Over the past few days, I’d also gotten a feel for the beautiful Great Lake shore town. Ashland was a city with a small-town feel. Despite the snowfall, the streets and sidewalks were cleared, allowing residents and visitors to walk about. From my hotel, I found the cafes, restaurants, and stores inviting and the people welcoming. Many of the downtown buildings had some of the prettiest murals I’d ever seen.
Mr. Fields appeared. “Miss McGrath, Mr. Sherman will see you now.”
“Is he your client?” I asked.
“Yes, ma’am, Donovan Sherman is a private man. He’ll have the only voice in your hiring. Please don’t take it personally if he decides against it. As I said, he’s private and particular.”
“He wanted to see me?”
“Yes. I can’t promise you more than that.”
As I walked down the hallway toward the conference room, a step behind Mr. Fields, I decided private would be nice. If I got the job offer, I liked the idea of having time to myself.
Mr. Fields opened the door.
The man within, younger than the old man I anticipated, was turned toward the window. His attire was what I’d expected, an expensive suit all the way to the cuff links and Italian loafers. His shoulders were broad and the suit was custom, accentuating his toned torso and trim waist. It was as he turned that I sucked in a breath, the blood drained from my face, and my knees felt weak.
“Mr. Fields,” Van said, his green gaze fixed on me, “thank you. I’ll let you know if we need you.”
“Mr. Sherman, I’m willing to stay and—”
Van interrupted, “That won’t be necessary.”
As Van spoke, the fire from the cabin ignited in his eyes.
Once Mr. Fields was gone, Van came closer. “Am I to think this was all coincidental?”
“You said your name was Van.”
“Donovan. Van is shortened.”
Honestly, Mr. Fields had never told me his client’s name. Shaking my head, I turned to leave. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sherman, this isn’t what I was...”
He reached for my hand. “When I saw the name Julia on the schedule and read your résumé, I had to know if it was you.”
My hand tingled in his with the electricity of our first touch.
“I-I...I’m not looking for anything except a job to take me away from my life.”
“Write my story, Julia. Once you learn about the real me, you’ll be able to see me for the wolf I warned you I am.”
“You want me to stay?”
“You realize the job description includes living on my estate.”
A smile crept across my lips. “Estate? It’s one room.”
“No. That was a cabin on the outskirts of my property. You’ll have your own suite.”
“Isn’t that generous?”
His green eyes shimmered. “At first.”
Van opened a briefcase on the table and removed something small, holding it in his hand. “I got this object on the far-fetched chance that Julia McGrath was Julia no-last-name.”
“What is it?”
“Will you take the job?”