“I’ve known you for years and you’veneverreacted like this. You’re not related. Why not have a little fun?”
“Not helping.”
“Sorry, honey. Look, you’re going through a tough time. Don’t beat yourself up because you aren’t thinking clearly. Just move on.”
“No can do. Zander doesn’t like the arrangements, so I’ve agreed to meet with him. And stare at him…one of my favorite pastimes.”
Tilly chuckled. “Well, that meeting with your beautiful stepbrother will have to wait. Let’s circle back to thezillioncalls I left you. I got you another job, well, apossiblejob, but you’re a shoo-in. Anyway, you’re flying out tonight.”
Savannah’s stomach dropped. “What?” Though normally excited for new gigs, she didn’t want to leave. Not yet.
“I actually spoke with Gerard Ricardo. When I told him you’d be in Albuquerque, hefinallyagreed to speak with you about photographing his golf courses. This is such a great opportunity for you.”
“I’ll meet with him as soon as I’m finished with the tourism shoot.”
“He’s heading out of town Sunday and, because I pleaded, he’s squeezing you into his schedule tomorrow morning. I booked you on a flight out of Dulles tonight. You gotta hit the road, now.”
Savannah didn’t want to bolt before seeing Zander one final time. But shooting Gerard Ricardo’s world-renowned courses could bethecareer changer.
“I’ll be outa here in ten.” With a heavy heart, she hung up. Then, she called the front desk and asked for Zander’s room. When he didn’t answer, she collected her bags and hurried down to the front desk.
“Checking out ahead of schedule?” asked the clerk.
“Unfortunately, yes.” Savannah dug a business card from her camera bag and scribbled a note. “Could you please see that Zander King gets this?”
“Absolutely.” The clerk took the card. “Safe travels.”
“I like Starry Cove. Maybe I’ll get back here one day.”
* * *
Hoping to quell histhundering headache, Zander stood beneath the hot shower unable to shake Savannah from his thoughts. Her sultry lips had molded to his while she’d dug her nails into his shoulder blades and ground against him. It had taken all his efforts to refuse her. As the water pounded his back, he wondered if he’d made the wrong decision.
Don’t go there. She’s your stepsister.
From what he knew of her, they were polar opposites. He was driven. She was chill. He’d rooted himself in Northern Virginia. She roamed the countryside like a gypsy. He was analytical, she a creative type. Despite his passion for winning, he envied her laid-back attitude.
Ignoring his hard-on, he turned off the faucet and toweled dry. Zander had three days to make his case and one person’s mind to change. The sooner he could sell Savannah on developing Starry Cove, the quicker he could move the project to the win column. Since she’d been interested in The Cove, he’d tag that on as an actionable item. Restoring the drive-in might earn him some points with his nature-loving stepsister.
The project that got away. Only it didn’t…yet.
With a game plan in place—and a commitment to keep his hands off her—he dressed before sitting on the edge of the bed to read the string of texts. Two women he’d taken out had expressed interest in getting together over the weekend. He skipped those and replied to the more urgent, work-related texts.
Leaning back against the propped pillows, he played back his voice messages.
Message one from Kent. “Word got out that we might declare bankruptcy. I tried reassuring everyone, but we’ve got some folks freaking out. Big time.” Kent’s tight voice and fast speech a sure sign he was beyond frustrated.
No reason to panic.
The next three messages were from anxious King Development executives and he replied to each with a text, hoping to calm things down. “Bankruptcy doesn’t mean we’re definitely going out of business. Restructuring our financial situation will put us back on a path to a positive cash flow.”No effing way will I file for bankruptcy. We’ve been in tight spots before and I’ll get us out of this one, too.
Message five was from his assistant. “Zander, I emailed you a Wall Street Journal article about Esteem University being investigated by the SEC.”
After tapping the link, he read the story. Other than some conjecture about financial statements, few details were given. He scraped his fingers down his whiskered cheek.That can’t be good.
He forwarded messages six, seven, and eight to his assistant and left word for her to handle.
Message nine was from Kent’s wife, Megan. “Kent’s in the hospital. Call me as soon as you get this.”
