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Instead, she thanked the woman for her advice and turned the conversation elsewhere, while her grandfather’s advice played on repeat in her head.
Never trust an Abbott farther than you can throw one.
Not even Blake.
But that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy whatever it was that they had. For now.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Hello, darlin’. Miss me?”
Blake glanced up from his laptop to find the whirlwind that was Iris Abbott in his office.
“Mama.” He met her in the middle of the room so she could give him one of her trademark bear hugs. “Dad didn’t tell me you were back.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“How’s Aunt Constance?” Blake straightened his collar and sat behind his desk.
“Much better.” She sat in one of the chairs across from him. “She’ll only need me for a few more weeks. Then I’ll be home for good.”
“How long are you staying?” Blake studied his mother’s face. Iris Abbott considered flying a necessary evil. If she took a voluntary plane trip, she had a damn good reason for it.
“A few days.” Her eyes roamed the space, as if it were her first visit. “Just long enough to have a couple of meetings with this Savannah girl.”
The hair on the back of Blake’s neck stood up. “Thought you two were holding video conferences about the gala.”
“We have been, and we’ve gotten lots done. She’s sharp, and she’s not just talk. She makes things happen.”
Blake crossed one leg over the other. “Sounds like the arrangement is working. So why the surprise trip?”
“What, you didn’t miss your mama?”
“I did.” Blake leaned on the armrest. “But you haven’t answered my question. Why make a special trip just to meet with Savannah?”
His mother shifted in her chair, brushing imaginary crumbs from her summery floral skirt. “Technology is great, but it doesn’t replace sitting across the table from someone and getting a good read on them.”
“And why do you suddenly need a better read on Savannah?”
She folded her arms. “A little birdie told me her car was here all weekend.”
“We had one heck of a storm. The bridge was closed, and she lives on the other side of the river. She obviously got stuck on this side.”
“And where do you suppose she spent all that time?”
“Why are you asking me?” Blake composed an email to Savannah, warning her of his mother’s suspicions.
“Tread carefully, son.” Iris flashed her you-ain’t-fooling-me smirk. “I saw the video of you bringing her back to her car on Monday afternoon.”
Damn blabbermouth security guards.
“What if I did?” He shrugged. “She’s new to the area. Didn’t know it’s prone to flooding. I wanted to make sure she was all right. What’s wrong with that?”
His mother hiked one brow. “You still haven’t answered my question. Where did she spend that long weekend? In your bed?”
“Just so we’re clear, that question will never be okay.” His cheeks flooded with heat. “Who I sleep with—or don’t—is my business.”
“Except when it threatens our business.”
“You’re being melodramatic, Mother.”
“Am I?” She folded her arms. “You remember how ugly things got when Parker made a mess of things with his secretary?”
Blake groaned, recalling how angry the woman had been when Parker broke it off.
“This situation isn’t the same.”
“So you are sleeping with her.”
He wasn’t a good liar, which was why he preferred to take the it’s-none-of-your-business approach. But his mother never had trouble getting to the truth.
Still, what happened between him and Savannah wasn’t up for family discussion.
“Blake, you were the one son I could count on to not break the rules. What happened? Did she seduce you?”
“I’m a grown man. Nothing happened I didn’t want to happen. Let’s leave it at that.”
She folded her arms, pouting.
“I need you to promise me something, Mama.” He moved to sit beside her.
“And what is that?”
“Don’t mention this to Savannah.”
“Now you want to dictate what I can say to her? This is why I made the rule in the first place, son. Can’t you see the problems this is causing already?”
“Do this for me. Please.”
“Fine.” She stood, flipping her wrist to check the time. “I won’t say anything—”
“To anyone,” he added.
“For now.” She leaned down and kissed him. “Come by for dinner tonight. I promise you and your little girlfriend won’t be the topic of discussion.”
