Logan looked at him sharply. “Don’t even think about it.”
“What?” Max asked innocently.
“We don’t have time for a female. Especially not that female. She’s high-maintenance, from the city, and obviously used to the finer things in life. Remember the plan.”
“I didn’t say I wanted to keep her.”
Logan snorted. “She’s not the wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am type.” Nope, Savannah was the tuck-her-up-in-your-bed-and-keep-her-there-forever type. “Wonder where her fiancé is?”
Max gave him a look. “She said she’s burning the dress. Obviously, he’s out of the picture.”
“A man doesn’t just give up a woman like that. No matter how much she talks.” And the woman could talk. She didn’t shut up. He didn’t know what the hell Max was thinking. Yeah, she was cute and curvy, but she was the complete opposite of the type of woman they needed.
Hell, he’d have to gag her just to keep from killing her.
He glanced over to make certain she’d turned on the truck as he’d ordered. He hadn’t liked how glassy-eyed she’d looked. And he still wasn’t convinced they shouldn’t take her to the doc to get looked over.
“You can deny it all you want, but you feel it too. There’s a connection there. I felt something move inside me when I touched her.”
“Probably gas.”
Max glared at him. “It wasn’t gas. I’m trying to have a meaningful conversation about my feelings, and you think it’s gas?”
Logan shrugged. Seemed like a good explanation to him. “You want her, go for it. But I’m not interested.”
Max shook his head. “You’ll see. She’s the one. I can feel it.”
“She’s trouble.”
Max slapped him on the back. “I know. But don’t you get it? That’s half the fun, brother. She’s going to change our lives, and nothing will ever be the same again.”
Chapter One
Two years later . . .
September fourth.
Four weeks.
Savannah stared numbly at the date on the calendar. The protective shell she’d wrapped around herself was a blessing. It kept her from feeling too much. From feeling much of anything.
It had kept her from experiencing too much pain as she’d recovered from the cuts and bruises he’d inflicted on her.
It kept her from falling apart from the horror of the memories that threatened to drown her. It kept her sane.
Well, sort of. It was a weird kind of sanity. She lived in an almost dreamlike state. As though she were separated from her body. Like she was on really good drugs. The kind she’d been on for those first few days in the hospital when she’d woken up bandaged and broken.
Broken? Like she was fixed now? The wounds were healed. There were still some small scars, but the doctor told her they’d probably fade with time. Yep, time would take care of her outer wounds. But the scars on the inside . . . well, they’d stay there. Buried deep where no one would find them.
It was better this way. If she hid buried everything then eventually life would go back to normal. Right?
“Savannah!”
She let out a cry as the loud voice boomed through the house. She shook for a moment, her heart racing so hard she felt ill. Legs weak, she leaned against the kitchen island behind her.
Calm. Calm. Find that place where you’re not afraid.
“Savannah? Oh, there you are.” The relief on Logan’s face was clear. “Didn’t you hear me calling for you?”