Jake parked in front of Savannah’s apartment and had to laugh when he looked up and saw Tiffany waving at him from the living room window.He hadn’t been sure what to make of her at first, but now he knew all he needed to know – she was good to Savannah, and that was all that mattered to him.Savannah thought the world of her, and whenever she spoke about her, it was obvious to him that the feeling was mutual.He waved back and climbed out of his truck.
He decided not to ring the bell since Tiff had seen him.Instead, he turned to look out at the river.He wasn’t sure he liked this place for Savannah.It wasn’t an apartment building or anything – her and Tiff’s place was the only apartment here, and it was above a warehouse.The guy who owned the place – Austin, the local realtor – wouldn’t rent it to two girls by themselves if he didn’t think it was safe, though.
And it wasn’t as though Summer Lake was a place where you had to worry about much.It was just that they had no neighbors here.That thought made him feel like a bit of a hypocrite.He’d love to have no neighbors.He’d love even more to have this great view of the river.It wasn’t like looking out on the lake, but if anything, he liked it more.It felt more private.
He spun around when he heard the door open behind him.
Tiffany laughed out loud.“Oh, don’t look so disappointed that it’s only me.She’ll be down in a minute.I’m just getting a head start.I’m going to get out of here and let you lovebirds do your thing.”
He frowned.“What do you mean, get out of here?I thought you were coming tonight.”
“I am.I mean, I’m going to get my ass over there now.”
“You’re going to walk?”he asked incredulously.
She rolled her eyes.“Well, I’m not going to fly, am I?”
He let out a short laugh.“I’m never too sure with you.”
To his relief, she laughed with him.“I’ll see you guys over there, okay?”
“Not, it’s not okay.I’m here, I have my truck, and we’re all going to the same place.Why wouldn’t you ride with us?”
“Duh.Because you guys are on a date, and you don’t need me tagging along.And besides, it’s not far.You have to remember that I walk everywhere.And before you give me any of that big protective guy stuff that seems so common around here, I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.This place might seem scary to you, but you have to remember that before I came here, I was working the night shift at a gas station in L.A.”
He raised his eyebrows.He hadn’t known that.
Tiff nodded as if her point was proven.“I can take care of myself, I told you.”
He met her gaze and held it.“I’m not saying you can’t.What I’m saying, is that you don’t have to.I mean, walk if you really want to.”He gave her a wry smile.“I’d never try to talk you out of doing something you want to do.But if you’re just going to do that from some sense of… I don’t even know what.Giving Savannah and me a few more minutes by ourselves – I appreciate the thought, but we don’t need it.”
He glanced up at the apartment.“I bet you didn’t even tell her I was here, did you?You’re trying to sneak out because you know damn well that she’ll say the same thing I’m saying.”
Tiff glared back at him for a moment before huffing out a laugh.“You’re smarter than I was giving you credit for, soldier boy.”
That made him laugh.“Soldier boy?I was a Marine, if you don’t mind.”
“Okay, whatever – Marine man.I was trying to do you a favor here, that’s all.”
“I know, and I appreciate it.But you don’t need to.Instead of hotfooting it over there, why don’t you come with us?”He glanced up at the apartment again.“I’m hoping that this is just the beginning for Savannah and me.It’d be nice to get to know her friend.You’re important to her.I’m going to have to try to win your approval at some point.”
She nodded slowly.“Okay, you win.But you’d better ring the bell.Otherwise, she won’t know you’re here waiting.”She went to the truck and opened the back door.Before she climbed in, she gave him a genuine smile.“That winning-my-approval thing?You just made a good start on that.”
He said thanks, but he doubted she even heard it as she closed the truck door behind her.
~ ~ ~
Savannah wasn’t surprised when they reached the resort and Tiff asked Jake to drop her at the entrance to The Boathouse.
“I’ll see you guys in there,” she called as she jumped out.
“It’s not that she doesn’t like you,” Savannah assured Jake quickly, and was surprised when he chuckled.
“It’s okay.We figured it out between us before you came down.She was planning to walk into town.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.What surprises me is that she came with us.What happened?”
Jake glanced over at her before pulling the truck into an empty spot over by the railings.“I asked her to ride with us.”
