Page 20 of Ace
Oh. My. Gosh!“Cheddar.”
“Grits on the side?” Tyrone’s dark eyes really did sparkle, darn him.
“No. That’s all I want, just waffles and eggs and…” She waved a hand at him. “…and whatever else I already ordered.”
“Excellent.” He turned to Keller. “And you, sir?”
“Ham and eggs, over-medium, wheat toast, no hash browns. And please don’t forget the creamer.”
Savannah sighed, mentally storing Keller’s succinct order for the next time she ate out. He made it sound easy.
Chapter Nine
Savannah Church really was quite lovely. The more she'd sputtered over her menu selections, the more Keller watched, cataloged, and relaxed. In truth, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her cheeks had long since turned a delicious shade of Georgia peach with embarrassment. She still worried her lush bottom lip with each decision to be made, but when she blinked those expressive chocolate windows to her soul at poor Tyrone… When she batted those thick, long eyelashes…
Lord help me.Keller and Tyrone were in trouble. There wasn’t so much a mystery to Savannah Church as there was a shockingly sweet innocence inside of her that took a man by storm. What you saw truly was what you got with her, and Keller saw an uncomplicated woman of uncommon worth. A beauty beyond compare. A unique gift in a world gone batshit crazy with decadence, porn, and entitlement.
When at last Tyrone walked away, Keller asked Savannah, “You really don’t get out much, do you?”
She made a face that took his breath. Her forehead wrinkled, her nose crinkled, even her moist mauve lips wrinkled, and he was a smitten man. No. He was still poor white trash, but damned if she didn’t look like an exotic Egyptian princess sitting there with a solid gold glimmer in her eyes. The urge to kiss the back of her hand like an unworthy, humble servant was compelling.
“I know,” she all but growled at him. “Did you hear how many choices there are? I never knew ordering at a restaurant could be so… so complicated.”
He cocked his head at her. “You’ve never eaten out?”
“Sure, but…” There went those delightful wrinkles again, wrinkles no doubt derived from smiles and laughter, things he’d forgotten how to do. Despite how horribly this day had begun, Savannah was somehow still able to smile. In doing so, she spread sunshine over everyone else in the overly-sweet-smelling restaurant. Better yet? She was smiling at him.
“It has been a long time,” she admitted. “Gran Mere was a stickler for fixin’ her own food at home instead of buying store-bought or eating out. She said what’s in most processed grains and meats these days will kill every last one of us. Did you know a lot of dogs can’t eat store-bought dog food unless it’s grain-free? What’s that tell you about what we’re about to put into our bodies, huh?” She tossed that question at Keller like a challenge.
Forget the grain. Keller knew what he wanted to put into her beguiling, sensual body.
When Savannah’s fingers curled around her steaming mug, she lifted it to her mouth, blinking. Waiting for him to say something clever. His brain kicked out of gear. He was not a man of many words, but he couldn’t help but track her tongue as she licked her lips, then tasted the rim of the cup, tipping it for a sip. She had yet to doctor her coffee with sugar and cream and…
I’ll be damned.Savannah drank her coffee black while he was still waiting on sugar and creamer. And that simmering smile? She knew he’d tried to read her mind—and failed. His tough FBI façade cracked. At least she was nice enough to not comment on his pathetic psychic skills.
Chagrined, Keller changed the subject of dogs and grains to more urgent matters. “If you need help with your great grandmother’s service, anything, I’m here to help. I’ve got a couple days off.”
Her lashes fell like artist’s paintbrushes fanned over a palette of blushing mocha latte. “I’ll be okay,” she replied, a shimmer replacing her earlier confidence as her gaze dropped to the table. “Gran Mere has, umm,had…”She cleared her throat, emphasizing that hard, last word. “…everything taken care of. She did that years ago. Her final resting place. Her headstone. Even her obituary. She said the more she took care of things, the less I’d have to worry when… when...”
“Gran Mere was a rare woman,” he murmured, wanting Savannah to look at him again. “If you’d like, I can stay for the service.”
The ends of her dark hair trembled at the crest of her shoulders. “That’s generous of you, but I’m sure you have a life to get back to.”
I do but…not really.“Nothing that can’t wait. At least let me drive you to where you need to go. Use and abuse me. Might as well. I’m here for the duration either way.”
“Here you are, folks,” Tyrone interrupted as he set a small bowl of various creamers on their table. “Your order’s up. It’ll be out in a minute.”
“Thanks,” Keller replied before the young man all but ran away. He doctored his coffee.
Her cup went down to the table and her hand came up, raking over her head, unsettling those ebony locks that fell like so many strands of black silk, kissing her shoulders again. Shoulders that shouldn’t have to deal with the heavy burden of handling funeral arrangements alone. The red beads sparkling at her neckline should have been rubies.Rubies fit for a true queen.
She met his gaze, her eyes glistening. “I don’t want to talk about it. Can we please—not?”
“No problem. You’ve got my number. Call when or if you need anything.” Keller’s nose twitched to catch her delicate scent among the overpowering aromas of sugar and steaming batter. He’d never paid attention to flowers before, but he would from now on. Especially lilacs.
But he knew better. She’d never call, and after this one pathetic morning, Savannah would be out of his life forever. She didn’t know him. He didn’t know her. Theywere two strangers who’d shared one helluva bad day. Nothing more.
From this day forward, she would learn how to cope with her Gran Mere’s death. She was strong, she was young, and she’d learn quickly. She’d adjust. Time would pass and she’d heal. That was what people did. They got on with their lives.Time heals all wounds, and all that crap...
