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She’d struggled to drive those images from her head while spending a good portion of her day in his company.
“The Abbotts aren’t the ogres you expected, are they?” There was a hint of vindication in Laney’s question.
“No, but I met most of them for the first time today. They were trying to make a good first impression. After all, even a serial killer can have a charming facade.”
Laney didn’t acknowledge her logic. “Tell me about them, based on what you observed today. Not on what you thought you knew about them.”
Savannah removed her ponytail holder and shook her head. Her curly hair tumbled to her shoulders in loose waves from being pulled tight.
“It was hard to get a read on their dad—Duke. He’s personable, but all business.”
“What about the rest of them?”
“I met Blake, Parker, Max and Zora—the four siblings who run the distillery. There’s a fifth—Cole. He has his own construction company.”
“Why didn’t he go into the family business?”
“Don’t know.” Savannah had wondered, too.
“Quit stalling and tell me more.”
“Zora is sweet. Max is funny. Parker is kind of an asshole.”
“And what about Blake Abbott? This was your second encounter. Did your impression of him improve?”
“Yes.” She hated to admit that it was true. But Blake’s genuinely warm interactions with his employees during the tour made him appear to be an ideal boss.
“So now that you see you were wrong about the Abbotts, will you please let this thing go?”
So much for Laney being on board with the plan.
“The congeniality of Joseph Abbott’s grandchildren isn’t the issue here.”
“Savannah—”
“If they’re genuinely innocent in all of this…well, I’m sorry their grandfather was such a bastard. It isn’t like I plan to steal the company from under them the way he did from Granddad.”
“Then what exactly do you want, honey? What’s your grand plan here?”
“Our family deserves half the company. That’s what I want. And if they don’t want to share, they can buy us out. Plain and simple.”
Laney made a strangled sound of frustration. A sound she made whenever they discussed their grandfather’s claims regarding King’s Finest.
“I couldn’t do what you’re doing.” Laney’s voice was quiet. “Getting to know people. Having them come to like and trust you. Then turning on them.”
Savannah winced at the implication of her sister’s words. “I’m not ‘turning’ on them. I’m just standing up for my family. As any of them would for theirs. Besides, I’m not harming their business in any way.”
“You’re spying on them.”
“But I’m not taking that information to a competitor. I’m just gathering evidence to support Granddad’s ownership claim.” Savannah tamped down the defensiveness in her tone.
“And what about Blake?”
“What about him?”
“You like him. I can tell. What happens when he learns the truth?”
A knot twisted in Savannah’s belly. “If he’s as good a man as everyone seems to think, he should want to make this right. In fact, I’m counting on it.”
CHAPTER SIX
Savannah smiled in response to the email she’d just received from Max, who was away at another trade show. They’d secured the endorsement of a local boy who’d become a world-famous actor. With his rugged good looks and down-home, boyish charm, he was perfect.
Her plans for the jubilee were in full swing. The rustic gala, to be held in the Abbotts’ old country barn, would celebrate the company, its employees and distributors and attract plenty of media coverage. The renovated barn would provide King’s Finest with an additional revenue stream and create jobs in the small town.
Savannah had been working at the distillery for nearly a month. The residents of the small town had done their best to make her feel welcome—despite her desire to hang in the shadows and lie low.
Every Friday she turned down no less than two invitations to the local watering hole for drinks after work. One of those invitations always came from Blake.
An involuntary shudder rippled down Savannah’s spine when she thought of Blake with his generous smile and warm brown eyes. Savannah shook her head.
She would not think of how good Blake Abbott looked in the checkered dress shirts and athletic-fit slacks he typically wore. Each piece highlighted the finer points of his physique. A broad chest. Well-defined pecs. Strong arms. An ass that made it evident he was no stranger to lunges and squats.
