

“Yet you’re selling to him?” Alexandra asked.

JT shrugged. “I want out. He does good work. Hell, he was landing half the contracts we didn’t get anyway.”

Lee closed the laptop and stood. “That’s all I found on the hard drive. Now, we have a holiday dinner to enjoy.”

Alexandra let out a heavy sigh. For a moment, she’d forgotten what day it was. She’d forgotten the joy she’d felt earlier. She’d slipped into a painful past and knew there was more pain to come.

JT wrapped an arm around her and whispered, “Can we share our news?”

Warmth spread from her center.Yes.This was what she needed right now. A return to joy.

She nodded and turned to Erica. “Are you busy on New Year’s Eve?”

Erica’s brow furrowed. “Well, there’s this whole closing party for the sale that JT insisted had to happen on that date, and Lee says I have to go.”

“That’s fine, because I’ll be there too. But I asked because before—or maybe it will be after?—we haven’t discussed how it will work, but I’ll be in need of a matron of honor, and was wondering…”

Erica squealed and wrapped Alexandra in a tight hug.

Over Erica’s shoulder, she watched as Lee embraced JT. “I’d better be best man.”

“That’s always been the plan.”

JT turned to face the rest of the gathering. “You’re all invited, of course. New Year’s Eve wedding at the Mayflower.”

Shock rippled through Alexandra. “You booked the Mayflower? For abusinesstransaction? On New Year’s Eve?”

It had been the venue for their canceled wedding all those years ago. It was also where she’d officially given him his ring back.

He held her gaze. “I booked one of the smaller ballrooms, Palm Court, because it also includes an office, which we needed for signing the closing documents. When I thought about where I wanted to be when I let go of the company that’s directed the course of my life, it felt appropriate. For better or for worse. The Mayflower is the place where the best thing in my life began and ended.”

“It’s perfect.” She smiled at Erica. “I think I’m going to need a dress that’s Mayflower-worthy. You up for shopping this week?”

Christmas dinner was the most fun Alexandra had had on Christmas Day since the early years with JT, when it was just the two of them and they were crazy in love.

This was completely different—no fewer than thirty people including the three toddlers, several senior Raptor operatives and their partners—all of whom had worked with and were friends with JT or Lee—and at least ten operatives who lived in the compound all gathered in the compound’s large dining hall, which had four tables arranged to form a rectangle large enough to accommodate everyone.

Alexandra had met some of the couples at Erica’s wedding but there were several she was meeting for the first time. Not surprisingly, they all knew exactly who she was. A pretty psychology graduate student named Eden, who was the newest and youngest member of the group and engaged to a Raptor operative, said even she had been read in and knew JT had been pining for herbeforethe news of the shooting had broken on Monday night.

To Alexandra’s right were Leah and Nate. Leah was a drone engineer who lived with Nate, one of the senior operatives. To her left was Gemma, with JT flanking her on the other side.

Gemma made a mess of her mashed sweet potatoes and other ground foods. Grace and Colin sat across the table from Gemma. Her daughter made squeals of delight at her friends and generally enjoyed the noise and excitement of being surrounded by so many new people.

Gemma was a social girl, that was certain. Colin was less so, but he was comfortable with his friend Grace at his side, and he had his trains lined up around his platejust so.

Alexandra breathed deeply as her gaze wandered around the table filled with a few old friends and a lot of new ones. Laughter and teasing filled the room with a joyful buzz. It was unlike anything she’d experienced in so long. And she was here with her daughter and JT.

She was going tomarryJT one week from tonight.

It was really going to happen this time.

Plus, JT was selling the company that had been an albatross around his neck since long before she met him. Who would JT be without T&D?

He’d be lighter, that was for sure.

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