Siren's Call (A Rainshadow Novel) by Jayne Castle

at Ella. “Fortunately, I found it.”
    “I see.” Wilson glanced at Ella. “You needed a mid-level dream analyst, then?”
    “I needed someone exactly like Ella,” Rafe said. There was a mag-steel edge in his voice.
    Wilson blinked and took what looked like an unconscious step back.
    “I see,” he said. He did not look convinced but he did look a little more cautious.
    “Rafe and I signed the contract this afternoon,” Ella said.
    “Is that right?” Wilson raised his brows. “I’m surprised he had heard about your little one-person firm, Ella.”
    She considered emptying her glass of sparkling water on his shoes but she managed to restrain herself.
    “Knightsbridge may be small but our reputation is growing,” she said.
    Wilson switched his attention to Rafe. “Your company is into mining. Mind if I ask why you need a dream analyst?”
    “Coppersmith is involved in a wide variety of research projects.” Rafe smiled a thin blade of a smile. “We employ an equally wide variety of consultants.”
    Wilson recovered quickly from the setback. He bestowed a patronizing grin on Ella.
    “I understand that a contract with a company the sizeof Coppersmith is a big deal for a little operation like Knightsbridge,” he said. “If you find you’re in over your head, feel free to contact me. Wouldn’t be the first time Wilson Parsons has had to come to the rescue of one of our competitors.”
    Ella gave him a bright, shiny smile. “You bet. If I need help, Wilson Parsons will definitely be on my call list.”
    Wilson blinked a couple of times. He was obviously having trouble figuring out how to take her response. It finally must have dawned on him that she was being sarcastic.
    “There’s Dr. Flanders,” he said, looking past Ella’s shoulder. “I need to have a word with him about his new dream research project. If you’ll excuse me?”
    “Certainly,” Ella said.
    “Remember, Parsons will be happy to step in if you find you need our insights,” Wilson said. But he was speaking to Rafe.
    He melted into the crowd before Ella could respond. Rafe watched him go.
    “What happened when you told Parsons that the client tried to rape you?” he asked.
    His cold voice sent a chill through Ella.
    “Wilson tried to convince me that it was my imagination. When that failed, he claimed that I had made a mistake in the course of the therapy.”
    “In other words, the attempted assault was your fault.”
    “Yes. That’s when I handed in my resignation.”
    This was a dangerous topic, Ella thought. She needed to change the subject. Luckily, a familiar face emergedfrom the crowd. “Good evening, Professor Suarez. Thank you so much for inviting me this evening.”
    “Ella, dear, I’m so glad you could make it. And how many times must I tell you to call me Marlene?”
    Marlene Suarez was a petite, silver-haired woman with a vivacious vibe and a sharp, analytical mind. She gave Rafe a speculative look.
    “Who is your plus one this evening?” she said to Ella.
    “I’d like you to meet Rafe Coppersmith,” Ella said. “Rafe, Marlene is a professor in the Dreamlight Research Department.”
    “Coppersmith.” Marlene’s brows rose. “As in Coppersmith Mining?”
    “That would be the family business,” Rafe said. “Technically speaking, I’m an outside consultant.”
    Marlene chuckled and winked at Ella. “Congratulations, my dear. It’s about time you started dating again.”
    Ella choked on the sip of sparkling water that she had just swallowed. She sputtered and coughed.
    “Mr. Coppersmith is a client,” she wheezed.
    Rafe gave her a couple of bracing slaps between her shoulder blades and smiled at Marlene.
    “Ella and I are still in the getting-to-know-each-other phase of things,” he said.

Chapter 10
     
    Forty minutes later Ella said her good-byes and walked out into the mist-bound night with Rafe.
    A little buzz of energy tingled through her. She loved the streets of the Old Quarter after dark,