Perfect Partners

could before today, but things have changed. I feel differently now. I think I’ve put a few things into perspective.”
    “No.” Letty cradled his face between her palms. She looked up at him, knowing what she wanted to do. “No one’s going to say you married me to get your hands on the company. Joel, you built Thornquist Gear. You put everything you had into it. You’ve fought for it and you’ve nourished it and you’ve protected it. Thornquist is your baby, and I have no moral right to it.”
    “Letty, it’s just a business. Don’t get emotional about it.”
    She grinned. “You’re a fine one to talk. You’re the most emotional man I know.”
    “The hell I am,” he muttered. “I have a lot more self-control than you do, Madam President.”
    “Let’s not argue about that,” Letty said. “I have a deal to offer you.”
    Joel went still. “A deal?”
    Letty took a deep breath. “I’ll sell Thornquist to you before the wedding. Same terms Great-Uncle Charlie was going to give you.”
    “It’s all right, Letty. You don’t need to do that.”
    She touched his cheek. “You don’t understand. I didn’t really understand myself until now. I thought I needed the company in order to give me the fresh start I wanted in life. And maybe I did need it at first. But I don’t need it any longer. New beginnings, the kind that last, come from within. We make them for ourselves.”
    “And now you think you no longer need Thornquist Gear to add excitement and adventure to your life?”
    “No. I’ve got everything I need.”
    “What if I told you I no longer need the company, either?”
    “I’d say we have a problem on our hands.”
    Joel chuckled. “I didn’t say I didn’t want it; I just said I could live without it. But as it happens, neither of us has to prove we don’t need Thornquist Gear. You are not going to sell the company to me, Letty.”
    “I’m not?”
    Joel rolled off of her and onto his back. He pulled her down on top of him. “No.”
    Letty stiffened. “But, Joel…”
    “I am not a hotshot CEO for nothing, Madam President. I’ve got a counterproposal.”
    “I’m listening.”
    He smiled with satisfaction. “We’ll split the company fifty-fifty. I’ll buy out half of Thornquist Gear. You keep the other half. We’ll own it jointly.”
    “But, Joel…”
    He put his fingers firmly over her mouth. “That’s my offer. Take it or leave it. But don’t try giving me all of Thornquist, because I don’t want it. I intend to share it with you, Letty.”
    She laughed softly. “Will I still get to be president?”
    Joel grinned. “You bet. And I’m going to remain CEO . Deal?”
    “Deal.?”
    He pulled her face down to his and kissed her with a thoroughness that was more binding than any contract.

    Joel awoke a few hours later. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearly one. Letty stirred beside him. The dream?” she asked softly.
    He searched his mind for the remnants of the old nightmare. Then he waited for the rush of adrenaline.
    Nothing.
    “No,” Joel said. “I just woke up. But I don’t think I was dreaming.”
    She pressed herself against him. “It’s over,” she whispered.
    “Yes.”
    Joel cuddled her close and went back to sleep. Two months later Joel loped down the stairs to the third floor and strode along the hall to the conference room. He walked through the door and stopped short at the sight of Letty held high in the arms of a huge blond Adonis.
    Muscles bulged and rippled beneath the male model’s bronzed skin. The leather shorts he was wearing were strained across thighs the size of tree trunks. His dazzling blue eyes and sparkling white teeth flashed in the fluorescent lighting.
    Letty looked very small and fragile cradled against the bodybuilder’s massive chest. One of her black pumps had fallen to the floor, and Joel was outraged at the sight of her pretty little bare foot being exposed to all and sundry.
    “Would you mind putting the president of Thornquist Gear back on her feet?” Joel said coldly.
    The Adonis blinked and looked immediately alarmed. “Sure. Sorry about that.” He hastily set Letty back on the floor.
    “Hello, Mr. Blackstone.” Letty smiled cheerfully as she struggled to tuck in her blouse and straighten her rumpled jacket.
    “Good afternoon, Mrs. Blackstone. Who the hell is this and what does he think he’s doing carting you around like a sack of potatoes?”
    “This is Mark,” Letty said. “He’s