The Sunstone Brooch : Time Travel Romance by Katherine Logan (comprehension books .TXT) 📗

stood and held out his hand to help her up. “The evil we’re facing is centuries old. We don’t know how far its tentacles stretch. If it ever becomes known that you’re Erik’s biological daughter, you’ll be in even more danger than the rest of us.”

She grabbed a towel from a rack in the corner where Ted also kept mats, blocks, bolsters, rugs, blankets, and straps and wiped away the sweat. “Do Ted and Laurence have any idea what’s going on?”

“They don’t know why we all live on a high wire. I think they believe we’re up to something, but not anything illegal. They have a great life here. MacCorp pays all their living expenses, and they make six-figure incomes. They work hard and have a large staff to manage.”

“So I’ll be working with someone on their staff?”

“I’m sure Ted will manage your training until you’ve recovered from surgery. But eventually, he’ll switch you over to someone else on his team.”

“That makes sense.”

“You need a shower, and I have phone calls to make before Elliott’s meeting.”

“Will everybody be there?”

“JL and Kevin are here if that’s who you’re wondering about.”

“Have you seen them?”

“Not yet, but I just finished playing basketball with Blane and Lance.”

“Oh, I’ve met them before. They probably don’t remember me, though.”

“We’ll catch up with them after the meeting”—he checked the time on his watch—“that starts in twenty-five minutes.”

“Are you coming back to the room with me?”

“No, I’m going over to the resource center to use the guest office. The conference room is there, too.”

“Wish I’d brought a change of clothes. Then I could have showered here.”

“I didn’t think we’d be this long.” He kissed her. “Take one of the golf carts parked outside.”

She reached up, clasped his shoulders, and drew him close. “I wish we could go back to the room. I have a feeling this meeting is going to lead to more stress, and the rest of the day will be one long, grueling planning session.”

“I think you’re right, but we’ve known for days where this thing was going.”

“Are you talking about us or rescuing Tavis?”

He grinned. “I’ve known since the first time I saw you that I’d have you on top of me before my birthday.”

“And when’s your birthday?”

“Tomorrow.”

74

Mallory Plantation, VA—Ensley

Ensley entered the conference room in the Resource Center on somewhat shaky legs. She wasn’t sure if it was from her workout, nerves, or sex. If she had to rank them, she’d put a bad case of the nerves at the top of the list.

Everyone smiled or waved, acknowledging her presence without overwhelming her. JL was here, and while Ensley had met Austin’s mom before, the situation was completely different now. Ensley was sleeping with her son.

The extra-large oval conference table had seating for fourteen on each side. She’d never seen such a huge table. The room’s outer wall was all tinted glass and faced a flowering garden and the river. The rear wall had a TV almost the size of a movie theater screen. Extra swivel chairs lined another wall while credenzas loaded with trays of salads, sandwiches, iced tea, and lemonade filled the last.

Some of the family were already sitting at the table eating, while others were filling their plates. Ensley’s stomach growled in anticipation of biting into one of Charlotte’s famous egg salad sandwiches.

Ensley headed straight to the food, Austin behind her. “There are a few people I haven’t met before,” she said.

“They’re all first-gens,” Austin said. “You probably haven’t met Matt and Elizabeth Kelly. They’re the couple in their late sixties sitting on the other side of the table, and next to them are Philippe and Rhona Baird. Pops is over there filling his plate. Pete and Sophia, and my brother, Connor, and his wife Olivia are sitting opposite each other at this end.”

“Connor and Oliva have the daughter whose hair you brush. Right?”

“Right. They named her Betsy after her grandmother,” Austin said.

“I’ve heard all the names but haven’t put them together with faces yet.”

“You’ve met all the other people here.”

Ensley searched the room and put couples together in her mind. Daniel and Amber, Braham and Charlotte, David and Kenzie, Kevin and JL, Cullen and Kit, Rick and Penny, Elliott and Meredith.

“I see Jack Mallory, but I haven’t met his wife.”

“Amy,” Austin said. “She’s an ESPN sports analyst. You’ve probably seen her in the broadcasting booth during baseball games.”

“Oh, yeah, right. I’m such a big baseball fan, but I don’t recognize her. Sorry.”

“If it weren’t for kids and grandkids, most of the women here would believe an event involving a ball required glamorous clothes and expensive jewelry.”

She glanced up at him and rolled her eyes. “I fit in that category, you know.”

“Yeah, but you’re coming around to the dark side, and soon you’ll know all the players and their stats.”

“I doubt it, but I’m open to learning, which is saying a hell of a lot. So, who’s not here?”

“Shane’s in Australia, Gabe’s in Italy, and Jeff and his wife Julie rarely make meetings in person. Jeff and his staff handle mergers and acquisitions, and he’s usually traveling. With five kids and six grandkids, Julie has very little extra time.”

“You’re the only kid here,” she said.

“The second-gens in college, grad school, med school, and law school join the Zoom call if they have the time.”

“How do you know all this when you’ve been out of the loop for so long?”

“I got updates from Connor, and Meredith sends out summaries.”

Ensley watched JL trek through the crowd at the food tables. If her eyes were any indication, JL was on a mission. Ensley steeled herself.

When JL reached Austin, she hugged him around his waist. “Don’t be mad at me.”

“For what?” he asked.

“For helping Tavis and Remy kidnap you.”

“Oh, that.” He gave a dismissive wave. “I’m over it.”

Ensley caught an unmistakable ripple of guilt surge across JL’s face and in her green eyes before it vanished, leaving her expression cold and distant. “I find that hard to believe,” she huffed.

“We’re cool,