Her mom had taught her to “take what you need” and things had spiraled downward from there. Savannah called her mother, the “Master Manipulator” for a reason.
As she drank her ale, she refused to allow her past to cloud her present. She would take Zander at face value until he proved her wrong. K-Dad had offered that valuable guiding principle.
“You’ve got my undivided attention,” she said. “If not now, when? Monday’s closing in. Why don’t you tell me why this development is so important?”
The waiter swung by to tell them their dinners would be out shortly and suggested another round of beers.
Zander shifted his gaze to Savannah. “You in the mood for tequila?”
“Always.” She eyed the waiter. “Two shots.”
Zander covered her hand with his. Her heart skipped a beat while her skin heated from his touch. “How ‘bout we do tequila my way?”
Her gaze flicked from his hand to his eyes. “Have at it.”
“Do you have Herradura or 1800?” he asked the waiter.
“Herradura. Can I bring you those in a shot glass or a tumbler?”
“Tumbler,” Zander said. “Make those a double-shot.”
“And waters,” she added.
“You got it.” The waiter buzzed toward the bar.
To Savannah’s surprise and disappointment, Zander removed his hand. Had he realized he’d been stroking her skin? Those small, gentle caresses had lit her insides on fire.
* * *
“Starry Cove can waita few more minutes,” Zander said. “I haven’t been this relaxed in a long time.” Her beauty calmed him in some ways, excited him in all the ways that made him a man. “Tell me about you.”
Savannah spent the next several minutes chatting about life, sticking mostly with her career. She was funny in a casual way, and he found himself smiling more than once. Maybe it was the alcohol. Could have been the comfortable clothes. No, it was Savannah. It was all Savannah.
“Granted, I’ve blocked out most of my childhood,” Zander said, “but I don’t remember you like this.”
“I was shy. Internalizedeverything. Your dad helped me break out of my shell. In part, he gave me the attention I never got from my mom. Check that. I got attention from Debby, but it was all the wrong kind.”
The waiter set down the tray with their top-shelf tequilas and ice waters. “Enjoy,” he said before bolting off.
Zander raised his tequila glass. “Savannah, today was productive and fun. Helping you is exactly what I needed.”
Lifting her glass, she toasted him. “The Stones say it best. ‘You can’t always get what you want’.”
“Nicely put.” He sipped the tequila, savoring the flavor before swallowing it down.
After tasting hers, she smiled. “Thisis tequila. You have great taste.”
“Glad you like.” He sipped again. “So, what did you mean by thewrongkind of attention?”
She regarded him for a few seconds, then brushed bangs off her brow. “Are you sure you want to hear this?”
He leaned forward, creating a more intimate environment. “I am.”
“Between boyfriends, Debby had trouble keeping a job, so she taught me to shoplift.”
He grimaced. “That’s rough.”
“She’d tell me all these insane reasons why not paying for something was okay. Lies masked in total bullshit, but I was too young to understand. It started with food when I was five, maybe six. Then, when she concluded I was good at that, she graduated me to clothes. Things got crazy when she had me stealing jewelry for her. I was afraid I’d get caught, but terrified of refusing her. She had a wicked temper.”
