The Sunstone Brooch : Time Travel Romance Katherine Logan (no david read aloud TXT) 📖

if we’re not here, the brooches won’t be here, either.”

“But they still know we have them. So what are we going to do? Spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders? I can’t live that way. We have to end it now.”

“No one in the family will object to that, but we’re not ready for a showdown—yet. At least not here. Once we get home, we can have a family meeting, discuss it, and come up with a plan.”

Ensley rotated her head like she was spinning thoughts in her mind, coming up with a plan to fight the Illuminati. “Okay. I get it. We can’t take action on our own. And I’m not physically fit enough yet to wield Erik’s ax. I’d better start training as soon as I get home.”

“Which brings me to a topic I’ve wanted to discuss with you.”

“It sounds serious.”

“Anything that involves you, as far as I’m concerned, is serious. I’m used to being around you now, and I don’t want us to go our separate ways when we return to the future. And now that we know about the danger, we should stay close to each other.”

A maid came by, took her plate, and refilled her glass of sweet tea. “I’ve got to go back to New York City, clean out my office, and find a way to explain to my best friend and my cousin where I’ve been all this time.”

“I can help with that. You can’t tell them you’ve been through the vortex and back again, so I suggest you tell them you’ve been with me.”

She burst out laughing. “They would believe I traveled through time before they believed I shacked up with you for several days or weeks, or however long I’ve been gone.”

He rested his head against the high back of the wicker chair and closed his eyes. “Damn. That hurts my feelings.”

“Oh, it does not. Your ego is as big as you are.”

“Maybe it was once, but I’m more grounded now.” He picked up his chair and placed it in front of her so they’d be knee to knee…or would be if his legs weren’t so long. It was time to fess up and share one of his biggest secrets. “I’ve had a reputation for going through women faster than basketball shoes. But it’s not like that at all. The women are girlfriends. Friends without benefits, by the way, and most are basketball players in the WNBA. I don’t sleep around. I never have.”

“But you let others believe you do.”

He shrugged. “The press wouldn’t believe the truth, so I don’t bother to correct them. But here’s the thing. I learned growing up to treat women with honesty, respect, and appreciation. I’ve been in four long-term relationships in my life, and they’ve been the only women I’ve invited to my house.”

“I’m surprised. I thought professional athletes were philanderers.”

“And I thought all book editors were stuffy former librarians.”

“Touché. And I don’t think I’m stuffy. I’ve been in a couple of relationships, too. The last one ended several months ago.”

“Why’d it end?”

“Because all he wanted to do was go to sporting events or watch games on TV at his favorite sports bar.”

“Instead of what?”

She glanced away as if the truth was embarrassing. “Instead of anything.”

“Like what?” he pressed.

“Like going to the opera or a Broadway musical or The Met.”

“You won’t have trouble getting me to a show. Mom was a professional singer and dancer who performed on Broadway for years. That’s why music is such a big deal in my family.”

“Broadway? That’s cool. Does she still sing?”

“She died when I was a baby.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“My BFF will never believe I’m interested in a professional basketball player. And believe it or not, our last conversation was about you.”

“Me? How’s that possible? You didn’t even know me, except through the manuscript I submitted.”

She had the grace to look embarrassed.

“So you told your BFF that you were interested in me?” he asked in a teasing tone as he met her gaze.

“No. No. Not at all. But we were talking about you…you know, in general.”

He grinned like a high school kid pressing his best friend for the goods on the cutest girl in their class. “You’ve piqued my interest now. You have to tell me what you said.”

The maid returned to refill her glass, but Ensley didn’t care for more, so she took it away. “If you want to know, you’ll have to ask Barb. She’ll be happy to repeat every word of the conversation.”

“So when do I get to meet her?” he asked with that same high school eagerness.

“When you have an opening in your schedule, why don’t you come to New York? We can all go to dinner, and she can tell you the story.”

This was his big chance, but he didn’t want to blow it by being too pushy. After all, they hadn’t even shared a passionate kiss yet. How lame was that? He clicked his tongue, acting like he was mentally reviewing his calendar. “I don’t have anything coming up right away. We can take the company jet to New York, and I’ll stay at the Riverside Drive house for a while.”

She cocked her head. “Really? But don’t you have to practice basketball or something?”

“Practice? Yeah, and you might not know this, but New York City has hundreds of gyms. My staff will be glad to relocate for a while.”

“Your staff?”

“I have a full-time trainer, physical therapist, massage therapist, nutritionist, chef, and assistant. I know it sounds like a lot, but I’m still recovering, and it takes several people to keep me healthy. Plus, I manage my portfolio, but I need help with my Thoroughbred business and scheduling community and charity events. It takes a village.”

“Sounds like it. Do you have a valet, too?”

He laughed. “No. I wash my clothes or take them to the cleaners.”

“Good to know.” She glanced around. “Let’s go for a walk and find some privacy so you can kiss me.”

He gave her a slow smile.