12
On the Road Again
Zander feared he’d donemore harm than good by offering to pay off his former stepmother. Savannah’s lips were slashed in a thin line and she refused to look at him. Her silence sent a chill down his spine.
“I’m sorry,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed closest to her.
More silence, until she flicked her laser gaze in his direction. “Now that you’ve thrown money at Debby to make her go away, she’s going to attach herself like an octopus. Once she wraps her tentacles around you, you’re trapped.” When Savannah raked her hand through her hair, her fingers trembled.
Zander’s heart broke for the turmoil brought on by her mother…and by him. Leaning toward her, he cupped his hands over hers. “I can handle her. I couldn’t stand listening to her berate you. When we were kids, I kept my interactions with her to a minimum…” His voice trailed off. “Until yesterday, I had no idea she was that venomous.”
“I think it would be best if you didn’t join me today.” The pain in her eyes pierced his heart.
But she hadn’t pulled her hands away, so he stroked her soft skin with his thumb, and he waited. There was no way in hell he was leaving her, not after that fiasco. “I promised Tilly I’d assist you and I’m a man of my word. I had a great time yesterday and I’m looking forward to exploring Santa Fe with you. Let’s not let Debby ruin our day. Please, Savannah.”
Zander never begged. He was begging now.
While she studied his face, her expression softened.
He pushed off the bed, leaned against the bureau. “I’ve been honest with you from the get-go. I came here to change your mind, but I’ve put aside my agenda to help you. You know I don’t want a dog park. I want to renovate that…that…what the hell did I call that place?”
“The Town that Time Forgot.” She cracked a small smile and his pounding heartbeat slowed.
“Yesterday was great,” he continued, determined to make things right between them. “But last night was pretty damn special.”
Her shoulders relaxed and the creases around her eyes faded away.
“I didn’t use you, Savannah, and I’m not using you now.” He held out her muffin. To his surprise, she took it and tore off another piece.
He wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her that yesterday was an amazing day becauseshemade every moment special. He ached to kiss every inch of her face until her sadness melted away and her melodic laughter filled his ears. He could see the pain in her eyes and he wanted to replace it with joy. He wasn’t proud of what he’d done by paying Debby off, but he had to do something—anything—to protect Savannah.
Instead, he said, “This isn’t how I’d envisioned our day would start.”
She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, then opened them. “Me, either.”
“I offered to pay her off for you. If she stops pestering you for money, maybe you two can have a real relationship.”
Savannah barked out a laugh. “I think the sun has baked your brain. She doesn’t want a relationship. She wants things. She wants to manipulate me. She wants me to quit my dream job or, better yet, become her professional thief.”
Jesus, that’s insane.
His fingers tingled to pull her close, but he stayed anchored to the bureau. “Just because she doesn’t find value in your career doesn’t mean a thing. You found your happy. Your art brings joy to others, like that man at Sandia Peak.” He smiled. “And me.”
When her eyes brightened, the tight muscles running down his back released.
“If she contests the will, it’ll be tied up for months,” he continued. “Sheldon would be placed on retainer and nothing would happen anytime soon. I’d rather have a damn dog park and butterfly garden than get into it with my former stepmother. And from what I can gather, you have too much going on with your own career to deal with that.” He eyed the time. “Please don’t send me away. We have a big day ahead of us and I’m eager to get back outside and work on my tan.”
As she slung her handbag over her shoulder, he caught her smile. Relief coursed through him.
“A butterfly garden, huh?”
“Well, we’ve got to put something worth seeing in that nature center.” He shouldered both camera bags and they left.
In the parking lot, he had to touch her, make sure she’d stopped shaking. He slung his arm over her shoulder. Her trembling had stopped. When she didn’t pull away, he kissed the top of her head, inhaling her beautiful scent while his heart rate slowed back down to normal.
They jumped in the vehicle and he headed north. After weaving his way out of the city and jumping on I-25, he let the Debby fiasco fade with the Albuquerque skyline in the rear window. Ready to start afresh, he broke the silence.
“I mapped out the spots in Santa Fe.” He handed her his phone. “Do these work for you?”
