Saved by Love

by Christine Kingsley

  CHAPTER ONE

  Ella Gentry looked up at the flashing show of lights shining on the walls of the Grand Central Terminal and drew in a sharp breath. Magical. The historic building was aglow with holiday decorations and festive lights that danced in time to the Christmas music resounding off the high arched ceiling. Standing in the middle of the terminal with crowds bustling all around, she turned in a slow circle to take it all in, when suddenly she was knocked off balance by a hurried evening commuter running off toward a subway entrance. She quickly steadied herself to avoid sprawling across the cold marble.

  This is going to take some getting used to. Ella had been in New York a handful of times when she was younger, but never alone, and always as a tourist. If this was going to be her home for the next month then she knew she was going to have to stop gawking and pay closer attention to her surroundings. Gripping her rolling suitcase tightly, Ella moved toward the main entrance, trying to recall exactly what the email from her new boss had instructed her to do. He’d insisted on sending a driver for her, even though she’d assured him she could manage on her own. It was bad enough that he was doing her a favor by giving her the job she so desperately needed, but using his driver as well made her feel like even more of a charity case. Part of her was still in disbelief that Drew Richardson had hired her on as his personal assistant through the holidays.

  She exited the crowded building, looking around dubiously at the rush of cars and people flying by. The sun had already set, but the street was still brightened by the lights from the towering buildings and the unending stream of passing headlights. The slow pace of life she was used to in her small hometown most definitely had not prepared her for life in the city. Just as she pulled out her phone to find the email, a man in a black suit approached her.

  “Miss Gentry?”

  Ella nodded, unsure what to think of the stranger in front of her.

  “I’m Roger, Mr. Richardson’s driver. He asked me to pick you up,” he said with a friendly smile.

  “Yes, of course.” She offered him a smile in return, trying to push aside her hesitation. He was there, whether she wanted him to be or not, and she wasn’t about to be uncivil to a man just doing his job. “But how did you know who I was?”

  Roger spoke as he ushered her to a black Mercedes parked nearby. “Mr. Richardson thinks of everything.” He held up a small electronic tablet with her picture on it. It was her profile picture from the site she’d networked on to find a job.

  “So I see,” she murmured. Roger opened the door for her and she slid onto the luxurious leather seat while he placed her bag in the trunk. It was strange to hear Drew called Mr. Richardson. It had been so long since she’d seen him, but even though she knew better, she still saw him in her mind as an awkward fifteen-year-old boy who was just beginning to grow into a man’s body. The pictures she’d seen of him on the networking site indicated that he had become much more man than boy in the past thirteen years since he’d been her neighbor.

  The thought made her cheeks warm, so she focused instead on the city as it moved busily outside the car’s heavily tinted windows. Ella felt much more comfortable now that she was safely inside. It wasn’t that she was intimidated by the city, in fact she was very excited to be spending the next month in such a glamorous environment, she just needed to get her bearings first. She had been studying maps and subway lines for the past week in preparation for her adventure. Ella Gentry was nothing if not prepared.

  She’d made sure to do her homework on Drew as well. When he had left her neighborhood and moved to the city with his parents, they had stayed in close contact over the Internet, as teenagers would do. But over the years they had become busy with their respective lives and had more or less fallen out of touch. It had come as a huge surprise when he had reached out to her after her last desperate attempt to snag a job by asking online if any of her contacts knew of a job opening in the art industry.

  The small gallery Ella had worked at had closed shop several months back, and with her limited experience and an unfavorable job market in her hometown, she had yet to find a new job. Thanks to Drew, that was about to change, even if only through the end of the year.

  The evening traffic was stop and go, and Ella spent the time reflecting over how well he had done for himself. He had created a successful advertising firm from the ground up, one that was quickly becoming a hot commodity in New York. She remembered that even as kids, when they had set up a lemonade stand on the sidewalk, he had attacked it from a business perspective. Ella had to smile at the memory of how she’d been more concerned with the artwork on the sign than anything else.

  When Roger stopped the car in front of a building that looked much more like an office than a hotel, then came around to open her door, she looked up at him in confusion. “There must be some mistake. This isn’t my hotel.” She was certain the place where she was staying was located in a much less posh area of town.

  Roger nodded and held his hand out to help her from the car. “Mr. Richardson wanted me to bring you here straight away so he could go over some things before you start tomorrow.”

  “But it’s Sunday night,” Ella protested, thrown off guard. She liked to be prepared, and arriving at her new job straight from the train made her feel anything but. Did Drew always work on the weekend?

  Roger kept his face blank and nodded again, waiting on her to get out. She climbed from the car, knowing there was no use in arguing. She couldn’t exactly tell Drew that he’d have to wait until tomorrow. She was lucky to have this job and she wasn’t about to make waves before her first official day had even started.

  “Just tell the man at the front desk that you’re here for Mr. Richardson. He’s already left your name. I’ll take your bag and have it dropped off at your hotel.” Roger was back in the car and pulling away before she could even tell him the name of where she was staying. Staring after him open-mouthed, she figured she’d have to ask Drew to call him and let him know.

  Ella turned toward the building and caught sight of herself in the glass doors. Oh, no, this is terrible! She was dressed in her favorite jeans and a flowing peasant-style shirt underneath her wool coat. With faded boots and her long auburn hair flowing in waves down her back, she looked more like a hippie artist than the professional woman she’d wanted to be when showing up for her new job. Hurrying through the doors, she glanced furtively around the ornate lobby and sighed in relief when she saw a sign for a restroom.

  Ella smiled at the security guard manning the desk as she passed by, and once inside, opened up her over-sized suede tote bag and went to work. When she emerged ten minutes later, she still didn’t feel quite professional, but with her wild hair tamed into a sleek bun at the nape of her neck, and the addition of some stylish jewelry and makeup, she at least looked confident and put together. She may not have had much control over her circumstances recently, but she sure knew how to give the right appearance when she needed to.

  The guard directed her to the bank of elevators at the back of the lobby and buzzed her through to the top floor. She took a deep breath to steady herself as the elevator rose, hoping to calm her nerves. It’s just Drew, no big deal. But as much as she’d tried to ignore it since she got the job offer last week, a little voice in the back of her head wouldn’t let her forget that the boy she’d harbored a secret crush on her entire childhood was now a very powerful and extremely attractive man. And she was about to come face to face with him for the first time in over a decade.

  * * *

  “Thanks, George,” Drew told the guard who had just informed him Ella was on her way up.

  He clicked the intercom off and leaned back in his plush leather desk chair and ran his hands over his face. He hadn’t shaved that morning because typically he was one of the only people at the office on Sundays, and with his assistant Maria traveling to be with her family over the holidays, he’d been the only one at all working today. He wondered for a moment if he should have taken more care t
o look the part of a corporate executive when having a meeting with a new employee, but quickly shrugged it off. His khakis and sweater would have to do. This meeting shouldn’t last long in any case. He just wanted to give Ella the materials Maria had left for her so that she would be up to speed and ready to hit the ground running the next morning.

  Swiveling in his chair, he stared out at the lights of the city. His top floor suite gave him an excellent view, but his mind was far away from enjoying what his hard work had earned him. What would it be like to see Ella after all these years? Would it feel as if they’d known each other forever? With the amount of time that had passed and the changes that adulthood had inevitably brought, he thought it was entirely possible that it would be like meeting a stranger. It was probably for the best if that were the case, he rationalized, because he had too much work to do to spend the evening taking a walk down memory lane. He would give her the information and send her on her way. He had important client meetings lined up all week, and he wanted to take some extra time to make sure he gave them his best.

  The soft whooshing of the elevators could be heard over the hum of his computers, indicating Ella's arrival, and Drew rose from his desk, hesitating briefly. He shouldn’t be nervous. Shaking it off, he crossed his spacious corner office and opened the double doors that led into the outer reception area which housed his assistant’s large half-moon desk and a modernly decorated sitting area.

  “Drew.”

  The musical voice that came from the smiling woman standing across the room filled him with an unexpected warmth. He stood still as she closed the distance between them, taking her in. The professional picture he’d seen of her didn’t do her justice. The curly orange-haired girl he’d known as a child was barely recognizable beneath the stylish and confident exterior of the woman standing before him. Her hair had darkened to a flattering shade that made her green eyes pop as she smiled up at him. Wow.

  She laughed, making him wonder if he’d said it out loud. “Ella, it’s so great to see you.” He reached his hand out, uncertain what the proper protocol was. Should he shake her hand? Hug her? He was her boss after all, and didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. At the same time as he extended his hand, she moved in and wrapped her arms around his waist for a hug. His body's immediate response to her took him so much by surprise that all he could do was awkwardly pat her on the shoulder. Where had that come from? He couldn't remember the last time he'd reacted like that to a woman.

  She pulled back and looked up at him, her smile faltering slightly, but in an instant it was back in place and she was speaking and he wondered if he might have just imagined it. “I hope you know how much I appreciate this. You won’t regret hiring me, I’ll make sure of it.”

  He was already fairly certain he wouldn’t, if only for the fact that seeing her after all this time had instantly brought him a happiness he hadn’t felt in far too long. She was as vivacious as ever. He wasn’t sure what to say next, so he said the only thing that he could think of. “Let me show you around the office.”

  She turned and took in the reception area. “Who chose your art?” There were modern paintings and sculptures placed around the reception area.

  “Some interior designer my assistant found.” He waved his hand dismissively. He really wasn’t that fond of the art, but didn’t want to say so in case she liked it. She had an eye for that type of thing, if her resume was any indicator. As she examined the pieces, Ella wrinkled her delicate nose that still had a smattering of freckles, and he was captivated by her expressive face. It was so strange to see her like this. He remembered her as a gangly and somewhat obnoxious child. Now she appeared self-assured and confident, and the curve of her body was most assuredly not gangly.

  When she turned to him expectantly, he realized he was just standing there watching her, when he’d just offered her a tour. Giving himself a mental shake, he gestured toward the long hall leading toward the boardrooms. He had to get a grip and stop staring at her like this or she would think he was just as socially inept as ever. That hug had thrown him off balance, that was all. Now he just needed to keep things professional and it would all be fine. He had too much to do to be distracted by a woman. Especially one that not only worked for him, but was a longtime friend.

  After a brief walk around the office, he led her back to the main desk and pointed out a small plastic crate full of notebooks and files, as well as a sturdily encased tablet and laptop. “Maria put together everything you should need to be ready to go by morning. I have an afternoon full of meetings, and I’ll need you to be prepared. Most of what you’ll need is on the computer.”

  He risked another glance at her, only to find her staring at the crate with eyes wide and full of trepidation. “This looks like it could take days to get through. And you need me ready by morning?”

  He nodded briskly, trying to establish himself in his role as her boss. “It isn’t as overwhelming as it looks. Maria is a bit of a perfectionist, and has everything categorized and cross-referenced. If you just familiarize yourself with her system then you should be fine.”

  She didn’t look convinced. “Well, I guess I should be on my way then. It looks like I have a busy night ahead of me.”

  Drew was surprised to find that he suddenly didn’t want her to go. But that was ridiculous. He still had work to do. He never wasted time chatting when there were things to be done. So why did the idea of her leaving him when she’d barely just arrived send a wave of disappointment through him? “Yes, that would probably be best.” She needed to go before he got too distracted to work.

  The look of hurt that passed over her face was there and gone so fast that he was once again not sure if he’d imagined it. He realized he was being rude dismissing her like this, when they had just been reunited, but he had to keep his mind on his work, and that meant he didn’t have time to reminisce. Or think about how nicely those jeans fit her hips. Yes, he needed her to be on her way so he could put himself back on an even keel.

  Ella went to gather up the file crate, then smiled at him again. “Thanks again for the opportunity, Drew.” The way his name sounded on her lips sent an unwelcome spark racing down his spine. He just tipped his head toward her, then turned back to his office as she walked toward the elevators. He was about to close the doors when she called after him.

  “Just to make sure I have my bearings straight, is the nearest metro entrance to the east or west?” She was fumbling to pull something from her purse, the crate perched precariously between her arm and hip.

  Confused, he knitted his brows together. “You don’t need to take the metro. The hotel is less than a block away.”

  “No, I’m staying pretty far from here. I tried to find something closer, but they were all out of my price range.”

  He scrutinized her for a moment, then said, “Maria must not have updated you before she left. That surprises me. I arranged for you to stay right here near the office. I need you to be available at a moment’s notice. Roger will have already dropped your luggage off to be delivered to your room. It’s less than five minutes from this office to your door.”

  Ella stopped digging in her bag and turned those luminous green eyes on him, shaking her head. “I can’t do that, Drew. I need this job, but I can’t afford to spend my entire salary on an expensive hotel. If you’re worried about me being here on time, I’ll arrive early and stay late. I promise, you won’t have to worry about me being available.”

  “You misunderstand me. It’s part of the package. Just call it a perk of working here. You won’t be out anything.” He told her the name and suite number of the hotel she’d be staying in.

  Gasping, she nearly dropped the crate. Suddenly aware of how ungentlemanly he must seem, and wondering why he cared, he rushed back to her and took it from her arms. She stared up at him, her mouth opening and closing, until she finally found the words she must have been searching for. “I can’t accept that. It’s too much. I’ll be fine where I am. But I’
m not going to take another handout.” Her last comment confused him. Did she think she was getting a handout by getting this job?

  “Look, Ella,” he sighed, “I don’t know what you think this job offer is, but I don’t do handouts. I may be helping out a friend, but I wouldn’t have hired you if I didn’t think you were qualified. And having you here at the drop of a hat is something I require. So no more arguments.”

  She swallowed hard and stood up straighter, then looked him dead in the eye. “Fine. If you insist.” She yanked the crate back from him and punched the button for the elevator. He didn’t understand her abrupt irritation with him so he just stood awkwardly next to her as she waited for the doors to open. Once it did she marched in and turned to give him a stiff smile. “See you in the morning.”

  He lifted a hand in farewell as the doors closed, fighting the impulse to stick his arm in and stop her. He wasn’t sure what had just happened, but it felt like they’d run through a gamut of emotions in a very short amount of time. He headed back to his desk slowly, mulling it over. He’d been aloof, he knew that, but that was just who he was now. He had things to do and didn’t have time for a drawn out reunion. Things had changed over the years. She’d probably expected more upon seeing one another again, but he just didn’t have anything else to offer. His life was his work, and only his work. He didn't have time to worry over a woman.

  So why did he have an uncontrollable urge to run after her and make things right?

  ***For updates on new releases by Christine Kingsley go to www.christinekinsley.com/newsletter to make sure you are the first to know when each new book is available!

  Christine can be found online at www.christinekingsley.com and on Facebook.

  ALSO BY CHRISTINE KINGSLEY

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  Return to Love

  Meant for Love

  Saved by Love