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“Great. I have to lie to him about it, too.” Laney huffed. “Fine, but be careful. Remember, there’s no shame in throwing in the towel and coming to your senses. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
After hanging up, Savannah sighed heavily and focused on the road as the colorful shops of the quaint little town of Magnolia Lake came into view.
She parked behind the small building where she was staying. It housed a consignment and handmade jewelry shop downstairs and two apartments upstairs. The shop and building were owned by Kayleigh Jemison, who was also her neighbor.
Inside her furnished, one-bedroom apartment, Savannah kicked off her heels and stripped off her jacket. Her thoughts drifted back to Blake Abbott. He was nothing like the cutthroat, ambitious jerk her grandfather had described. Blake was tall and handsome. His warm brown skin was smooth and practically glowed from within. He was charming with a welcoming smile and liquid brown eyes that made her stomach flip when they met hers.
Her grandfather had only known Joseph Abbott personally. The rest of the Abbotts he knew only by reputation. Maybe he was wrong about Blake.
“You are not attracted to him. Not even a little bit,” Savannah mumbled under her breath. “He’s the enemy. A means to an end.”
But Blake was obviously attracted to her. A weakness she could exploit, if it came to it.
An uncomfortable feeling settled over her as she imagined Laney’s thoughts on that.
The solution was simple. Avoid Blake Abbott, at all costs.
CHAPTER THREE
Savannah signed her name on the final new hire form and slid it across the table.
Daisy was filling in for the HR manager, who was out sick. She studied the document and gave it a stamp of approval. Her thin lips spread in a big smile, her blue eyes sparkling. “You’re officially a King’s Finest employee. Welcome to the team.”
“Fantastic.” Savannah returned the smile. “So, what’s next?”
The conference room door burst open.
Blake Abbott.
He was even more handsome than she remembered. The five o’clock shadow crawling along his square jaw made him look rugged and infinitely sexier. Uneasiness stirred low in her belly.
“Daisy, Savannah… I didn’t realize you were using the conference room.” His hair, grown out a bit since their initial meeting, had a slight curl to it.
“We’re just leaving anyway.” Daisy collected her things. “Did I forget there was a meeting scheduled in here?”
“No, we decided to have an impromptu meeting about the changes Savannah proposed for the jubilee celebration. We can all fit in here more comfortably. Come to think of it—” he shifted his attention to Savannah “—this would be a great opportunity for you to meet my family…that is…our executive team.”
She wasn’t in a position to refuse his request. Still, there was something endearing about how he’d asked.
It took her by surprise.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting the company’s founder.” Savannah forced a smile, unnerved about meeting the entire Abbott clan. Especially Joseph Abbott—the man who’d betrayed her grandfather.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a bit longer.” He sounded apologetic. “We want the changes to be a surprise. Speaking of which… I know it’s last-minute, and I hate to throw you into the fire on your first day, but do you think you could present your ideas to the rest of our team?”
Savannah’s eyes went wide. “Now?”
“They’re all really sweet.” Daisy patted her arm and smiled. “You’re going to love them. I’m just sorry I can’t stay to hear your presentation. Got another new hire to process. Good luck!” Daisy called over her shoulder as she hurried from the room.
“I’ve been telling everyone about your proposal. Got a feeling my father and brother will be more easily persuaded if you wow them the way you did me.”
Savannah had anticipated meeting every member of the Abbott family, eventually. But meeting them all at once on her first day was intimidating. Particularly since she had to refrain from saying what she wanted.
That they were liars and thieves who’d built their fortune by depriving her family of theirs. But she couldn’t say that. Not yet, anyway. Not until she had proof.
“I’ve got my notes right here.” Savannah opened her portfolio. “But with a little more time, I can create a formal presentation.”
“What you presented to me is fine. They’ll love it.” Blake slid into the seat across from her.
Her belly did a flip.
“Hey, Blake, did you eat all of the…? Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were meeting with someone,” came a voice from the doorway.
