Savannah blinked. “Uh-huh?”
“Am I interrupting something?”
“Uh…” She looked dazedly at Jared.
“Yes, you’re interrupting something,” he said. His voice was a bit more hoarse than it had been. “But I have to leave, anyway.”
Again Susan felt a twinge of recognition that was just beyond her grasp. “Where are you going?”
“Work. I’m on from twelve to six.”
“On?” she echoed, but even as she said the word, she had the awful feeling that she understood. The voice. It was the voice. Smooth, but low and gravelly. Seductive. Compelling. “Jared? Jared what?”
“Snow,” he said. “I do a radio show—”
“I know,” Susan interrupted, then was quickly silent. Her eyes were wide on him as he rose to his full height. He was spectacular looking, she thought, but she had figured he would be, with a voice like his. She could easily believe every one of the rumors she’d heard about him. In person, he exuded the same confidence she had heard night after night in his voice.
She should have seen it sooner, but she’d been preoccupied with Sam. She supposed she still was, because she felt no inclination to come on to Jared, which was quite rare for her. She wondered whether Sam had ruined her for other men. If so, that was another bone of contention between them.
But Jared Snow. Jared Snow and Savannah? She couldn’t believe it. “You two are seeing each other?” she asked, though it was clear that they were.
Savannah nodded. And in that instant, Susan felt a flash of anger. Savannah had her career. She didn’t need a man like Jared Snow on top of it. It wasn’t fair that she should have everything.
But Susan wasn’t about to make a fool of herself in front of Jared. She was enough of a social animal to be gracious, regardless of what she was feeling inside.
So she smiled. “That’s wonderful, but you should have told me, Savvy. How long has it been?”
“Not long,” Savannah said. She could see that Susan’s back was straight against the cushions of the chair and knew exactly what Susan was doing and feeling. “We met soon after the kidnapping.”
Susan turned her smile on Jared. “I listen to your show all the time.”
“I’m glad.”
“You make it, you know. I’m not half as tempted to listen during the day. You add something.” Abruptly, she sat forward and stood. “But I’m interrupting you.” She had her coat in her hand in a flash and was turning it over her shoulder as she headed toward the door.
Worried, Savannah did get up then. “Wait, Suse. It’s okay—”
“No, no,” Susan insisted. “I was only going to complain about Sam, and you have better things to do with your time.”
“Don’t go,” Jared said. He was thinking along Savannah’s lines, realizing that Susan would be better off with someone than alone. “I’m leaving anyway. Stay and visit with Savannah.”
But Susan wanted to leave and leave quickly. She was having trouble pulling off the show she thought she’d be able to pull off with ease. She wanted to go home, maybe yell and scream for a while, most certainly have a drink, and she couldn’t do any of those things at Savannah’s. “Uh-uh. I have to run. Nice meeting you, Jared,” she tossed over her shoulder as she opened the door. “Savvy, I’ll talk with you tomorrow.”
“Can I drop you home?” Jared asked.
That brought Susan to a standstill on the front step. She gave him a challenging look. “I live in Newport. You’d never make it there and back in time for your show. Besides, my car is here. But thanks. It was a nice gesture.”
Savannah slipped in front of Jared. “What will you do at home?”
“What do most people do late at night?”
“Stay here. You could go home in the morning.”
But Susan wanted out. “Talk with you later,” she said as she went down the steps.
“What time’s our plane?” Savannah called. She was half worried that Susan was upset enough to back out of the trip.
To her relief, Susan called back, “Six-thirty.” Then she slid into the Jaguar, started the engine, and flew down the street.
