“I wanted to do some aerobics. I haven’t made it to the club since Tuesday. I feel it.”
Jared thought about aerobics, thought about Savannah exercising to music wearing shorts or a leotard or whatever aerobics fanatics wore. Shifting his stance, he linked his fingers before him, letting his coat shield the front of his trousers.
“Sounds like fun,” he said in a throaty way.
“It’s therapeutic. It works against tension.” She knew something else that would work against tension, and she knew that Jared knew it. The gray flecks in his eyes had gone darker than normal, pulling her in.
“I’ll drop you at the club after you’ve seen Megan.”
“But I didn’t want to do either of those things until I’d done some of this work.”
“Do the work tomorrow.”
“I can’t. I’m spending the day with Susan.” Her eyes widened and she whispered, “Oh, hell.” Reaching for the phone, she turned it and punched out Susan’s number, then worriedly counted the rings. She was about to hang up after the sixth when Susan answered.
“Hello?” Her voice sounded vaguely belligerent.
“How do you feel?”
There was a pause, then a less belligerent, “Better than I did when you called before.”
“You got some sleep?”
“A little.” Susan’s pause this time was wary, as was her voice when she spoke. “Have you seen Megan?”
“Just for a minute. I’ll drop by again later.”
“Did she talk with you?”
“No.”
“Was she sleeping?”
“I’m not sure.”
Susan sighed. “Same thing with me. I think she knew I was there but didn’t want to talk. It’s like she’s ashamed of what happened, like she thinks we’ll think less of her.” She gave a harsh laugh. “It’s really pretty funny, when you think of it. Here she is, kidnapped and raped, none of which is her own doing, and she’s ashamed. Here I am, supposedly of sound mind and body, and I get disgustingly sick in front of your friend.”
“What friend?”
“Sam.”
“When was this?”
“This morning. Come on, Savvy, didn’t he report back to you?”
“I haven’t seen him all day.”
Susan was surprised at that. Sam had said that Savannah hadn’t known he was there, but she hadn’t believed him. Now, she was doubly embarrassed. “Then forget what I said.”
“Were you sick?”
“Forget it. I’m fine now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. As a matter of fact, I’m getting ready to go out. There’s a dinner party at the Brannigans’. Skatch Sherman’s going to be there. It’ll be a great diversion.”
Skatch Sherman was the life of every party. Savannah found him to be totally offensive. “Some diversion.”
