As Savannah peered into Zander’s eyes, her playful expression made his cock twitch.I’m in trouble.I should have insisted Sheldon join us.
“It’s been a while,” Zander said. “You look good.” He hated lying. She looked sensational, but no need to go overboard.
“You too.”
“Are you married? Got kids?”
“Flying solo. How ‘bout you?”
“My wife’s name is ‘work’.”
Her husky laugh rumbled through him. This sexy stepsister of his was torturing the hell out of him.
“I feel like I know you.” She placed the rim of the glass to her lips and sipped the draft beer.
He dragged his gaze back to her eyes. “Why is that?”
“Your dad talked about you all the time. He hadn’t heard from you in a while, but that didn’t stop him from bringing you up every time we spoke.”
Bullshitters infuriated Zander, but as Savannah rolled the cocktail napkin between her fingers, his gut told him she wasn’t one of them.
“Then you know how important the Starry Cove development project is to my career.”
“I do now, but I don’t know the details.” She leaned back, crossed her legs. “Lay it on me.”
“My multi-use proposal will reinvigorate this town. Phase one includes three hotels, a shopping outlet, a large movie complex, and a casino. The mountain views are spectacular, the temperate climate is also a big draw. I’m looking to put Starry Cove on the map as a getaway destination. Primarily for the D.C. region, but being a stone’s throw from Dulles International Airport widens the market.” He tipped the glass against his lips, savoring the scotch before swallowing it down.
Her playful smile had fallen away and she tapped her fingernails on the side of the frosty glass. “I see.”
“This is the biggest opportunity of my career and I don’t understand why my father was so adamant about killing it without so much as a conversation.” His blood pressure soared, and he loosened his tie, unfastened his top button.
As her gaze followed his movement, her lips quirked at the corners. He’d no idea what she found amusing. She tucked her short hair behind one ear revealing a small, silver cuff.
“While I can only speculate, I’m guessing he didn’t want to get into it with you. I’m sure you know K-Dad is all about preserving the land. He’s obsessed with it.” She shook her head. “Past tense. Hewas. I keep forgetting he’s gone.” She bowed her head.
She’s really struggling.Help her out.He wrapped his hand around her shoulder and sparks flew up his arm. “You guys were close.”
After a pause, she lifted her chin. He expected tears. Instead, determination shone from her eyes. “Look, Zander, I can see this project is important to you, but I won’t disrespect Kyle’s wishes. The historic town should be revered, not torn down. C’mon, how many more shopping outlets does Virginia need?”
“Onemore, and this one is going to have my name written all over it,” he said and removed his hand from her shoulder. Time to learn something about his stepsister that he could use as leverage. “What do you do?”
“I’m a photographer. Landscapes mostly. Shooting golf courses and state parks allows me to pay the bills.”
“I’ll hire you to photograph Starry Cove before, during, and after renovations are completed.”
Her light-hearted laughter made him smile. “Sure, but that won’t change my decision.”
“We have to find common ground.”
“No, we don’t. I’m good with the will as it stands…although…” She paused to drink her beer. “I’m surprised Kyle didn’t include renovating The Cove.”
“What’s that?”
“According to him, it’s an abandoned drive-in movie theater that also served as a natural planetarium.” She shrugged. “We can check it out after we chow down.”
The bartender delivered their food. “Refills on anything, darlin’?”
“I’m good,” Savannah said.
