The Secret She Kept (15 page)

“Thank you,” Katie said in her ear.

Savannah nodded. As she opened her eyes, still hugging Katie, she spotted him.

Jake sat at a table across the room, staring at her. The expression on his face was…Hard to say what it was, but he wore a slight grin, and a cross somewhere between smug and…lustful?

“Katie,” Savannah whispered. “What is
he
doing here?”

The bride pivoted to see who she was asking about. “Oh.” Her smile got too big. “Noah and I wanted him to feel welcome. He doesn’t know many people in town anymore….”

“You are so full of it. You think you can set us up, don’t you?” Savannah fought to keep the pleasure off her face. God, he looked good.

“Dance with him and I’ll leave you alone. Promise,” Katie said as she flitted off to talk to more well-wishers.

The deejay was getting ready to begin the dance part of the reception. The kids’ table was suddenly empty, so Savannah went in search of her children. In the opposite direction of Jake.

The music started, and the bride and groom shared their first dance as husband and wife. Savannah stopped to watch them. She joined the crowd surrounding the dance floor as Katie danced with their dad and Noah with his mom. Then others joined them, thanks to challenges thrown out by the disc jockey.

Savannah was circling around to the wedding party’s empty table when she spotted Logan heading for her.

“Mom, you have to come here,” he said, and he grabbed her hand.

“Where are we going?” she asked, bending down to be heard over the music. Her heart beat faster as she wondered what could be wrong.

“You’ll find out.”

She scanned her son’s face and decided he wasn’t acting as though something was wrong. Then she figured out where her traitorous child was taking her. Straight to Jake.

Jake, who was damn tempting in a black suit. His shoulders seemed even broader than usual. His hair was as neat as she’d ever seen it, though still a tad tousled on top, and his eyes caught her every move.

“Jake wants to dance with you, Mom.”

S
AVANNAH GLANCED AT
Logan. “You’re grounded for life. Now, go find Billy and Owen and your sister, and stay together, in this room.”

Logan took off and Jake stood up.

“Coward,” Savannah said, having to bend close to him to be heard over the music. Her heart continued to race, but now it was in anticipation instead of fear.

“I like to think of it as strategic.” He touched her waist as he spoke into her ear.

The softness of his breath on her jaw and neck sent a shiver through her. She’d hoped avoiding him for the past few days would strengthen her resistance. Apparently, it hadn’t.

“Will you dance with me?” he invited. “They’re playing our song.”

“We don’t have a song.”

“I know. That was a line,” he said, grinning.

She couldn’t resist. Not when he looked like
that
and smelled like that and focused all that male attention on
her.

Savannah accepted his proffered hand, and couldn’t help noticing anew how warm and strong it was, how gentle his grasp. She followed him to the dance floor, determined not to let anyone detect how vulnerable she was to this man.

He stopped and faced her, still holding her hand, and their eyes met. He didn’t bother to hide the thoughts going through his head—naughty thoughts that involved her and him. Alone.

His hands slipped around her waist and she moved close, so that their bodies touched from chest to thigh. Her dress was cut low in the back and she felt the heat of his hands directly on her skin.

The way she fell into him, closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder, soaking in his familiar scent, was almost involuntary.

Realizing how she must appear to everyone around them, hanging on Jake, she straightened a little and glanced up at him.

“You’re the sexiest woman here, Savannah.”

“Sweet-talking me won’t help your case, Jake. Still not marrying you.”

He chuckled.

“In fact, consider this a good-bye dance,” she said. “After this, we just share a construction project.”

“And a child,” he said softly.

She avoided his gaze, focusing on everyone else, trying not to think about how right it seemed to be in his arms.

She felt someone watching them from one of the tables. Michael. She’d almost forgotten he was here. Ignoring him, she eased away from Jake as the music faded.

“Do you mind if I ask Allie to dance?” he said before she could escape.

Habitual fear made her chest tighten momentarily. She followed his line of sight to their daughter, who was laughing with her cousins. Jake wouldn’t tell her the truth while they danced, she reminded herself. Allie would love being led around the dance floor by him.

“Just make sure you keep the secret to yourself.”

He nodded, one corner of his mouth crooked up smugly.

While Allie was occupied and Logan was busy with Owen and Billy, making fun of his sister from the edge of the dance floor, Savannah escaped the noisy room for a few minutes.

Once she was away from the music, she could hear how her ears were ringing. She kept walking to the outside doors, hoping to cool off and get some fresh air. Her heart still hadn’t returned to its normal rate.

Outside, she wrapped her arms around herself and walked a few feet down the side of the building. She leaned against the brick wall, inhaling the brisk, November air, struggling to regain her balance. After about two minutes, the door opened. Michael walked out and stood there, regarding her. Something intangible told her he wouldn’t utter a friendly hello.

“I thought you told me nothing was going on between you and Barnes,” he began without preamble.

Savannah exhaled tiredly. So much for fresh air and getting away. “Nothing is going on, Michael.”

“Looked like quite a bit was between you when you danced.”

“We have a history. That’s all it is.”

Michael chewed on the inside of his cheek as he decided whether he could believe her or not. She straightened, and was about to go back inside when he spoke again.

“He’s dancing with our daughter, Savannah.”

“He asked me if it was okay.”

“Why don’t I get a say in that?” Michael asked.

“I didn’t feel it was anything to make a federal case out of. Jake cares about her and isn’t going to hurt her.”

“Oh, so now you’re starting to trust him?” Michael’s voice rose.

“Calm down,” she told him.

“I’m not going to calm down, Savannah. I’m suddenly the outsider and I don’t like it. So help me God, if that man breathes a word to her about being her father, I will make him wish he’d never come back to town.”

“She’s going to find out who he is eventually. You might as well start accepting that. It’s no longer just you and me who know the truth.”

“That was never part of the deal.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, the deal changed when we split up. I’m going back inside.”

As she walked past him, she realized Michael was right about one thing. She was starting to trust Jake.

“I’
M HOLDING YOU UP
.” Jake’s grandma took another dainty bite of her frosted cinnamon roll as she sat next to Jake at the bakery.

“No rush, Grandma. I’m not in a hurry,” Jake said. He’d already downed a chocolate-frosted long john and a bear claw and was now finishing his coffee.

He was probably exhausting his grandmother with all the outings the past couple of days, but he was leaving on Monday and wanted her to get out of the house plenty now.

“I’m so glad you stayed an extra week. It’s been wonderful having you around.”

“My pleasure. I’ll miss you and Em when I go back.”

A surprise snowstorm had hit his part of Montana last weekend, and very little work was going on at the Clayton job site. His meeting with the movie producer wasn’t until next Wednesday, so he’d decided to stick around Lone Oak to attend some additional planning meetings with his grandma and Zach, and to spend more time with his own family. He and Emily had put in hours together, sorting through their dad’s house. The only ones he hadn’t seen enough of were Savannah and her kids. And his dad. He’d been putting off that final visit.

“Please tell me you won’t stay away so long,” Odessa said between bites.

“I won’t. I’ll be back much more often.” What with the building project, which he was getting really involved in despite himself, and his daughter, there’d be no keeping him away for long. He’d already decided he’d fly back for the holidays.

Activity right outside the window caught Jake’s eye. His pulse sped up when he recognized Savannah, Allie and Logan skipping toward the front door. Even Allie was smiling. They all stopped and laughed at something Logan said, and Jake found himself smiling, too.

“What is it?” his grandma asked. She craned her neck to find out what had caught his attention.

Jake glanced around to discern if anyone could hear him. The other two tables of customers were involved in their own loud conversations.

“That’s Allie out there. And her mother and brother.” He’d told his grandma all about her great-granddaughter this week. He couldn’t wait for the day when the two could meet and acknowledge their relation.

The trio entered the bakery but didn’t notice Jake and his grandma sitting on the opposite side by the wall. They were still laughing and carrying on and having fun just ordering doughnuts.

As Jake watched the threesome, something happened inside him. He realized nothing made him happier than those three. Not just Allie; Logan and Savannah, too. He’d fallen hard for the kids early on. As he watched Savannah now, her hands resting protectively on each of her children as they ordered, he knew at once that he loved her.

He hadn’t had many chances to see her so relaxed with the kids. Obviously, she was a wonderful mom to them. The best mom they could have.

He’d held a grudge against her for not telling him about Allie earlier, true. But that was gone now. All he could feel was gratitude that she was so good to their child. Admiration, respect…and, yes, love. That was what he felt. God, he loved her.

“She’s precious, Jake.”

“Yeah. She is. I want to marry her.”

His grandma stared at him. “I was talking about the girl.”

Jake laughed. “That, too. Sorry. I was lost in my thoughts. I’m going to go talk to them. Remember, Allie doesn’t know who I am yet.”

His grandma nodded and turned back to her cinnamon roll.

“Hey,” Jake said as he came up behind Savannah. The kids were down a ways, crawling up on spinning stools at the counter.

“Hi. What are you doing here?”

“Doughnuts with Grandma. I thought it was Michael’s weekend with the kids.”

“It is, but he had a business trip and isn’t getting back until today. They’re going over this afternoon.”

“Perfect. Would you like to have dinner?”

She gave the short old man behind the counter a ten, seeming flustered by Jake’s question.

“I can’t, actually,” she said once she’d gotten her change.

“Do you have a date?” The question was supposed to be in jest, but the thought made him edgy.

“I’ve told you repeatedly I don’t date.” She opened her wallet to put away the change. “I have to go to my dad’s.” Her brow furrowed and she acted nervous.

“Have to? Is it dinner?”

Savannah checked on the kids, then faced him. “I have to tell him. About you. Us.”

“Ahh. Will it cause problems?”

“I don’t know. But I’m dreading it.”

“I’d like to come with you, Savannah.”

Her head shot back in surprise and, if he wasn’t mistaken, suspicion. “Why would you want to do that?”

“I wasn’t able to be there for you eleven years ago or anytime since.” He shrugged, trying to make light of his offer, because if she knew how much he wanted to go, she’d turn him down. “I’d like to be now.”

She considered his words, still not convinced. “It won’t be fun. I have no idea how he’ll react, but it won’t be the typical telling-Dad-we’re-expecting scene.”

Jake attempted to stifle a grin. “I realize that. I’m not saying you can’t handle this alone. There’s no doubt in my mind you’ll be fine by yourself, as you always are. It’s just…I missed out on everything, Savannah. Good and bad. I want to be involved.”

“This doesn’t mean we’re telling anyone else.” She glanced pointedly at Allie.

“We can argue about that a different night. Right now, all I want to do is go with you to talk to your dad.”

Savannah finally nodded wearily. “Okay. Fine.”

“Really? No she-woman stuff?”

“Not right now. Maybe later,” she said, almost grinning. “I’ll pick you up at six and we can go get it over with.”

“H
OLY
T
OLEDO
, S
AVANNAH
. You’re just telling me
now?
” Wendell Salinger leaned back on the new mocha leather sofa in the living room of the house he and Claudia had moved into last year. His wrinkled face showed every one of his years—and maybe some extra ones tonight.

Savannah stole a glance at his wife, who removed her glasses to gawk back in disbelief. Her stepmother appeared to be even more shocked than he was. Darn. Usually, Claudia helped her dad come around to his daughters’ ways of thinking. He was bowled over by the confession, but she seemed absolutely flattened.

Jake, who sat next to Savannah on the love seat, wrapped his hand around hers and squeezed. Thank God he’d accompanied her. Though she wouldn’t say so to him, having him next to her, at her side, was reassuring. An accomplice of sorts. Not that her dad had said anything bad…yet. He hadn’t said much at all. She checked to make sure she hadn’t sent him into cardiac arrest.

“So you were involved with my daughter back then?” Wendell inquired of Jake.

“Yes, sir.” Jake appeared much more relaxed than she felt. He glanced at her, one corner of his mouth curving up. “Then and now.”

Savannah’s eyes widened. Was he insinuating they were sleeping together again? Because that had been the heart of the matter back then….

“I found out about Allie when I returned to town a few weeks ago. I’ve been getting to know her ever since.”

“Why on earth didn’t you tell Jake you were having his baby, Savannah?” her dad asked, sitting forward again.

“In all fairness, I was incommunicado,” Jake interjected. “She made an effort to find me, but I didn’t want to be found.”

Savannah squeezed his hand in gratitude. “Michael helped me. We spent several weeks searching for Jake.”

“When do you plan to tell Allie?” her dad asked.

“Soon,” Jake said.

“Later,” Savannah insisted.

“Do your sisters know?” Wendell asked.

“They do now. They didn’t back then,” Savannah said. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Dad. It’s just that…”

“It’s okay, Savannah. I’m not sure how helpful I would’ve been. I still wasn’t handling things very well then.”

She nodded, aware now he continued to feel guilty for all the time he’d spent in a fog of grief over losing his wife. It’d taken him years to start living again, and Claudia was a big part of that.

Savannah focused on her stepmom again, and her dad followed her gaze.

“You okay, honey?” he inquired.

Claudia nodded and put her glasses back on. “Surprised is all. You’ve hidden it for a long time.”

“I’m sorry,” Savannah said. “Not that I didn’t trust you guys. Just that I had to make things work with Michael. I had to protect Allie.”

“Interesting you say that,” her dad said. “I like Michael. Accepted him as a son-in-law and all. But there was something about him…I never did feel he was the right man for you.”

Savannah rolled her eyes. “There isn’t a right one for me, Dad.”

“I don’t know about that,” he said. “This one here doesn’t seem so bad.” The two men exchanged a smile, and Savannah wanted to yank Jake out of there before they got too cozy.

“Pardon me for prying, but
are
you two involved again?” Claudia asked, reaching for her husband’s hand.

“No.” Savannah didn’t hesitate for a second.

“I’m trying to convince her to marry me,” Jake countered.

She was going to kill him. Slowly.

Both her dad and stepmom turned their full attention to her, as if she needed to justify herself.

“What?” she asked. “I’m not getting married to anyone. Tried it. It didn’t work out. End of discussion.”

“Michael wasn’t your type. Your dad just said so,” Jake stated. “Of course it didn’t work with him.”

“We are not having this conversation here, now or ever.” She stood.

“She’s a tough nut to crack,” Wendell told Jake.

“Dad! Whose side are you on?”

“I want what’s best for you, honey. You and Allie, and Logan, too.”

“We’re doing great, Dad. This is the twenty-first century. Women don’t have to be married to have a happy life.”

“Can I ask you something, Jake?” Claudia’s voice was quiet compared with the two Salingers. “Are you wanting to marry Savannah to be in Allie’s life?”

“Claudia…” Wendell’s tone was scolding.

“No, it’s okay,” Jake said. “Fair enough question. I can’t wait to be more a part of Allie’s life. She’s an amazing girl. But…” He stared at Savannah now, though she avoided eye contact. “I want to marry Savannah because I love her.”

She froze and closed her eyes. He’d said that
here?
In front of her
dad?

A soft, almost dreamy sigh issued from Claudia, which made Savannah’s eyes pop open. “We have to go,” she announced, and reached for her purse on the coffee table.

Wendell stood then and walked toward her. He wrapped his arms around her and she automatically did the same.

“I love you, honey.” He stepped back. “Thank you for telling us. We’re here for you. Whatever you need us to do. If that means babysitting so you and Jake can go out and get reacquainted…”

Savannah glared down at Jake and her dad chuckled.

“Appears to me you’re getting under her skin, Jake. In my book, that’s a move in the right direction.”

Jake stood and shook Wendell’s hand. “Thank you, sir. She’s a stubborn woman.”

“I can tell you know her well.”

Claudia joined them, putting her hand on Savannah’s arm. “Just don’t go eloping on us, please, kids. Doesn’t have to be a big ceremony, but I’d like to be invited.”

Savannah pressed a quick kiss to Claudia’s cheek, then pivoted to leave, pulling Jake with her and muttering, “I can’t believe this.”

“T
HAT DIDN’T GO SO BADLY
,” Jake said as he backed her van out of her dad’s driveway. Why she’d let him drive over here from his grandmother’s house she still wasn’t sure. He refused to give the keys up now. He’d gotten in the driver’s side and started the engine. Savannah had no doubt he would leave her there just to be ornery, so she’d climbed in the passenger side.

She didn’t respond to his assessment. Barely even heard it because the blood was rushing through her head so loudly. Her heart raced and her jaw locked.

Instead of driving to his grandmother’s house, he went directly to hers, and that didn’t help her temper any.

Once the van had stopped in the garage, she bailed out and hurried up the front steps to the door. Jake caught up with her as she fought with the stupid, antiquated, stubborn lock.

“You think they didn’t take it well?” he asked.

Finally, the key twisted and she headed inside. She would’ve slammed the door in his face had he given her the chance, but he was too close behind her.

Jake had the nerve to remove his jacket and toss it on the chair in the corner.

“I didn’t invite you in,” she said evenly, in a tightly restrained voice.

“I’m used to it.” He followed her into the bedroom, where she set her purse on the dresser. “You’re pissed that I told them I wanted to marry you.”

“You think?”

He blocked her way out of the room, and instead of fighting him, she crossed her arms and stared him down.

“What’s bugging you even more is that I said I loved you.”

“What the hell
was
that?” Savannah demanded.

“The truth.”

She fought not to get flustered, fought not to miss a beat, but she couldn’t help it. Eighty percent of the fight flowed right out of her. As tough as she wanted to be, as much as she needed to be by herself, declarations of love from this man could apparently bring her to her knees. Because she knew, deep down, he wouldn’t lie. Would never say he loved her if he didn’t mean it.

He leaned one shoulder against the door frame and caressed her cheek until she met his eyes. “That whole thing about my grudge? I told you I’d get over it. I’m over it. You’re an awesome mom, and a hell of a woman. I love you, Savannah. And I think you love me, too.”

She was weak. At this moment she knew it, but she ceased to care. The kids were gone for the weekend. The truth was out to most of her family. She was worn out from battling her attraction continuously, and this once, she was going to stop fighting and grab what she wanted.

Savannah stepped toward him and ran her hands up his abdomen to his chest, feeling the strength beneath his shirt. God, he had muscles, and she needed to feel them. See them. Taste every last bit of him.