Page 39 of False Promises

“I’m not looking. If he sees me… Ohmygod, I prefer to not think about it.”

I squeezed her hand. “One look. If it’s him, we’re leaving, and you won’t have to face him if you don’t want to. I have security.” I pointed in Taylor’s direction with my chin. “He won’t bother you.”

She lowered the napkin and peeked at the four men laughing.

Her shoulders dropped. Color returned to her cheeks.

“It’s not him. I-I thought… I’m so sorry. You must think I’m crazy.” She buried her face in her hands. “I must look stupid right now. I’m sorry, Carter. This is so embarrassing.”

“Savannah, talk to me.”

She lowered her hands. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

I grabbed her hand again, drawing circles with my thumb over her flesh. “Don’t lock it all in. What did Jerry do to you?”

“He… I can’t even say it out loud…without…those memories… I’m sorry, Carter. I can’t do this now. It’s asking too much from me. For the last four years, I’ve been trying to leave the past behind. I hope you can forgive me. Maybe some other time, okay? When I don’t feel so helpless and scared.”

“Sure. I won’t ever push you to talk about your past. Over the years, I’ve been through some hardships myself. I know how difficult it can get to open up. And to heal.”

Her lips drew into a tentative smile. “Thank you. For being so understanding. And I’m sorry you had it rough. One day, we’ll share the awful stories of our past. But not today.” She pushed her barely touched dinner away.

With her shoulders slouched forward and a sad expression straining her face, Savannah looked fragile. And vulnerable.

The caring side of me, the one that always made an appearance for the people I loved, kicked in. Right now, all I wanted to do was hold her against me and heal whatever wounds the memories of her stepdad brought up.

“Wanna get out of here?” I asked.

Savannah bobbed her head without another word. She used her fingertips to erase the remaining trace of the tears that had built up in her eyes. “Thank you.”

Taylor led us outside through the rear door and back to his rental.

“The evening is still young. Want me to drop you at your place, or do you want to go somewhere else?”

Her words sounded weak as they passed the rim of her red-painted lips. “I’d like to go home. If it’s okay with you.”

With her hand nestled in mine and her head pressing against my shoulder, we remained silent as Taylor weaved through the ever-present traffic of Los Angeles. A comfortable silence enveloped us.

Taylor parked the rental, and I exited, holding my hand out for Savannah to follow suit. “I’ll be right back,” I told my bodyguard before shutting the door behind us.

Savannah watched me, with confusion painting her features. “Carter, this is not how I envisioned our evening together.” Her lips shook. “I’m usually not easily disturbed. It won’t happen again…if you deign to give me another chance. I was so excited when I got the call inviting me to join you tonight.”

The part of me that had suffered many forms of abandonment growing up related to her words. I’d been that guy. Lost and confused. A trainwreck. And I had people who loved me enough to give me another chance. To help me stand up for myself and who cheered on me no matter how wrong I was.

With the tips of my fingers, I tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Hey, I’m the one person who’ll never judge you. As I told you earlier, I’ve been through a lot, so I get it. Sometimes, little details can trigger past pain. It gets better. With time. I know it sounds clichéd, but that’s the truth. We can talk and find another day to get together.” I scavenged from the depth of me the courage to say these words out loud. They were foreign to me. And I never felt this close to a woman who wasn’t Dahlia before. “I’d like for us to get to know each other better. If that’s what you desire too.”

I stood there, balancing on my heels, waiting for Savannah to agree. Or not.

Her lips tilted up. “I’d like that too. There’s something about you, Carter. Like you can understand me. We barely know each other, but I just… You’ll think it’s stupid.”

“Say it.” I watched her lips, waiting for the words about to leave them.

“I feel a connection. I’ve never felt this comfortable around someone in a long time. Please don’t lose hope in me, okay?”

My lips descended on hers, soft and warm. “I won’t. You have my number now. Feel free to call or text whenever you want, okay?”

She nodded. “Do you maybe…I mean…do you wanna stay over tonight? I don’t want to be alone.”

I closed my eyes for a long second, trying to think about the engagements over the next few days. Savannah watched me with expectation. Even if I tried, I couldn’t refuse her. She looked so broken right now. And afraid.