Page 1 of Rekindling Desire

The end of REMEMBERING PASSION

Gabriella

As Michael drove us down the winding driveway, Damien called Allen. Thankfully, he and Angie had stayed in Ashland. The pilot said he could have the plane ready in under an hour. Our first stop was our hotel.

“Don’t take time to change,” Damien said. “We can change on the plane.”

I heard more than his words. It was as if my hearing was in tune with his soul. From what he’d shared in the past, Damien and his father had a strained history. Despite that fact, each phrase he uttered was laced with worry. Outside my room, I reached for his hand. “I’ll hurry.”

He looked at where we were touching and back to my face, his expression solemn. “I don’t anticipate being great company. You might reconsider the stop in Indy.”

My lips curled into a smile as I leaned into his chest. “You can’t scare me away after spending the last week trying to get me back.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Thank you.”

Once the plane was in the air, we both changed from our formal wear into more casual clothes. This time we were both wearing blue jeans. Damien spent most of the flight between calls with his sister and calls with Stephen Elliott, an attorney I recalled from Sinclair.

With my legs curled beneath me in the seat, I sat watching the man I’d tried to forget, seeing him in a way that contrasted the reasons I’d left him. While I’d worked for him, I’d witnessed his anger. It wasn’t directed at me, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t heard his curses or seen the way his face could redden.

During the duration of the flight, there were bursts of cursing, yet his deep baritone voice stayed resolved, as if he was preparing himself for the worst.

I thought about Damien’s offer or his proposal. It wasn’t exactly the way a girl dreamed it would be. We weren’t under the canopy of stars or in still water. He didn’t offer me a diamond ring. Although, according to him, that had been the plan.

“We’re about to land,” Angie said. “There’s a car waiting to take you to the hospital.”

“I’m going to get my purse,” I said, standing and walking to the bedroom in the aft of the plane. When I turned, Angie was behind me. “I’ll hurry.”

“I wanted to thank you, Ms. Crystal. I don’t try to eavesdrop, but I know Mr. Sinclair is worried about his father and about the company. I’m so glad you’re with him.”

I swallowed. “Me too, Angie.”

The memory of Damien saying the flight crew had witnessed more verbal disagreements came back. “Did you meet Amber?”

“Ms. Wilmott,” she said with a serious expression. “Yes.”

“I know you can’t tell me anything…”

Her smile returned. “I can say we’re very happy to have you back. Take care of him.”

Take care of Damien Sinclair.

“I will.”

Damien was still on the phone as we exited the aircraft and entered the back seat of the waiting car. The cold breezes from up north were replaced with Florida’s humid air. The spring flowers were swapped with palm trees.

“He finally showed up,” Damien said into the phone. He looked at me and mouthed ‘Darius.’

I inhaled, wondering what the confrontation would be. It was hard to tell with Darius.

When Damien finally tucked the phone into the pocket of his jeans, he reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Dad’s still in surgery.”

I nodded.

“I could do this alone.”

“You could. You don’t have to.”

Palm trees lined the streets and tall lamps illuminated the way. My skin grew tight as the car came to a stop in front of the hospital. Once out of the car, Damien placed his hand in the small of my back and led me through the large glass doors. Without a word, he guided me through the hallways, up an elevator, and through more corridors.