Page 73 of Remembering Passion

“Then your nipples aren’t hard.”

She smiled and lowered her chin.

“They are hard because you’re thinking of how brazen it will feel to walk to my room in nothing but this coat and heels tonight.”

Ella let out a long breath. “Fine, I’ll take the coat. Aren’t we late for our meeting?” She started to remove the coat.

Lifting my hand, I garnered the attention of the redhead. “We’d like the coat. May she wear it?”

“Of course.”

When I met the saleswoman at the counter, she continued speaking. “It’s a great deal, fifty percent off the original price.”

I handed her my credit card. “It makes her happy.” I was speaking of Ella. “For that, I would have paid double.”

As the saleswoman handed me my receipt, she whispered to Ella, “You’re a lucky woman.”

“I’m the lucky one,” I said, resting my hand in the small of Ella’s back and leading her out onto the sidewalk. “What do you think?”

Ella looked over at me through veiled lashes. “When I discovered my seat was beside yours on the plane, I thought my luck had run out. Maybe it didn’t.”

“Van’s office is right over there.” I took her hand and after looking both directions, led Ella across the street. Inside the seemingly modest building was a breathtaking brick entry, two stories high with a sign that read Sherman Corporation in large letters over a door mostly comprised of smoked glass. Reluctantly removing my hand from Ella’s back, I gestured for her to enter.

“Mr. Sinclair,” Connie, Van’s assistant, greeted as we entered.

“Connie, it’s nice to see you.” I tilted my head toward Ella. “Connie, this is my friend Gabriella Crystal. Ella, this is Connie, one of the women who keeps Van in line.”

Connie’s laugh filled the front room. “I think Julia has a handle on that job. Let me tell them you’re here.” She turned to Ella. “It’s nice to meet you. Mr. Sherman has told me many great things.” Her smile grew. “I love your coat. You were smart to bring one. People forget how far north we are.”

“Does it ever get warm here?”

“Oh yes. Our summers are lovely, all two weeks.” She scoffed. “I’m kidding, but yes, it does heat up.” Connie went behind her desk and made a call. When she looked up, she smiled. “I’ll take you upstairs.”

The elevator she led us to was old-fashioned, the kind with a cage instead of solid walls. Thankfully, it was motorized. With a push of a button, Connie took us to the third floor. Before the bars to the elevator opened, I saw Van and Julia. Her hand was in his as they watched our arrival. For a split second, a tinge of jealousy ached in my chest. I wasn’t jealous of Van and Julia, but of what they represented—a happily married couple. I wondered if I hadn’t screwed things up with Ella the first time, if we could be like them—holding hands, running companies, and raising children.

The door opened and Ella and I stepped out.

“Welcome to Ashland,” Van said to me with a hearty handshake. He turned his attention to Ella. “It’s good to see you again, Ms. Crystal.”

“Ella, please.”

Julia was more direct as she came up and clenched Ella’s hands. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Finally?”

“Oh, Damien has only been talking about you for years. He’s nothing if not persistent.”

Craning her neck, Ella flashed me a smile. “That he is.”

“Where did you get that coat?” I heard Julia ask as she led Ella toward a conference room.

“You believe this will work?” Van asked as we stayed near the elevator shaft.

“Ella is good. You saw her at the gala. And with her experience with Sinclair, she is light-years ahead of most candidates.”

Van lowered his tone. “You can thank my wife for getting everyone on board, but I want you to know, Dwain Welsh and Kendrick Cade were the most hesitant.”

“I figured. Welsh knows that Moon Pharmaceutical is a thorn in my side. He’s not exactly looking to help Sinclair. What’s with Cade?”

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