“It’s lavender.” Savannah sniffed again. “Surely you smell it?”
“No, but Lavender Dreams has a display for the silent auction,” Rachel said. “Maybe that’s what you’re smelling.” She looked toward the dessert buffet. “Uh-oh. I’ll be back.”
“Ten to one she goes back into the kitchen,” Savannah said.
“She might go back in there but she won’t stay,” Avery said. “I promised I’d drag her out by her hair if she tried it.”
Savannah laughed. “You’re kind of scary when you’re determined.”
“Good. Maybe just the threat will do it.” She glanced away. “Well, well, look who’s coming this way,” Avery drawled.
Savannah looked in the direction Avery indicated. Harlan, naturally. Why did he have to look so good? And why was she so shallow? So he was a hunk. Big deal.
Looks aren’t everything.
Maybe not, but they’re sure as hell distracting.
But that wasn’t what really had her spinning. Seeing Harlan again, talking to him, dancing with him, had brought all sorts of sensory emotions and memories crashing down on her. The way he used to smile at her before giving her one of his long, slow kisses. Kisses that went on forever. The way she used to play with the hair at the base of his neck. How he’d brush her hair aside and kiss her neck. How he’d—
Damn it! Stop thinking about all that.
Most of the times Harlan had come into town in the last few years, Savannah had managed to avoid him and sometimes had not even known he’d been in town. There would be no avoiding him anymore. Unless she quit her job or he fired her, she’d be seeing him five days a week, at the least.
“Did you get your business taken care of?” Harlan asked when he reached them.
“Yes. I don’t think you’ve met my friend, Avery Burton. She’s co-chair of the ball.”
“Nice to meet you,” Harlan said. “Logan mentioned you’d, er, encouraged him to be co-chair.”
Avery laughed and shook hands. “Something tells me he didn’t sayencourage.”
Harlan smiled but didn’t contradict her.
“Dance with me?” he asked Savannah.
Go on. You know you want to. Besides, all that happened eons ago. You need to get over it.
Startled, she looked to see if her friend had spoken to her, but she wouldn’t have said anything in front of Harlan. Besides, Avery didn’t know about hers and Harlan’s past. Not to mention, that hadn’t been Avery’s voice.
Good God, was she hearing voices now?
She shook off her thoughts. Or whatever they were. “All right.”
Just enjoy it. Things aren’t always what they seem.The scent of lavender followed her as Harlan led her to the dance floor once again.
It hadn’t been a fluke, Harlan thought. Dancing with Savannah—at least to a slow song—was torture. Sweet torture, but torture nonetheless. He kept his hand on her waist, the sheer fabric of her siren-red dress the only thing between him and her creamy, smooth skin. He wanted to move his hand to her bare back, just to see if her skin was as soft as it looked. Being reasonably sure she’d slap him down, he didn’t.
Her dress was classy...but sexy. Very sexy. When he looked down he could see the swell of her breasts above the red bodice, the hint of shadow in her cleavage. He wanted to kiss her, first her mouth, just her mouth, with long drugging kisses just like they used to exchange. Wasn’t it weird that he could still remember what it felt like to hold her? Kiss her? Make love to her?
Good God, man, get a grip. You can’t possibly remember something that happened once, fourteen years ago.
Of course you can. Savannah was your first love. Your true love.
“Did you say something?” he asked her. Maybe she’d spoken and he’d misheard her.
“No. I was just...thinking.”
“About...” What the hell was going on with the...voice in his head? A woman’s voice. In his head. What the fuck? He brushed away his uneasiness. There had to be some reasonable explanation.
