Page 50 of Promise of a New Beginning
“Of course. But I vote for the hot outfit.”
A knock at the door sent a panic through her. “Uh oh. He’s here. I gotta go.”
She ended the call and debated tearing off her dress and putting on a pair of jeans. Another knock sent her hurrying down the hallway toward the front door, wishing she’d planned ahead like most women would have.
She pulled open the door with a ready smile, which fell flat the minute she saw Connor Dean. All six foot five, two hundred thirty pounds of him, complete with his Stetson and an armful of red roses. She shook her head. Blinked her eyes.This has to be a bad joke.
“Connor.”
“Hello, darlin’.” He swooped in and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her against him, then kissed her so hard their teeth knocked.
It took Savannah a minute to get her bearings and realize that his mouth was attached to hers in a very intimate and deep kiss that felt oh-so-good and was totally not what she wanted. She blinked away the confusion and tried to push him away as Jack’s face came into focus over Connor’s shoulder.
FROM THE THIRD-floor landing, Jack watched the tall, handsome man with a bunch of roses in his arms knock on Savannah’s door. He lowered his chin and narrowed his eyes. The stab of jealousy he’d felt earlier that morning reappeared. He was ten feet away when Savannah opened the door. Five feet when the man took her in his arms and kissed her like he’d been there before, like the kiss was as familiar as the stinkin’ cowboy hat he wore. He was inches from the man’s back when Savannah opened her eyes and met his stare, then pushed at the man’s stomach to try to disengage from the attack on her mouth.
Jack put one hand on the man’s shoulder and yanked, knocking him off kilter. The man stumbled backward and spun around.
“Dude? Do you mind?” the man spat. He looked at Savannah again and managed a forced smile.
Jack fisted his hands. His chest rocked up and down as he closed the gap between them. He gritted his teeth and reminded himself that Savannah wasn’t really his to protect, and he had no idea who this guy was. “Actually, I do.” Jack’s voice was cold as ice.
“Jack.” Savannah touched his arm.
He kept his eyes trained on the man with the roses.
“Connor, what are you doing here?”
Connor?
She tried to pull Jack away from him, but Jack was rooted to the ground. He’d rather the guy had his back against the wall until he figured out what was going on.
“I came to apologize,” Connor said. He shoved the flowers beneath Jack’s arm toward Savannah.
“Apologize?” Jack shifted his gaze to Savannah.
Savannah blushed and looked away. “He’s the reason I went on the survival weekend.”
Jack’s blood simmered. He drew his eyes back to Connor. “This is the lowlife who cheated on you?” Jack wanted to pick the bastard up by his collar and heave him down the stairs, then pummel him until he couldn’t move. But the look on Savannah’s face stopped him from moving a muscle. Embarrassment deepened the blush on her cheeks. He couldn’t tell if she was embarrassed by his aggression or if she was embarrassed by the guy showing up. And he didn’t trust himself enough to decipher the truth.
Connor held up his arms. “Whoa, listen. It was all a misunderstanding.” He shot a worried look at Savannah from beneath Jack’s hulking stare. “Tell him, Savannah.”
Savannah narrowed her eyes at Connor. She crossed her arms and said in a harsh tone, “He’s not worth it. Just let him go.”
Jack stepped back, and as Connor moved around him, he grabbed his collar. His need to set the cheating jerk straight was too strong to ignore. He didn’t want to have to worry that Connor would return and put his lips on Savannah again. Jack clenched his jaw, and with one arm, he lifted Connor two inches off the ground.
“You owe her a real apology.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Savannah.” Connor held his hands up in surrender.
“Jack,” Savannah whispered.
The edge to Savannah’s voice had him lowering Connor back down to his feet and pinning him to the landing with a hot stare. “I suggest you learn how to treat a lady.”
Jack watched Connor disappear down the stairs. Then he wrapped his arms around Savannah. Only then did he realize she was trembling. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, snuggling against his chest.
“I’m sorry I was so aggressive, but I saw him kissing you, and the look in your eyes was—”
