Page 35 of Last Summer

“That’s a shame. I was looking forward to hearing about your lunch with the governor.” Tossing his flash drive–laden key chain onto the counter, he sets down his briefcase, pressing his thumbs on the biometric reader. The case pops open.

“Me too. But Rebecca assigned an exclusive. It’s with Nathan Donovan.”

“Really?” he says, his tone mild.

If Ella hadn’t been looking at Damien’s hands when she said Nathan’s name, she would have missed the slight hesitation as he removed his laptop.

Ella frowns. What’s with the pause? Is it because of Nathan?

“I thought you killed the article,” Damien says.

“It’s back on. Nathan called Rebecca this morning.”

“He did?” Damien removes files from his case and stacks them on the laptop. Ella catches a glimpse of one file label. ReAlign Software Inc. One of PDN’s UK clients.

“Damien.” She pauses until he looks at her. “I don’t remember him.”

His eyes darken. “Like you don’t remember Simon?”

Ella nods. “Exactly like that.”

The microwave dings. She removes the plate, grabs up the utensils, and sets them on the table. Steam rises from the reheated fettuccine with pesto sauce. A toasted pine nut aroma fills the kitchen. Damien doesn’t join her at the table.

“Do you want wine?” she asks.

“When do you meet Donovan?”

“He wants to start the interview tomorrow.” She pours herself a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and holds up an empty glass for Damien.

He shakes his head, then his brow wrinkles.

“What is it?”

“There’s been a development. I leave for London tomorrow to meet with our UK legal team. Why don’t you ditch the interview and come with me? We’ll catch a show.”

“A show? Damien, I don’t remember anything about Nathan Donovan. He didn’t exist to me until Rebecca called about him this morning. I spent a week or so with this guy and I don’t remember any of it. Thanks for the invite, but no, I can’t go to London, not now. I need to meet with Nathan and find out what’s going on with me.”

“What if I asked you not to take the assignment?”

She balks. “Why would you do that?”

“Answer the question, Ella.”

“No! This is my job we’re talking about. I don’t tell you what companies to pitch.” She flings her arm at the client files. Damien just stands there. “What is it about this guy that bothers you?”

Damien puts his files and laptop back in the case. Tosses his keys on top. A flash of red catches her attention. The drives on the ring. Two of them. Those are new. Postmiscarriage new, that is. She doesn’t have the chance to think of asking about them, let alone ask. Damien slams the case closed.

Keys.

“What if Nathan’s the key to fix my head?”

“Why him?”

Ella sets down the wine bottle a little too hard. “Nothing I’ve done has triggered my memories, no thanks to you. Why not give this Nathan guy a try? What’ve I got to lose?” The assignment probably. Ella inwardly cringes. Hopefully Nathan will be understanding. She also hopes he’ll be more forthcoming than her husband. God, what’s with him? She really doesn’t understand why he’s being so difficult.

Damien rubs some of the tension out of his face, then sighs. “You’re right. Go. It’s your job,” he says.

Damn right it is, she wants to snap. But she grinds her teeth, willing herself to calm down.

---