Kiss Across Time (Kiss Across Time Series) by Tracy Cooper-Posey

nothing,” she told him.
    “True. But you didn’t go home this morning, did you?”
    She couldn’t think of an answer to that. This time yesterday she had been visiting her Goth ex-student, to borrow a leather bustier to wear to a concert she didn’t want to go to because she had been fired two days ago. Now she was here. “Life has me on a carnival ride. I just have to see where I end up before the ride finishes.”
    Brody gave a low laugh.   “I’ve been on this ride for centuries.   It doesn’t end.   The view keeps changing and it keeps going round.   You have to throw yourself off if you really want this ride to end, Taylor.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said.   “I never did like carnival rides, anyway.”
    Veris gave a low chuckle as they stepped into the building.   He took off his glasses and put them in his breast pocket. “I’ve always said women were stronger, when it came to pure courage, haven’t I?” he said to Brody.
    Brody stabbed at the top elevator button. “There’s a reason we have a queen and not a king.”
    The elevator doors opened and the people inside would have hurried out, except they all paused when they saw the three of them standing waiting for the car. There was a collective hesitation, then the occupants all carefully streamed past them, glancing sideways at them.
    Once the car was empty, they stepped on and Brody produced an electronic key card that he slid into a slot on the control panel, before punching the penthouse floor button.
    The elevator rose swiftly through the floors and neither man spoke. Taylor could feel their growing tension. Brody took off his glasses and squared his shoulders. Veris smoothed his tie and fussed with the knot. Both of them looked exactly like high school kids about to face the principal for transgressions known and unknown.
    What had they done that they were about to get busted for?
    When the elevator opened, Taylor almost squeaked in alarm and that told her that their nervousness had communicated itself to her. She was wound up, just as they were, and expecting trouble.
    They stepped out into a perfectly normal foyer of a business suite, just like millions the world over. This one was a touch more elegant that most, given the address.   It was empty except for a male receptionist behind a curved desk. He looked up from the computer he was working on but didn’t show any surprise at their appearance. Instead, he simply nodded. “You’re expected and everything is ready. Boardroom C.”
    “Thank you,” Veris told him. He opened a door beside the reception desk and held it for Taylor. “This way.”
    She followed him, with Brody behind her, through wide corridors that were just as empty as the reception area, into a wood-paneled boardroom. The walls were hung with what looked like classic nineteenth century original art to her, that glowed in beautiful frames each lit by their own small overhead lights, while the cherrywood board table gleamed with pools of light from the overhead spotlights spilling upon it. The light in the rest of the room was very low, leaving shadows.
    At the top of the table where the chairman would probably sit, a shapeless mass lay beneath a piece of soft white opaque plastic sheeting. One of the overhead spotlights was shining directly upon it.
    Brody’s hands were on her shoulders, removing the coat. Veris was shedding his, dropping it over one of the leather chairs lining the table. The room was utterly silent and empty except for the three of them.
    Taylor was almost afraid to speak. Her heart was thundering but she had no idea why she should be afraid.
    “Come,” Brody murmured, tugging her arm, leading her toward the top of the table.
    Veris pushed the big chair that was behind the table well out of the way and stood before the nameless mass, looking at it. He glanced at Taylor as she stepped beside him.
    “We owe you an apology, Taylor,” he said softly.
    She realized her hand was