Page 51 of Silos and Sabotage

“Gage,” Mr. Bolander protested, “you can’t just leave me hanging like this.”

“I promise to explain everything when you get here, sir.” Gage disconnected the line.

A profound silence fell over the three of them. Ella finally found the air to breathe again. “He’s my grandfather,” she announced in a dull voice. No wonder Billy Bob Bolander had looked so familiar. What a cruel, cruel twist of fate! She didn’t want it to be true.

While she reeled in shock, Johnny twisted around in his seat again, pointing at her and Gage’s joined hands with an aha look. “Are you two together or what?”

“That’s all you got out of this whole exchange?” A trill of hysterical laughter rolled out of her.

“It’s a simple question.” His voice grew testy. “Which you two are forever dodging.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “We haven’t known each other very long.”

“So?” He waggled his dark eyebrows at her. “Girls like you only come along once in a lifetime. He might not see it,” he stabbed his thumb in Gage’s direction, “but I do.” Giving her a lazy wink, he drawled, “How about you let me take you to dinner tonight?”

She stared at him, wondering if he’d lost his mind. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She was literally holding hands with the guy he’d just accused of not noticing her in a romantic sense.

“Why not?” he taunted.

She could feel the rage knotting the muscles in Gage’s shoulder. “Because I already have plans for dinner.” She squeezed his hand. “Gage is taking me out. Right, Gage?” She held her breath, silently begging him to say yes.

He slowly turned his head to meet her gaze. Something wonderful and breathtaking was burning there. “Where would you like me to take you, darling?”

Darling. He called me darling!She felt close to swooning. “Anywhere you’re gonna be.”

His gaze grew heavy lidded. “I think that can be arranged.”

“Excuse me while I go puke.” Johnny abruptly pushed his door open and hopped to the ground. “And while I’m at it, I’m gonna pray for a gorgeous woman to storm into my life and not date me the way Ella is not dating you.” He shot a withering look at Gage before leaning back against the side of the SUV. As far as Ella could tell, he went back to observing their surroundings with the same intensity he always did his job with.

She returned her gaze to Gage. “He has no idea what he’s asking for. My life is in complete shambles.” She knew Johnny could hear them, since he’d left his door open.

Gage briefly tipped his forehead against hers. “I like you just the way you are, shambles and all.”

She caught a flash of silver movement from the corner of her eye and abruptly pulled away from him.

A sleek silver car rolled into view, making Johnny whistle loudly in admiration. “A Rolls Royce Phantom. What I wouldn’t give to bum a ride in one of those.” He slapped the side of the armored vehicle to give them a heads up. “Looks like our first VIP has arrived.”

“I want to kiss you,” Gage informed Ella huskily as he assisted her from the vehicle.

“I want to kiss you, too,” she whispered back.

“It’ll have to wait until we’re alone, though.” He raised his voice so Johnny could hear the rest of what he said. “No way is Johnny playing third wheel to our first kiss.”

“At the pace you were going, there might not’ve been a first kiss if I hadn’t helped scoot things along,” Johnny retorted. “You’re welcome, bro.” He was clearly taking credit for their first dinner date.

Gage drew a finger down her cheek. This time, she was sure it was intentional. “I have no complaints about the pace we’re going.”

He hovered over her, half-shielding her with his broad shoulders, as her mother stepped out of the back passenger seat and hurried their way. She was flanked by two burly men in black suits and white dress shirts. They looked more like FBI than bodyguards. Then again, their suits didn’t look nearly as expensive as her asymmetrical red blazer with a drop hem — a Giorgio Armani pantsuit, if Ella wasn’t mistaken. She knew this because she’d been salivating over designer clothing most of her life.

I’m so my mother’s daughter.She might not have been born rich like Avery Radcliffe, but she possessed the same expensive tastes.Must be in our genes.

Her mother made an exultant sound and launched herself like a bullet in their direction. “My baby,” she crooned, sweeping Ella into her vanilla-scented embrace. “You’re back! All of you.”

“Yes, I am.” Along with Ella’s recovered memories was the solid reassurance that her mother had spared no resources to protect her only daughter for the past five years. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world to have a parent in her life again. No, it wasn’t the same as having her dad back. Nothing could make that happen this side of Heaven, but she could get used to having a mom. One who was finally ready to acknowledge her in public, it seemed.

Ella could hear it in her mother’s voice and feel it in her cherishing embrace. She could even see it in her tear-drenched eyelashes as she pulled back a little to gaze in adoration at her. She had to be wearing waterproof mascara, because there wasn’t a single smudge of darkness against her cheeks.

“I’m never letting you go again, hon. Never!” Avery Radcliffe declared. “You’re my daughter, and I want the whole world to know it!”

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