I exit the top of my building to see my pilot waiting for me next to my helicopter. I know how to fly but I have a feeling I’m going to need my hands for this.
My phone dings a moment later. A text from Cooper. I see a picture of Savannah lying out on a lounge chair next to her pool reading a book. Sunglasses are perched on her button nose. I smile, knowing I’m going to be close to her in a moment. I know if she’s lying by the pool she won’t have a light coat of makeup on her face. That’s when she’s the most beautiful to me. She’s always gorgeous but the days I can see the freckles that dance across her nose and cheeks are my favorite.
“Are you all set?” I ask my pilot a moment later when I pull my eyes away from the picture.
“All set, sir.” He opens the door for me. I hop into the back, sending Cooper a text to delete the picture and to get off the fucking building across from her. She was in a swimsuit that left nothing to the imagination.
It is one of the things I love about Savannah. She isn’t your typical girl with no meat on her. She is all curves and has no shame about putting them on display. She doesn’t try to hide her body. She is proud of not only her body but of who she is. There is nothing more confident than a woman who is secure in her own skin. She doesn’t think she needs me but I am going to show her how wrong she is. There are things I can give her that she can’t get on her own. The same things I couldn’t get myself without her.
Love. I don’t mean the kind you get from your friends and family. No, I’m talking about the kind that is made up of two people who come together to make each other whole. I didn’t know that shit was real until the first time I saw her. I knew in that moment I’d only been half of a man. With her I can be whole.
2
Savannah
These past few weeks have been chaos. My entire family has been changing and adjusting to what our new reality is going to be. Everyone’s life is changing but mine. This morning was no different. I woke up to embarrassing pictures of my parents making out for the whole world to see.
I called my brother Cullen to complain but he didn’t seem to think it was a big deal. He was too busy trying to convince MJ that he was her soulmate. Both of my brothers have fallen in love. Everyone around me is in love except for me. While I am happy for both of my brothers and for the fact that my parents still can’t get enough of each other, I am sad that I’m still alone. As much as my parents’ pictures grossed me out, Cullen was right about me being jealous. I want the love they have. There is no question in my mind they have a love that will last forever. How can I want something and be so scared of it at the same time? My heart and brain are in a battle and I truly for the first time in my life don’t know what to do.
I am going to spend the rest of today alone. A relaxing day without answering any more calls or text messages is exactly what I need to recharge myself. I need to try to dig myself of this rut of my own making. I grab my coffee and e-reader to head to the rooftop pool. Maybe some sun will brighten my mood. I have a new romance book waiting for me. I know I can get lost in a good story for a few hours while I lounge next to the pool. I need to try and forget that I am the last one standing in our family who doesn’t have someone special. Aaron’s handsome face flashes into my mind. He’s not mine, I have to remind myself. Most of all I need to avoid my mom, who is driving me crazy with trying to set me up with every man out there. I don’t want every man out there. My heart has locked on to one but I am holding myself back. I am playing a game with a man who doesn’t lose. That might be part of my problem. I am always up for a challenge. It’s how I’ve made a handful of small successful companies on my own. The real question here is, how does one willingly let themselves be caught? I started this stupid game that I don’t want to play anymore. But the fighter inside of me is unable to stop.