14. Damien
Damien
T wo women and two men.
I’d read through their qualifications. There was no doubt that they were all competent. It was Leo Conner’s advice that I thought about as Ella and Dani spoke to each candidate. As the interviews progressed, I gave Ella’s earlier question more thought.
Having Leo’s team protecting my parents at the hospital was an easier assignment for the reason that my parents were stationary. Ella and Dani weren’t. They were active, social people who were essentially vulnerable twelve to sixteen hours a day.
After the final bodyguard candidate left my office, I turned to the two women I wanted to protect. “Thoughts?”
Dani exhaled and turned to Ella. “I can imagine myself working exceptionally well with Eli.”
Ella laughed. “I bet you can.”
“Maybe then we can have the orgasm talk.”
I lifted my hand. “Whoa. This isn’t a dating service.” I turned to Ella. “And by the way, you’re choosing a woman.”
Ella laughed again. “I never remember you being insecure?”
“I’m not.”
Dani shook her head. “I’m fried.” She stood. “As you know, having a bodyguard isn’t my idea. I need to get to my office.” She patted my clavicle. “This is your baby, big brother. I could work with any of them. I’ll humor you for a time. But if any of them cramp my style, I’m out.”
“What style is that…dinner at home, a bath, and falling asleep with your Kindle?”
“Don’t knock it.”
My sister was right. This togetherness had gone on long enough. “I’ll call you.”
Ella waited until the office door closed before she stood and brushed the front of her gray slacks. “I should go to my new office. I’ve barely seen it, and today was supposed to be my first day working on the campaign.”
In two strides I was before her, wrapping my arm around her waist and tugging her soft curves to me. Without provocation, Ella lifted her chin, bringing her luscious lips to mine. In milliseconds the stress of the day faded away into a vapor. Such as a release valve on a pressure cooker, having Ella in my arms calmed my inner turmoil.
“I’ve wanted to do that since you spoke to the board,” I said.
Laying both of her hands on my chest, Ella’s sapphire-blue gaze looked up at me.
I ran my thumb over her lower lip. “I can’t believe you’re really here. Every time I start to think about all the chaos of the last few weeks, I remember that somehow, it brought you back to me.” I tipped my forehead to hers. “I don’t admit my shortcomings.”
Ella laughed. “I didn’t know a narcissist could see their own weaknesses.”
“Contrary to popular belief, I must not be a narcissist because I’m fully aware that I am incomplete without you. Simply having you here makes me whole. Maybe losing you was exactly the kick in the ass I needed to truly see you.”
“I see you, too. You had the room of people riveted as you spoke at the meeting.” She shook her head. “I was so proud of you, the way you stood up—your convictions and belief in Sinclair Pharmaceuticals were like a neon sign. I’ve been trying to think why Darius wanted the no-confidence vote. He can’t possibly believe he could step in and do a better job than you.”
“He had his chance and he failed.”
“Gloria was right about one thing.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “What?”
“The members of the coalition should know we’re wed. This campaign is a great idea, and I believe in it for Beta Kappa Phi and for the coalition. I meant what I said about not wanting to upset the work Julia’s put into creating the unity the seven companies share.”
“If Dwain is working with Darius, you won’t be the cause of upsetting the coalition.”
Ella’s eyes opened wide. “My parents.”
“I’ll call them with you.”
“No.” She exhaled. “I’ll call them. I need to tell them myself.”
The complexities of the last week had me overwhelmed. “I should have asked. Are they still in Indiana? We could tell them in person.”
“They moved to Arizona about a year ago. Enjoying the retired life.”
“I could call Allen?—”
Ella shook her head. “We’re not flying to Arizona just because we can. We have enough fires burning here, and we both have work we need to do.”
My cheeks rose with a grin. “Good. I want you to myself.”
“What about the bodyguards?”
“I’ve decided to have their company evaluate our home security systems, both of ours and Dani’s. I’ve been thinking about hiring all four candidates. They can work out a rotation that works for them and for us. If our homes are secure, their services will only be necessary when we’re away from home. That will mean both you and Dani need to communicate with them. No sneaking off to the salon or store without one of them.”
“I like that better than having them live with us.”
I smiled. “Reading their firearms experience and training had me concerned.”
“Why?”
“Because when you scream in the middle of the night, I don’t want one of them busting down our bedroom door.”
Ella scoffed. “There you go again, being so sure of yourself.”
“When it comes to making you scream, yes, Mrs. Sinclair, I am sure of myself.”
“What about the coalition?”
“Julia and Van know about our marriage. I told Van on the phone last night. I’ll call Julia this afternoon about what came up at the board meeting.”
“You told him last night. For the record, you suck at keeping secrets.”
I ran my palm over her round ass. “Oh, I can suck a lot more.”
She shook her head. “Okay. After I talk to my parents, I’ll spend the next few hours organizing what I learned over the weekend. If Julia thinks Niles would be a better choice, I want you to listen to her.”
“I’m not letting you work in Carmel.” I ran my hands up her back, splaying my fingers and tugging her against me. “I want you here.”
“You’ve got me. Remember, you must let me be me.”
She’d said she worried about vanishing.
“You’re not disappearing. I promise you.”
Ella lifted herself to her tiptoes as she brushed my lips with hers. “I think your idea for the bodyguards will work. I’ll see you later.”
I didn’t want to let her out of my arms, out of my sight. In a matter of days, I’d become completely addicted to Ella’s presence. She was a drug. Unlike what we manufactured here, she was the type of drug that revealed memories—memories of our time together—and desire, what we’d shared and what we had in store.
With each hit, I wanted more.
Reluctantly, I released my hold. As she walked away, I fantasized about removing her silk blouse and stripping her from the long gray slacks.
Ella peered over her shoulder. “Why do I feel like you’re looking at me naked?”
A smile broke out across my face. “Apparently, you can read minds.”
“Only yours.”
Once I was alone, I sat behind my desk and called the security company. The evaluation of our homes would occur tomorrow as would the employment of all four personnel. The person I spoke with offered to start with a month-long contract and we would reevaluate.
A knock on my door caused me to look up.
“Mr. Sinclair,” Johnathon said.
There was something odd about his expression. “Is everything all right?”
“Mrs. Sinclair is here to see you.”
“Ella doesn’t need you to announce her. Let her in.”
“No, sir. Amber Sinclair.”
The muscles of my jaw grew tight as I stood. “I’m busy.”
Amber pushed her way past Johnathon and turned to him. “You may leave.”
Johnathon’s gaze came to me.
“Five minutes,” I said, stepping away from my desk.
Once the door closed, Amber smiled. “Only five minutes? Oh, Damien, I remember when you used to last longer.”
“Now that you’re stuck with an older version, I’d bet you’re hoping he can keep it up for five minutes.”
Amber sashayed closer, her breasts practically spilling from the V cut of her neckline. “About that.”
Lifting my hand, I silently told her to keep her distance. “What the fuck do you want?”
“Darius and I aren’t married.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You lied.”
“We didn’t lie any more than you and Gabriella did. We had a ceremony. There was a problem with the license.”
“What problem?” I asked suspiciously.
“You can only be married to one person, and it seems you and I are still married.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”