Whisper's Edge (28 page)

As Savannah drove back to Whisper’s Edge she tried not to feel guilty about her shopping spree. She rarely bought herself anything other than necessities, and the bag perched
on the passenger seat seemed extravagant even though purchased at a secondhand store. But it was the sexy dress hanging from the garment hook in the backseat that made her heart pound harder. She wondered what Tristan would think if he saw her in it.

Hopefully, she would find out.

T
RISTAN SLIPPED BACK INTO BED AND THEN PULLED SAVANNAH
into his arms. She made sweet moaning sounds and snuggled into his embrace. He could definitely get used to this. “Good morning, sleeping beauty.”

“Is it time to milk the cows already?”

Tristan chuckled. “Have you ever milked a cow?”

“No,” she mumbled. “And I think I would probably suck at it.”

He brushed her hair to the side and kissed her bare shoulder. “No, you have a little time.”

“Mmm…good.”

Tristan could feel her smile and pulled her warm, naked body even closer. He fully understood. He used to be an early riser, but waking up next to Savannah had changed all of that. He could stay in bed with her all day. “I went in the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee a little while ago.”

“Ahhh, my hero.”

Tristan chuckled but the endearment hit him hard in the gut. “As you wish, my princess.”

Savannah rolled over to face him. “You make me feel
like a princess, Tristan,” she said, but then suddenly lowered her gaze.

“What is it?”

She hesitated but then raised her gaze to him once more. “Life has never been this…good,” she said softly. “This past week has been, well, amazing.”

“And that’s a bad thing?” he tried to joke but her eyes remained serious.

“I’ll be honest. Sometimes I feel like Cinderella waiting for the clock to strike midnight.”

Tristan traced the edge of her full bottom lip with his fingertip. “But you know that fairy tale ended with a happily ever after, right?”

She nodded and then let out a small sigh. “I know this stems back to my childhood, but whenever I started to feel a glimmer of hope it would be snatched from me.” A frown furrowed her forehead and more than anything in the world Tristan wanted to erase it. She licked her bottom lip and then said, “I guess what I’m saying is that what we have feels so wonderful that I’m afraid to get my hopes up.”

Tristan tucked an auburn curl behind her ear. “That’s not going to happen this time. Nothing will be snatched away from you. Trust me, I won’t let it.”

Her eyes widened a fraction.

“Savannah, I’ve fallen in love with you.” There, he said it.

She swallowed hard and her mouth worked but nothing came out. “Y-you have?”

Tristan nodded. “Yes, I sure have.” He didn’t want to say those three little words until he had all of the details worked out with Whisper’s Edge, but he simply had to reassure her. Seeing the deer-in-the-headlights look on Savannah’s pretty face clawed at his heart. “I love you,” he repeated firmly.

Savannah sucked in a breath. “Tristan, I wasn’t fishing…trying to wrangle that out of you.” A tear slid out of the corner of her eye. “Damn, I
hate
my insecurities.”

“We all have them,” he told her gently. “Me included.”

“You do? But how? Tristan, you’re smart,
successful…handsome as sin and ooze confidence. What in the world would you have to be insecure about?”

Tristan propped up on one elbow. “Well, remember, I was a nerdy little kid being raised by a single mom. I wasn’t an outcast or anything but certainly not your typical rough-and-tumble little boy.”

“You said that you didn’t sit at the cool table. I still find that difficult to believe.”

“Oh, I can show you pictures.”

“I bet you were so cute,” she insisted, but then her grin faded. “But it couldn’t have been easy on your mother.”

“It wasn’t. Her father sure did shame her when he found out she was pregnant.” He ground his teeth together. “Even as a little kid, I remember that every time she’d call him for help she would end up in tears and finally she just stopped calling.”

“Horrid man! You were his flesh and blood. It’s hard for me to understand turning away family. People don’t know how lucky they are to have one another,” she added hotly.

“I agree, Savannah. He should have stood behind her no matter what. Instead, he pushed her away when she needed him the most.”

“That’s horrible!”

“Tell me about it.” Tristan shook his head. “My grandfather was too caught up in his anger over his wife leaving him when my mother was still a baby.”

“Where is she now?”

“I don’t know. I do believe that my grandfather knows something about her disappearance that he isn’t telling. I’ve always felt that. Anger as deep-seated as his usually revolves around guilt and denial as well.” Tristan sighed. “But like I said, he didn’t have the right to take any of it out on my mother or me.” Tristan shook his head sadly. “I just don’t get it.”

“Well, he certainly must be grateful that you’ve stepped in and are taking over Whisper’s Edge, keeping it from going under. Given what you just revealed, I think it’s pretty
amazing of you. I don’t know that I could have been so generous.”

“It was a good business opportunity for me,” Tristan said carefully.

“Still, maybe saving Whisper’s Edge will shake some sense into him.”

Tristan felt a bit of unease at her assumption. “I don’t think my grandfather has room in his black heart for anything but hatred and resentment.”

“That’s so sad.”

“I agree.” Tristan managed a small smile. “But a lot of my accomplishments were in an effort to prove my worth to him. I figured if I worked hard enough he would be proud and welcome my mother back with open arms, but he barely even did that when she battled cancer. I was determined to make sure that my mother wouldn’t have to worry about money or ask him for anything ever again. So I guess I owe him that.”

“You don’t owe him anything. Love isn’t something that you have to earn,” Savannah said hotly. “Although I never met your grandfather, I’m sorry to say that nobody ever has anything nice to say about him. Whisper’s Edge is much better off in your capable hands.”

The unease crept up his throat.

“In fact, everybody here likes you. Miss Patty even said that the next time I come over for dinner that I should bring…‘that handsome studmuffin.’”

“Are you sure she meant me?” Tristan tried to joke but his voice came out a bit strained.

“Yes, silly.” She arched her head up off the pillow and kissed his cheek.

Tristan felt his heart swell at her simple gesture. Everything she did was honest and pure. He longed to tell her the truth about why he purchased Whisper’s Edge, but he couldn’t until he had his ducks in a row. He had another meeting coming up later that morning with Mitch Monroe, and Tristan intended to run a few new ideas past him.

Savannah reached up and touched his chest. “Tristan, are you okay?”

He nodded, even though he really wasn’t anywhere near okay.

“Oh, and I have something to tell you”—she lifted one shoulder slightly—“for what it’s worth.”

“Savannah, anything you have to say is important to me.”

“Well, when I was shopping at Violet’s Vintage Clothing up on Main Street, we started talking about some of the stuff I have planned here at Whisper’s Edge. Now, mind you, Violet is a senior too and she expressed interest in attending some events that we’re planning to offer in an effort to make extra revenue just like you suggested to Kate.”

“That’s good news.”

Savannah scooted up to a sitting position, pulling the sheet up to cover her breasts but the lush outline made it difficult for Tristan to stay focused. “Well, there’s more to it than that. Violet said that she’s had an interest in buying a home here but there’s never anything available.”

Savannah’s comment caught his full attention…well almost. “Well, there was more land to develop but my grandfather dropped the ball with that when some poor investments forced him to cut back. There simply wasn’t any money left to add on.”

“I understand, but Violet reminded me that there really isn’t any other retirement community anywhere in Cricket Creek, so there is a real need. She loves the river view and the peaceful surroundings. Plus, although Violet enjoys running her shop, she would like to have activities to attend and more of a social life. In fact, I felt so bad that I invited her to the Hoedown next Thursday. You’re coming, aren’t you?”

“Are you asking me?”

“Yes, and I’ll even get you a cowboy hat.”

“Well, then how could I refuse?”

Savannah laughed. “You’ll make a handsome cowboy.
But anyway, I think that you could add some lots or even homes and sell them pretty quickly. She isn’t the first person to express interest.”

“Thanks, Savannah. You have a very good point.”

“Not that I’m trying to tell you what to do. I know you have your hands full simply getting this place back up to snuff, but I thought it was worth mentioning, you know, maybe for the future.”

“I value your opinion. Don’t ever doubt that.”

“I won’t, and I don’t mean to add to your burden. Are you really okay? I don’t mean to be so pushy!”

He looked at the concern in her expressive eyes and reached over to touch her cheek. “Yes, I’m okay,” he said gruffly. “And listen, you didn’t wrangle anything out of me but the truth. I’ve wanted to tell you how I feel about you for a while now.” He smiled. “Now, over a candlelit dinner would have been nice on my part. Hey, how about going out with me tonight and I can say it all over again?”

“Okay,” Savannah said shyly. She pressed her lips together and then said, “Tristan…I love you too.” She put a hand to her chest, but he saw something flash in her eyes that gave him pause.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Everything is…right.”

“Savannah, don’t hold back. You can tell me anything.”

“It’s just that…and believe me, I
know
it’s my insecurity rearing its ugly head but…”

“But what? Tell me.”

She lowered her gaze. “Our backgrounds are so vastly different. You’re so doggone smart.”

“How many years I went to school doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, Tristan, sometimes I don’t know the meaning of words you use so casually.”

“I told you that’s the geek in me coming out. Savannah, look, knowledge, whether from books or learned from life, is all the same thing in the end. You don’t have any reason to feel inferior to me or
anyone
for that matter…
ever
. You
are one smart lady and I’ve learned a lot about so many things since spending time with you.” He tilted her head up. “Truly. Hey, my mother never made it back to college because she had to raise me. She learned about real estate on her own. Maggie McMillan doesn’t know a word of Latin or Greek, and she’s one of the smartest people I know. I respect and love her. We all put our pants on one leg at a time. That’s what she instilled in me and I agree.”

Savannah’s eyes filled with tears. “And she chose to keep you under tough circumstances.” She swiped at her cheek. “Unlike my own mother.”

“I am so very grateful for her decision, but you don’t know what your mother was faced with or what life was throwing her way. Sometimes tough decisions are made out of love, Savannah. It doesn’t mean you weren’t wanted or loved. She most likely did what she felt was best for you and has to live with her decision every day.”

“Oh, Tristan…” Savannah dabbed at her eyes with the corner of the sheet. “I’ve thought about that too. It might be nice for her to know that I turned out okay.”

“You turned out more than
okay
. You’re a wonderful, loving human being.” He smiled at her. “For whatever reason, the two of us were meant to be born.”

“Maybe for each other?”

Her simple statement went straight to his heart and for a moment Tristan couldn’t find his voice. “Yes,” he said softly. He cleared his throat. “I’ll help you find your birth mother if you want me to. I have resources that would help expedite your search.”

Savannah swallowed and then nodded. “Thank you. I’m…I’m not sure if I want to do that but I appreciate the gesture.”

Tristan leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. “All you have to do is say the word.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Savannah put her hand to his cheek and then, true to her usual form, she gave him a bright smile. “The coffee smells divine.”

“Then stay for a while.” He leaned over and gave her a lingering kiss. “I’ve got more sugar to go with your coffee.”

“Tristan!” Savannah giggled. “Mmmm, well that sounds divine too, but I have a water aerobics class to teach in a little while and paperwork to do for Kate.”

“Damn…”

“But I’ll take a rain check.”

“How about that romantic dinner tonight? Candlelight and the whole nine yards.”

“I’d love it.”

“Is seven too early?”

“No.”

Tristan smiled. “Good. If you don’t mind, I’m going to take a quick shower and take my coffee to go. I’ve got some work to get done today too.”

“Okay, help yourself to my shampoo.”

“Great, I’m going to smell like peaches again.”

Savannah laughed. “I’ll have to buy some manly stuff for you.”

“You don’t have to do that,” he said, but he knew that she would.

A little while later when Tristan got inside his car he sat there for a moment and gripped the steering wheel. His temporary move to Cricket Creek had taken a turn that he least expected. Falling in love with Savannah wasn’t part of the plan. In fact, he was feeling more and more at ease in the small-town atmosphere, and Plan B was starting to take shape in his brain.

He thought about the meeting he had with Mitch Monroe in a couple of hours. Mitch might either offer him a lump sum for Whisper’s Edge or simply invest. If he did, Tristan had to decide how to handle the situation. What had first been so clear in his head was beginning to rapidly change and evolve.

After heading back to his condo, Tristan sat down on the leather sofa and opened his briefcase. He removed the Whisper’s Edge file and started reviewing his notes. But the
suggestion Savannah made kept creeping into his thoughts. Even in the run-down state the property was in, the residents still loved living there. And there was definitely plenty of land to develop. His mind started to race. The small marina that was already built could be expanded for public use, but still service the residents if a parking lot was paved along with another access road. There was a second small marina next to the baseball stadium that could actually be expanded to more of what he originally had in mind for Whisper’s Edge, and if he wasn’t mistaken, Noah Falcon might now own it. Tristan pored over the map of the grounds and started making notes and making estimates and crunching numbers.