Deciding to sit on a bench up ahead, I’ll wait for any sign that she’s nearby.Ten minutes pass, an hour passes, and after an hour and a half, I feel her behind me. I don’t need to look, she’s here. I’ve learned to sense her body, both in my arms and in proximity. The way she breathes is imprinted in my mind, too.My body tightens because I hold a breath, everything inside of me is for her, and I’m toeing a delicate line.
“Julian.” Her voice is emotionless, but when I stand and slowly turn to face her, she’s not surprised, only exhausted. She’s wearing a light blue sundress, but nothing in her face isbright to match. Dry cleaning is hanging off her finger, and I hate that she’s had enough time to send something off to the dry cleaner while she’s been here. Savannah should be back in the city by now, with me.
“I’m not leaving until you hear me out.” She shakes her head gingerly. “You obviously feel for me the way I feel for you… The cards are special. I was at the antique store by chance.” Her head perks up, surprised. “They were ready for you to pick up. My guess is you ordered them before…”
She crosses her arms, ready for the offence. “Yes. Keep them, I have no use for them. And there is nothing more to say.”
“Oh, there is.” I step forward, and my voice grows persistent, demanding. Everything that I’m positive she was attracted to in the first place.
“Go back to Chicago.” She hasn’t blinked once.
I dart my arm out and touch her elbow, the connection enough for both of us to take a second while the electricity zaps between us. “Savannah.” My voice scrapes, and my throat feels thick.
Her eyes are dull and somber. I want to wrap my arms around her, but I need to follow her cues on this.“I have a room at the inn. I’m staying there, and even if I have to go back to the city, I’ll keep the room.” I smirk slightly to myself. “They appreciate my business.”
Her eyes bug out. “You are seriously keeping a bedroom at the bed-and-breakfast for eternity?” Her voice rises.
“It won’t be eternity,” I swear, and my tone matches hers, yet a little cockiness comes through.
The familiar need to bicker, at least, returns to us.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m not. I’m standing right here waiting.”
She grumbles to herself and stares up at the sky before dropping her gaze back to me. “I can’t do this right now.”
“You know where to find me.”
“Who the hell does this?” she says to herself, frustrated.
The back of my finger slides down her face. “The man who will chase you until you have nowhere to go.”
You would think it would be her to walk away in this moment, but it’s me.
Leaving her to contemplate.
28
SAVANNAH
Warily, I knock on Julian’s bedroom door at the inn. It’s been a few days, and my body has a constant swirl of emotions. Anger that he let this happen, disappointment that he ruined a good thing, and, admittedly, sadness that a big piece of me is broken because I miss him, and in this moment, I can’t deny the tiny flick of excitement that jabs my heart to see him again.
When he opens the door, his eyes immediately drill into me with the lightness of his eyes, pleasantly surprised.Hell, I’m amazed I’m here.
“Savannah.” It’s hushed in disbelief.
“Hi,” I say softly and press my lips tightly together.
He steps back and holds the door open. “Come in.”
I walk in with a sigh, and I hear the door behind me close. Stopping in the middle of the room between the desk that barely fits his laptop and the four-poster bed, this isn’t a smart move. The worst, actually. It’s evening, and he has the fireplace on, probably to add to the ambience with his tumbler of whiskey next to his work.
“You’re here.”
Slowly, I turn to face him. “Trust me, I’m as shocked as you are. But you are annoying the hell out of me, and probably this town, so if coming here means you’ll go, then here I am.”
The corner of his mouth lifts into a devilish smirk, and he tuts a sound. “Not everyone is thrilled that I’m around, considering...” He strides my way with a smolder that I wish he didn’t have. “But the coffee place knows my order to a T. And a time or two, I’ve even talked shop with the owner of the hardware store who smiles at me.”
