Page 34 of Savannah's Secrets

“I’m not most men. Not when it comes to you.” Blake kissed her.

She held back, at first. But when he took her face in his hands, Savannah parted her lips to him and pulled him closer, needing more of the connection they’d shared.

When he pulled away, one edge of his mouth curled in a smirk. “Is that your way of admitting that this weekend meant something to you, too?”

“If I say yes, will you take me to bed?”

“No.” He stood, the ridge apparent beneath his zipper. “But it does mean I’m asking you on a date.”

“Around here? Are you crazy?” She stood, too. “Everyone will know before dessert.”

He sighed heavily. “True.”

“Then where do you propose we have this date?”

“My place for starters.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “But pack for the weekend. I’ve got something special in mind.”

He kissed her, made a quick inspection of the apartment, as promised, and left.

Savannah closed the door behind him and exhaled.

What have I gotten myself into?

She needed to vindicate her grandfather and get the hell out of Magnolia Lake before she fell any deeper under Blake’s spell.

She’d barely sat down when there was a knock at her door.

Had Blake changed his mind?

“Savannah, it’s me—Kayleigh.” A wall separated their apartments, though there were separate staircases leading to each.

Savannah opened the door. “Hi, Kayleigh. Is everything okay?”

“I bought too much food and I thought you might be hungry.”

“Starving.” She let the woman in. “Thanks for thinking of me.”

“Haven’t seen you around since the storm. I was worried.” Kayleigh set containers of barbecue chicken, wedge fries and coleslaw on the table.

“Got caught on the other side of the river.” Savannah gathered plates, napkins and silverware.

“I hope someone put you up during the storm.” Kayleigh was trying to figure out where she’d spent the past few days.

“Thankfully, yes.” Savannah put the dishes on the table and sat across from her landlord and neighbor.

“Well, that’s a relief.”

Savannah was eager to change the subject and avoid the question she knew would come next. “Everything smells delicious. Thanks for sharing.”

“My pleasure.” Kayleigh spooned coleslaw onto her plate.

Savannah fixed a plate for herself, hoping the other shoe didn’t drop.

“I noticed that Blake Abbott followed you home today.”

The other shoe dropped.

Savannah couldn’t deny what Kayleigh had seen with her own eyes. But she could spin it.

“I’m about the only person in town who doesn’t have a truck or SUV. Blake was nice enough to make sure I made it back across the river safely.”

“And it was kind of him to see you inside.”

Didn’t the people in this town have anything else to do with their time?

“He mentioned that the building’s roof has leaked in previous storms.”

“Damn Abbotts think they’re better than everyone else.”

“He mentioned that you won’t let his brother fix the roof.”

“I’m not one of their charity cases.” Kayleigh opened a jar of preserves and spread it onto her biscuit. “I can afford to get my own roof repaired…eventually.”

They ate in companionable silence. But even the delicious food wasn’t enough to keep Kayleigh quiet for long.

“It’s none of my business what you do and who you do it with.” The woman took a sip of her sweet tea. “But getting involved with an Abbott isn’t too smart, if you ask me.”

Savannah chewed her food. She had no intention of confirming her involvement with Blake Abbott, but she didn’t bother denying it, either.

“You’ve made it clear you don’t like them,” Savannah said. “But you’ve never said why.”

Kayleigh’s scowl briefly shifted to a pained expression. Then her mask of anger slipped back in place.

“They’re always throwing their money around like they can buy anyone they want.”

“Did they do something to you specifically?”

Maybe the Abbotts had a pattern of cheating business partners. If she could prove that, it would go a long way toward supporting her grandfather’s claim that Joseph Abbott had done the same to him.

“I went to school with Parker.” She groaned. “That one is a piece of work.”

Savannah couldn’t disagree with that. Parker was smart, but his people skills were nonexistent. Everyone at the distillery seemed to understand that was simply who Parker was. No one took his overly direct approach personally. She’d learned to do the same.

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