Savannah blows out a raspberry. “Is this why you asked me back?”
“It’s not crazy to want to celebrate. I want to have a special dinner tomorrow and give a little gift, too.”
“Savannah doesn’t like gifts, I’ve observed. Also, I couldn’t agree more that she shouldn’t be so modest.” It’s endearing, though.
Savannah shoots us both a warning glare. “Stop talking about me.”
“Is it so wrong that I paint you in a positive light in front of your boss?”
I grin and chuckle under my breath. “No need to do such a thing, and the pretense of the boss might need to be shaken while I’m here.”
Bea beams. “Oh, imagine that, you are more than a boss,” she plainly says because she isn’t surprised.
Savannah drops her face into her hands, exhausted and humored by our ruse. “What gave it away?”
“Darling, nobody takes their boss to meet their family for kicks.I also highly doubt Mr. Billionaire here really had business out this way. You also made a reservation at the Schoolhouse. Glenda let me know when I walked by the new donut place in town this morning.”
I like this lady a lot. “You’re a smart cookie, Bea. Yes, your niece got under my skin, and here we are.” I let my hand float over to Savannah’s arm to touch her the way a man who has her should—tender yet possessive purely by a touch of the fingers.
Savannah gives me a warm look. “It was unexpected. All of this. He and I. It’s new, too. But something chased us together,” she reflects.
“The way it should,” Bea laments. “I’m going to assume that the reservation isn’t for one and you’re a grown woman.”
“I don’t mean to steal her away, but I kind of can’t apologize, either. I never take time off.”
Bea’s face is neutral, unreadable. “You might want to take more time off, then. We lose precious things if time isn’t given.” That’s her warning shot.
A fair one, too.
“I don’t lose things that have value,” I respond.
“Good.” Her mood perks up, and she swings her focus back to Savannah. They quickly dive into a conversation about old photos.
I want to listen intently, but I can’t help but observe, as I’m surrounded by two people in the same family, showing every ounce of love, completely invested in one another’s words, mementos on the wall, and favorite cookies to be shared.
Everything that is foreign to me.
I only accept success, but I’m feeling uneasy about how I can be any good at this; what’s in front of me. I’ve never had anything that resembles family like this. I’m not even sure I’m jealous because I’m not sure what I’ve been missing, except that in front of me is the image of honest love.
Savannah deserves everything. I’m not even half that guy.I’ve never been anywhere near invested in a woman, and here she is bringing me into unknown territories, bringing out parts of me I haven’t seen before.
Some men would run away, but I’m determined to do the opposite and succeed, similar to everything else I touch.
Because she’s no exception.
24
SAVANNAH
Lying in bed with a sheet wrapped around me, I rest on my side and lean my head against my propped arm, watching as Julian pokes at the fire burning inside the fireplace. The moment we entered his room at the Schoolhouse Inn, clothes were ripped off in record time. Now it is who knows what hour during the night, but we’re still awake.
“I could get used to thisLittle House on the Prairiestuff,” he remarks as he sets the poker to the side.
I lick my lips as I fight a grin. “Enlighten me.”
His hands go out to display the room. “I mean, I have a fire to keep warm at night, and there isn’t even a TV in here.”
My eyes fall to my hand that brushes along the mattress as my lips slip into a smile. “I think that’s what most people would call chic. The pristine wood floors and antique porcelain that they serve breakfast on are hardly screaming ‘let’s churn butter from the milk we collect from the cows, while I wear a bonnet.’”
