Page 135 of Charming Deception

It’s my siblings who’ve been here for me, through everything. Even if I don’t always see them watching my back, I know they are.

“You’re so guarded,” Savannah says in the silence, “you don’t let the good ones in. They don’t even stand a chance.”

I meet her eyes. “Maybe Megan’s one of the good ones.”

“Maybe she is.” She leans forward. “And if that’s true, you need to make her your number one priority. Would you settle for a woman who didn’t make you her first priority?”

“No.”

“Exactly. You need to put her before the business, like Dad never did for Mom. And you need to put her before the family, like Mom never did for Dad.”

“You’re kidding me. Mom never put us first.”

“She did. She wanted him to give up the affairs and stay in the marriage, for us. He stayed. Even when he didn’t love her anymore.”

I don’t even know what to say to that. The idea that my dad didn’t love my mom—as fucked-up as my whole childhood had been—just doesn’t compute.

“Come on, Jamie. You know he didn’t love her. He was all over so many other women… And she stayed for us, even when it would’ve been better for her to leave. Find a man who actually loved her.”

“No. No, she left us.”

“After Dad died.”

“She replaced us with her new family.”

“She did the best she could under shit circumstances, in the face of overwhelming betrayal and grief. And you need to forgive her,” Savi says simply, like that’s the easiest thing to do. Of course, she isn’t one to hold long, painful grudges. “If for no other reason than you can move on.”

“That’s good advice. Why are you single again?”

“Fuck you. Get out of my office.”

I smirk at my sister, behind her big desk with all the papers strewn across it. She’s drowning in the resort opening, the gala, giving it everything she’s got. For Granddad. For Graysen. For all of us.

Most days, I’m in awe of her. I’ve always admired Savannah, even when I pretended she annoyed me when we were kids.

Right now, it makes me feel like an asshole for crossing the line I did with Cole’s sister.

However, I have no intention of stepping back behind the line.

“Stop staring at me and go win over that woman,” Savi mutters as I get up and round the desk toward her. “She’s sweet.”

I stop in my tracks. “You like Megan?”

“You’ve done much worse.” She sighs. “She’s your best friend’s sister, she’ll make cute babies, she was polite to the family. Is that what you think I care about? All I care about is that you’re happy.”

“I love you, Savannah. You’re the perfect girl.” I lean down and kiss her on the head.

“I know.”

She says it matter-of-factly, but there’s that guarded look in her eyes that I know so well. It’s a Vance thing. We all do it.

“Whatever you do, though,” she says as I head for the door, “do not have sex with her. Please. You need that inheritance, Jamie. And I need you at the table.”

I wave a hand at her vaguely. I’ve had enough lectures on that.

“I really can’t handle Harlan without you,” she adds in a grumble.

“He’s your twin,” I toss back at her. “You’d think you’d be used to him by now.”

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