“I’m right, aren’t I?” he said. “You’re scared. Not of me?”
She shook her head.
“Then of yourself.”
Wow. He was too smart for his own good.
“I don’t want to like it too much,” she mumbled.
His eyebrows shot up. “We’re supposed to like it too much. That’s the whole point.”
“I don’t want to want it more than anything.”
“I already do want it more than anything.”
“Liar,” she called him on it. “You wouldn’t walk away from your job. Your mountain. You wouldn’t change your life, not for this.”
His hands stilled and his eyes widened. “Would you?”
“No. Because I keep it in it’s place.” With wham and bam and ultimate efficiency. “I don’t want to get addicted,” she whispered with pure honesty. “I don’t want to throw everything else by the wayside because I’ve gotten too caught up in some one. Or some thing.”
Like her father had gotten addicted to his gambling. Like her mother had given up everything when she’d found her new younger lover.
They’d both lost sight of her, their daughter.
“So you’re saying no?” He paused, his fingers lifting from the sensual trail up her leg. He knew there was no way she was saying no.
Savannah closed her eyes a second to summon strength. “All right. Sex in a bed. Taking turns as boss. Seven nights.”
“Seven nights?”
“It’s my notice period. For Luca. It’s my notice period for you too.”
“You’re leaving Summerhill?”
“Yes.” She’d come, she’d seen. It was time to leave.
“Seven nights,” he echoed again.
Savannah held her breath, bracing for his reaction.
He smiled. A wicked, pleased smile.
Savannah smiled back, masking that needle of disappointment. She should have left the morning after she’d first screwed him. Should have known nothing good would come of something that had felt so fantastic.
“But it is not all going to be high-speed Savannah.” He lowered his mouth to hers. “We’re working our way up to slow.”
Chapter Fifteen
When Savannah woke he wasn’t curled tightly around her like he had been most of the night. She rolled onto her back and stretched her hand out, feeling the cool expanse of sheet.
He’d been gone a while then.
It hadn’t been the twenty-times in twelve hours extravaganza she’d expected. They’d had sex only a couple times. Moderate-to-fast because she’d taken the lead, pulling sexual positions the way she threw bottles of spirits—with flair and daring. Focusing on her body, and on his, was the only way she could think to keep a grip on herself.
And he’d let her. He’d laughed and let her and she just knew he had plans for the remaining six nights.
But even with her theatrics, it had been so searingly intense she’d had to close her eyes, stopping the starlight from filtering through the window and stabbing her in the heart.
The stars burst inside her anyway.
Every time it got harder to maintain the little distance she had left. Every time it got harder to remain the one in control. He was stealing it, tipping the balance. Because while she might be the one on top, he was the one driving beneath.
And he was the one who’d pulled her close into his embrace, warming her, soothing her over-sensitized body until she slept.
The man was gorgeous. And strong. And—was that her phone?
Frowning she snuck from the big bed, scrambling for her bag. Her phone hardly ever rang. When it was did, it usually meant trouble.
“Hello?” She pressed the phone to her ear.
“Savannah. It’s me. Mom.”
Suddenly cold, despite the fire still burning low in the grate, Savannah scurried back to bed and pulled the coverings up around her. “What is it? Is dad okay?”
That was the only reason she could think that her mom would call.
“Uh, yes, I think so.”
“Then what is it?”
“There’s something I wanted to tell you.”
She was getting married. If she thought Savannah was going to be bridesmaid, she was wacked. But—
“I’m having a baby.”
Savannah’s thoughts totally derailed. “What?”
“A baby. Brad and I are having a baby.”
“But…” Savannah couldn’t say it. Wasn’t she too old?
But no. Her mom had only been twenty when she’d had Savannah… twenty-four years later and she was obviously still fertile. And she had the benefit of Brad’s younger man sperm. Dear heaven. It was a nightmare.
“Have you told him?” Savannah asked, panicked. “Dad?”
There was a silence.
“You have to tell him.” Savannah said angrily. “I’m not telling him for you. You’re not putting that on me.”
“Savannah—”
“Congratulations, mom. I’m thrilled for you.”
She ended the call and threw the phone to the floor. First time they’d spoken in months, and it was to be told that.
Rejection sliced open old wounds. That was it then, her mom was never going back. Not to Belle, Louisiana. Not to the place or the people she’d walked out on.
She had a new man, new baby. And it was going to destroy Savannah’s father. Because even though her mom had walked years ago now, her father still hoped. He’d gambled everything in an attempt to impress and win her back.
He’d lost everything material already.
But this new would kill that last hope.
Savannah would have to go see him. She didn’t think her mom even knew how low her dad had sunk. How badly he’d messed everything. Because not only had he lost all his own money, he’d stolen Savannah’s savings too. Together her parents had left her with nothing.
Tears pricked, stinging, but her heart hurt more. Her father was going to be shattered and once again her mom was leaving her to pick up the pieces.
“Savannah? You awake, Sugar?”
As the door opened, Savannah scrunched lower down the bed and pulled the sheet over her face, pressing her knuckles to her eyes. “I’m not here.”
She heard his chuckle and tried to stop her pathetic sob.
“I thought I heard— are you crying?” he sounded aghast.
“Go away.”
“No I’m not going away.” True to his word, she felt him sit on the bed. “I’m not leaving you alone like this.”
“I want to be left alone.” She inhaled deeply. Getting angry with him helped her control her distress.
“Too bad.”
“Stop being the good guy who looks after every one because you’re freaking ‘honor-bound’.”
“I don’t want to look after everyone,” he answered reasonably. “I get that you don’t want to get too involved, but can’t we be friends as well as lovers?”
She didn’t bother to answer that one.
“Why do you isolate yourself so much? Where are your friends?”
“You’re not going to leave this, are you?” She yanked down the sheet so she could glare at him. “You want me to open up and tell you all my problems so you can fix them?”
“I’m not so a
rrogant as to think that I can fix anyone’s problems. I can barely manage my own.” His laugh held a bitter edge. “If I could, life would be so different. But I do know that talking things over with a friend makes things easier.”
“Where are your friends?” She snapped back, rattled. “You sit at my bar night after night, alone.”
“Because they’re in Manhattan, mostly. But we’re in touch all the time.” He looked at her solemnly. “I’d be lost without them.”
“No you wouldn’t. You’re too strong ever to be lost.”
His brows lifted. “Is that a compliment? From you?”
“It’s the truth.”
He placed his arms either side of her and leaned over her. “If I’m at all strong, it’s because of my friends. My brother. They’re all fucked up, but they’re awesome with it.” He reached out cupped her jaw. His hand was too gentle. “Is it an ex? Someone giving you trouble?”
She looked at that damn protective concern in his eyes and whispered before she could think better of it. “It’s my mom.”
“Your mom?”
“She’s having a baby.”
His lips parted. “Wow.”
“Exactly.” Savannah pulled back out of his gentle touch. What was she thinking confiding in him? In anyone? Long ago she’d learned not to trust in people. They always betrayed you at some point. “So, you mind giving me a minute, I’d like to shower and get dressed.”
“I’ll be in the other room. Take as long as you like.”
No. She needed to get going. She’d take the day to pack up and then tell Luca she was finishing. She’d sort out her father and then start again.
But ten minutes crying her heart out in the most amazing shower ever was one weakness she couldn’t overcome.
Connor looked up from his computer when she eventually walked out of the bedroom. Judging from the paperwork on his desk he’d been working for a while this morning. Yeah, she’d been wrong about him in so many ways.
“New plan for the day.” He stood, not giving her a chance to speak first. “We’re having an adventure.”
“You can have an adventure. I’m going to work.” Handing in her notice.
“Not ’til later. You have all morning to have fun.”
She really wasn’t in the mood for fun.
“It’s not negotiable.” He didn’t take his eyes from her as he walked round from behind his desk. “You’re working at one of the country’s best ski resorts and you’ve never skied.”