Page 10 of A Love So Sweet

“Listen to me, woman. Don’t say your gift didn’t beat mine. We don’t give gifts in a tit for tat. And neither does the size or abundance of our gifts outdo the other. So, get that out of your head. You’re presents have given me just as much love as the one I gave you. You feel me?”

Allison smiled;her body warm all over. “I feel you. And I love you. Thank you for being my husband.”

He kissed her lips. “Thank you for being my wife.” Lance dropped to a squat and kissed her belly. “And you for being my child.”

They laughed and held one another, reveling in the love they shared.

ChapterFour

Three weeks later

“Boss. Did you misplace one of the drones?”

Lance’s brows dipped as he glanced from his camera to Lenard—who was responsible for the pre-production checklist.

“Why would I do that? During postproduction on our last movie, you were responsible for ensuring the drones were where they should be. Were they not?”

“Yes, but one is missing.”

Lance’s nostrils flared, and his frown deepened. “What do you mean one is missing?”

“I’ve checked, and all of the equipment is there except for one of the drones.”

The two men stared at each other; then, with indignation, Lance walked off headed to the equipment room to check behind Lenard. Following him but not too closely, Lenard was also perplexed. It wasn’t the first-time equipment came up missing, but its mystery seemed to point to a thief among them.

“See,”Lenard said after watching Lance check every corner of the equipment room.

Lance placed his hands on his hips and peered at Lenard. “Gather everyone in the café right now. Nobody leaves.”

Lenard nodded and left the room. Lance didn’t like the feeling in his gut. Everyone on his staff was long-time loyal employees, right down to the cafeteria workers. Stealing was never an issue, and because Lance cared for genuine relationships, it was hard to believe someone would take from him. It gnawed at his heart, but he knew someone inside the studio was robbing him.

To make sure, he left the equipment room and checked the access codes for everyone who was supposed to have them. In his office on his computer, Lance made sure no other access had been granted.

Surely enough, only the codes he’d given out were green. From there, he checked the security footage. Allison had given him those drones three weeks ago for Valentine’s Day. The last time he'd used them was two weeks ago when they’d wrapped The Edge of the Nile. They were granted a week of rest before returning last week to begin pre-production on their next film. Everything seemed to be in order until today.

Lance sighed in frustration, speeding up the footage as he watched everyone enter the equipment room and exit. Technically, this could take all day, and he’d wanted to meet up with Allison for lunch.

Ring!

Lance snatchedup the phone on his desk without checking the caller ID.

“Valentine Studio’s, this is Lance.”

“Mr. Valentine,” a voice purred. “Are we still on for lunch?”

“I was just thinking of you.”

“Were you?”

He could hear his wife’s smile through the line. “I was.”

“Then I guess it’s safe to say it’s okay that I showed up early with our food—except the door is locked, and my passcode is not letting me inside.”

Lance paused the recording and switched to the monitor that revealed the parking lot. Standing at the door, his pregnant wife held a bag in one hand and what appeared to be beverages in the other.

Quickly, he moved from his seat and left the office. At the back door, Lance took the food and beverages off her hands.

“Get in here, woman.”

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