“You did? Then why were you working in the clerical pool here?”
“I didn’t want anyone finding me. Chance knew I was good with computers, and it would have made it easier for him to find me through it. Now, I need you to test this for me,” Dani said finishing the last few tweaks. Luke had seen the adjusted one but this one was all hers and it was fabulous. She’d worked on it for the last two weeks hoping that it would distract her from the worry floating around inside her head.
“You made this?” Lori asked after she’d ran it for every type of query Luke had ever requested.
“I did and I also included a few new fields for you and Luke. They’ll only appear on your access screens, but they’ll allow you two to put notes in for the other to see,” she explained pulling it up. She ran through the other new aspects of it, finishing just as the door to his office opened.
“What do I owe this wonderful sight to?” Luke inquired heading towards them. “I do believe that is the brightest smile I’ve seen from you in months, outside of the house at least.”
“Luke, behave.” Dani laughed seeing the amused look on Lori’s face.
“I am,” he stated rounding the desk to pull her into an embrace. “What’s this?” he added seeing the database on the screen.
“The most brilliant thing I’ve ever worked in,” Lori answered. “Why didn’t you ever tell us Dani was so much more than just a pretty face?”
“Because then I’d have to share her,” he replied looking through the rest of the database. “Is this ready to go live?”
“Yup and you might want to update your firewalls,” she said kissing his cheek. “If you’re taking over Larry’s shares that means you’ll likely be bringing it under the fold here and you don’t want anyone not thrilled with the idea to try anything.”
“What exactly would that entail?” he inquired. Dani explained loving the way his eyes glazed over as she did, and he stopped her with a kiss that sent Lori running from the room with glee.
Lori saw Stan coming into the suite and cut him off. “You can’t go in there.”
“Why not? I saw Luke come back well over twenty minutes ago.”
“He’s in there but he’s busy.”
“When isn’t the man busy?” Stan laughed as the others came in for the afternoon meeting.
“Go wait in the boardroom and I’ll send Luke in when he’s free.”
“What could he possibly be wrapped up in that he’s going to miss the beginning of our meeting?” Cooper inquired.
“Isn’t that his business and not yours?” Lori stated crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at the group. “Wait in the boardroom and when he’s free he’ll head that way.”
“Man, who stuck a bee up your bonnet?” Blake joked as they backed across the room.
“Lori,” they heard Luke say through the speaker on the phone. “Cancel my afternoon appointments…something came up that needs to be attended to immediately.”
Lori hid her grin at his statement and at the looks that appeared on the others’ faces. She slid behind her desk and pressed the answer button replying, “I will, is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Yes…remind me to fire…or cancel our current IT group…contract whatever we have and…check in with the attorneys about the papers…I asked to be drawn up. I’m sort of tied up at the moment,” he said around kisses to Dani. His hands trailed up her thighs and she laughed pushing his hands away. “In fact, I don’t think I’ll make it into the office tomorrow either.”
“Luke…”
“Sorry gentlemen but it looks like the meeting has been postponed,” Lori stated turning towards them as the rest of Dani’s comment cut out.
“Well, well, well…don’t tell us the head over heels Luke is stepping out on the wifey,” Cooper mused.
“That comment doesn’t even deserve a reply,” Lori said pointedly. “You heard Luke; the meeting’s been cancelled so kindly leave me to get back to my work.”
“Come on Lori, you can tell us,” Blake stated. “Is Luke cheating on Dani? Is that what the fights lately have been about?”
“Because if he is that gives all of us an opening to console the delightful beauty,” Cooper added suggestively.
Lori held her breath as the door to Luke’s office opened and he came out with murder in his eyes. “Oh hell,” she muttered under her breath.
“Luke, calm down,” Dani said easing her way between him and the group. “Ignore them.”