“Am I the only one attending the reading?” she asked as they walked down the short hallway.
“No, Kyle’s son Zander will be here.” Sheldon gestured to one of the chairs across from his desk. “Make yourself comfortable. Excuse me a moment.”
As she eased onto the hard leather seat, thoughts of Zander warmed her cheeks. Though rarely nervous, her pulse pounded hard and fast.
She hadn’t seen her stepbrother since he left for college, but man-oh-man had she crushed on him. Back then, she hid her pudgy body behind frumpy clothes and wore her oversized glasses like a shield. Being a shy ten year old, she struggled to make friends in her new school. Plus, she got tongue-tied around cute boys, especially one who was three years older and in middle school.
Once, she got up the nerve to ask him to quiz her on her spelling words, and that opened the door to more conversations. Zander liked talking about his dog-walking business and Savannah liked listening to him. She also liked looking at him. So, the more questions she asked, the more she got to stare, without getting caught.
The years passed, and Zander moved on to high school where baseball season became Savannah’s favorite time of year. After school, she’d park herself at the kitchen table to do her homework and wait for him to come home. And when he did, she’d soak him up. The ends of his unkempt dark hair glistened from sweat and his lean muscles stretched against his practice uniform. She spent a lot of teenage nights tucked in bed fantasizing about her crazy-hot stepbrother down the hall.
But it was her stepfather, Kyle King, who had changed her life for the better. Their first Christmas as a blended family, he’d given her a camera. “Everyone likes looking at themselves,” her stepdad told her. “Take pictures of the kids and I bet you’ll make some friends.”
He’d been right. Whether capturing candid moments or photographing a beautiful sunset, she found her passion. And she made a ton of friends.
After Zander left for college, she never saw him again. A year later, her mom ended the marriage, but Savannah stayed in touch with K-Dad. Most considered him a curmudgeon, but beneath that abrasive surface was a sweet man desperate to find love and always coming up short.
Savannah glanced around Sheldon’s small office, the back wall of built-in shelves overstocked with law books and journals. The receptionist entered with a handsome guy in tow. Her mind stuttered to slow motion as she eyed the stranger.It’s the city slicker.Wait…that’s Zander?
“Sheldon will be right in,” said the assistant. “Please have a seat.” The quiet man scurried out.
Taller than she remembered and twice as muscular, Zander had traded the long, flyaway hair for a short, neat business cut. He wore a dark suit and no smile, but if memory served her, he wasn’t big on smiles back then, either. Recognition flashed in his eyes, his intense gaze making her heart flutter. For a suit, he was damn fine. Damn fine, indeed.
His expression brightened. “Savannah, right?”
“Yes.” Rising, she extended her hand. Savannah found the formality a necessity, but in this case, she wanted to touch him. She was as tactile as she was visual. The smoothness of his hand didn’t surprise her. What did were the sparks that flew up her arm. Her type of man wore tattered jeans, a worn, old T-shirt, and sported facial hair. Tats were a bonus. She liked her men either barefoot or in dinged-up cowboy boots. Not clean cut, sporting stuffy suits and thousand-dollar shoes.
His light gray eyes stayed locked on hers. “Do you work with Sheldon?”
“No, I’m here for the reading of your dad’s will.”
His pleasant expression dropped, his eyes turned ice cold. “Are you one of Kyle’s wives?”
“He was my stepdad.”
Zander glared at her.He thinks I’m here for a handout.
Sheldon breezed into the room. “Mr. King, Sheldon Elstor.” The two men shook hands.
Her stepbrother still hadn’t cracked a smile. “Good to meet you.”
“This is your stepsister, Savannah Morrissette. Well, technically she’s your ex-stepsister, but we’re all family here.” Sheldon got comfortable behind his large, oak desk.
Zander remained steadfast. Only his jaw ticked.
“It’s been a while,” Savannah said to Zander. “Back then, I went by Vanna. You probably don’t remember me.”
The tension radiating off her stepbrother didn’t surprise her. He probably had no idea she was still in Kyle’s life and expected he’d be flying solo today.
“I didn’t recognize you,” he muttered.
“Let’s get started.” Sheldon opened a manila folder on his desk.
They took their seats across from him.
Zander peered at her, but she kept her attention firmly rooted on Sheldon. As her stepfather’s attorney began reading from Kyle’s will, she glanced over. Their gazes locked, the air charged with chaotic energy. The longer he regarded her, the faster her heart banged against her chest. The uptight suit brought some heat to the meeting, something the once-shy Vanna had found very tempting.
The hunger in his eyes didn’t feel adversarial. Several seconds ticked by before he turned back to Sheldon. She, however, didn’t feel compelled to look away.
