Page 22 of Ace
What a charming fellow! Savannah could have hugged him for catching on so fast and playing along.
“Dad,” Virginia said sternly. “I don’t think—”
That was the problem. Her stern attitude. She talked down to this delightful father of hers as if he were an errant child instead of her respected elder. Which Savannah understood. Caretakers were the easilyforgotten shadows in the waning years of their parents’ lives. They suffered in silence as the joy and satisfaction of their lives was slowly sucked into the never-ending health issues of their aged mother and father. But that was the circle of life.
“Ginny,” he replied just as sternly.Go, Lyle! Go!“I need this, and that’s all there is to it.”
“But Dad…”
Lyle Goldenrod’s left brow lifted.
Ginny rolled her eyes.
He cocked his head.
Reaching across the table, Savannah laid a hand over Ginny’s white-knuckled fist to infuse her with a titch more trust in her father. “I’ve looked up to Coach Goldenrod since the first time I saw him.” Which was true. Lyle’s projected grief and loss for his wife were what snagged her attention about fifteen minutes ago. How could she not admire a man who’d loved the same woman for more than fifty years? “You’re so lucky your father lives with you. I never knew mine.”
Ginny’s gaze scrolled to her father. “If you’re sure…”
The corners of his eyes crinkled as if they’d forgotten how to do that. “I am. I know this comes as a surprise to you. Frankly, I’m surprised, too.” He squeezed Savannah’s hand. “Let’s discuss your plans for my future more after breakfast, Ginny. I’m not ready to be put out to pasture.”
Savannah took that as a good sign. Dialogue worked so much better than domination. She plucked Ginny’s home phone number from Lyle’s mind and said, “It’sbeen so good to meet you Ginny, but I’ve taken enough of your time. I’ll be in touch, Coach. See you Monday!”
“I’m counting on it,” he replied as he patted the back of her hand before she got away. “Until Monday.”
“Until Monday,” Savannah purred, pleased that Lyle Goldenrod had accepted her off-the-cuff offer. Just as pleased she’d thought of it. A groundskeeper was precisely what she needed. She wished she’d thought of it sooner.
Sighing, she eased back into her booth to face the self-controlled federal agent across from her. She had herself convinced Keller was as uptight as an Army general until he stretched that clean, gentlemanly hand across the sea of dirty plates between them, took careful hold of her fingertips, and said, “You’re something else, Savannah. Why’d you name your place Sanctuary?”
Her heart nearly leaped out of her throat at the gentle contact. She used the same tactic to instill peace in her outcast cats and dogs. A calming touch worked wonders on frightened creatures, even that possum she’d rescued one time.
Only Savannah wasn’t frightened. Suddenly, she was mad at herself all over again for ever thinking a‘woman of color’like her stood a chance with a strong, handsome white man the likes of Keller Boniface. Holy Mother, he was beautiful. Yet even his title declared their differences. Special agents were highly skilled, intelligent professionals. Men of the world. White collar all the way. No doubt he had a college degree, possibly a masters.
But you’re just an enterprising woman with a high school diploma who cleans kennels and collects unwanted strays for a living. Someone like you has no business lusting after a man like him.
There was her nagging inner voice again, reminding her what the two of them must look like to the other customers in this restaurant. Him in his elegant business suit and polished leather shoes. She in everyday shorts, dirty denim shorts at that, ratty pink tank top, and wearing Gran Mere’s old canvas sandals. Him from the civilized world, dining with a hick from the swamps who barely knew how to order breakfast. She hadn’t even combed her hair since that freakish windstorm inside Gran Mere’s.
Self-conscious now and aware of every other customer in the place, Savannah raked her free hand across her bangs just in case her hair looked as bad as she thought. Somewhere along the line she’d inherited the straight hair gene. What she wouldn’t give for a little curl right then to tuck her hair behind her ears and keep it out of her eyes.
Stretching forward, Keller traced the tip of his index finger over her forehead, then tucked another loose strand behind her ear. Clever man must read body language.
“I called it Sanctuary because animals aren’t any different than humans,” she told him earnestly. “Every living thing needs safe shelter. That’s where we heal best.”
Where on earth was Tyrone? She needed another sip of coffee, and she needed it quick. Her throat hadgone sandpaper dry, and her poor heart seemed to be climbing up her throat and into her mouth. She could barely think with the warmth whispering off Keller’s fingertips.
“Are all your rescues adoptable or do you rescue them to keep them?”
“Every l-l-last one of them’s adoptable.” And now she was stuttering.Wait, is he leaning forward? No, I am!She promptly stiffened her back. Gran Mere always said guys didn’t like pushy women. “And, and, and…”And now I sound like a teenage girl with a crush.
Pulling out of his tender reach, Savannah cleared her throat to keep from scrambling across the table and into his arms. “I…I advertise. That way people know my dogs are healthy and safe.”
Man, this guy had thick, let-me-touch-you eyelashes. She wanted to run her hands all over that intent, sexy face, her thumbs over his brows, not to mention what she wanted to do with that mouth. Those lips. “I run…”Cough, cough, cough.“…adopt-a-thons out of the local pet stores when they let me. Howie’s is the best. Mr. Howard even fosters some of my babies to help me find homes for them.”
“In N’Orlinz?” Agent Boniface pronounced New Orleans like a local.
“Why? You looking for company?” Why did that sound like a sleazy come-on? Savannah could’ve stabbed her eye with her sticky, syrupy fork. “I mean, umm, are you l-l-looking for a pet?”
“Maybe. Let’s go see what you’ve got.” And why did that sound like he wasn’t talking about cats and dogs?
