Page 23 of Imperfectly Perfect

“The third one usually is,” Fallon answered absentmindedly while she finished typing on the computer. “When did she say she wanted to meet again?”

“In two weeks.”

Fallon nodded and pulled up the calendar. “Two weeks from now?”

Savannah shook her head. “Let’s make it three.”

“Same day and time?”

“I’ll make it work.”

It took only a few seconds for Fallon to input the appointment and focus on Savannah again. This time she remained calm and quiet. The box that Savannah had brought was nowhere to be found, but Savannah suspected that it was hidden away where no one else could see it. Surely not in the trash or something like that.

“I want to know something,” Savannah started before she could stop herself or mess this up again.

“Which is?” Fallon again had all her focus on Savannah. It was unnerving in some ways. Savannah wasn’t used to being paid such close attention to, and yet, the way Fallon went about it, settled her. She knew that Fallon was listening, that she was truly putting in the effort to hear what Savannah had to say or ask. When was the last time anyone had done that for her?

“Why do you want to be my friend?”

There. The question was out there. Now Savannah just had to wait for the answer and respect it. Whatever Fallon told her would be the truth, because Fallon never seemed to mince words in these moments. It was one of the things that Savannah had come to appreciate about her.

“I don’t.”

“What?” Savannah’s voice was louder than she’d anticipated, and she hadn’t managed to keep the hurt out of her tone.

“I first went with you to the wine bar to get you off my back, to acquiesce to your insane need for apologizing when unnecessary. I didn’t go with the intention of making a friend or getting to know you any better than I had to.” Fallon folded her hands in front of her.

Savannah’s stomach twisted hard. “Is that still true?”

“No.” Fallon shuffled the papers on her desk, sliding them into a folder and then putting them into a drawer at her side. She leaned forward and turned her computer off. “I’ll be right back.”

“What?” Frowning, Savannah watched as Fallon stood up and walked away from her. She went into Athena’s office, shut the door behind her, and then Savannah was left all alone.

Again.

Fallon had done this once before, but that time it had at least made sense. This time it didn’t at all, and Savannah was left wondering just what she’d done wrong. Was Fallon going to tell Athena that she had to drop her as a client? That didn’t seem much like Fallon’s style though. That felt far more like Savannah’s fear kicking up a few notches.

The door opened, and relief washed through Savannah when Fallon stepped back into the main office area. “Walk me to my car.”

“Okay,” Savannah agreed without even thinking.

She glanced at the clock and it was far later than she’d realized. Fallon must be done with work for the day and not just leaving at a random whim. With Fallon’s things gathered, they stepped out into the hallway and walked side by side until they reached the elevator. Neither of them said anything until they were inside, alone for the first time that day. Truly alone with no one else to eavesdrop or wonder just what they were doing that they shouldn’t be doing.

“I don’t want a relationship with you,” Fallon said.

“I don’t want a relationship with you,” Savannah answered. “I don’t want a relationship period.”

“Good.” Fallon turned her head, her chin tilted down as their eyes locked together. “I don’t do relationships.”

“But do you dootherthings?” Savannah asked.

Fallon’s lips pressed into a thin line before she slid her gaze from Savannah’s eyes to her mouth. She lingered there until Savannah’s heart rate kicked up a few beats, reminding her that even after all the drama with Forrest, she was still a woman who had very physical needs. And Fallon might be just the person to fulfill those needs.

She stepped in closer, and Fallon stayed right where she was, her gaze slowly dragging back up to meet Savannah’s eyes.

“Do you want to dootherthings with me?” Savannah pushed for an answer. “Because I’m more than willing to let that be what we are to each other and nothing else.”

“I don’t think anything else will work out. We’ve already crossed that line.”

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