Whisper's Edge (8 page)

“Great! It’s all settled!” Savannah said and waved to them. “I’ll see you guys soon.”

After calling Miss Patty and Betty to let them know she was going out tonight, Savannah made a beeline for the bathroom. Forty-five minutes later she had showered, shaved her legs, and carefully applied her makeup. Antifrizz products tamed the curly mane that she had scooped back into a loose bun, allowing a few locks to frame her face. She had even painted her toenails a soft, shiny rose. Now came the hard part.

What should she wear?

She walked over to her closet and started trying things on. A floral sundress felt too dressy. The denim skirt showed off too much leg. The white skort worked but she hated the stupid shorts-beneath-the-skirt feeling. “Why did I even buy this?” She wiggled out of it and tossed it onto her bed and groaned when she found the same thing in green. Okay, how about shorts? No, too casual. Jeans? Too tight? “Must have shrunk in the dryer,” she said with a laugh.

With a long sigh Savannah looked at the mounds of discarded clothing strewn all over her bed. After a few more minutes, piles started to flow over onto the floor. “Oh, it must be nice to be tall and willowy,” she moaned. “I have nothing to wear. You are what you are, Savannah Perry. Just put something on and be done with it,” she grumbled. She
didn’t usually take such pains with her clothes since she grew up wearing whatever she was lucky enough to find. To this day she paid very little attention to fashion trends, and her favorite place to shop was Violet’s Vintage Clothing. Deep down she knew why she was so flustered today. What if she ran into Tristan McMillan?

“Stop it!” Savannah said firmly, wishing she at least had a dog to talk to. Over the many years of living alone she’d developed a habit of talking to herself or to the television. “You’re not likely to see him and if you do who gives a flying fig?” She lifted her chin and picked up an olive green camisole top with a built-in bra. The snug material was meant to slim and she buttoned up a billowy blouse one shade darker over it. The color flattered her hair and the top hid a multitude of sins. She tugged on stretchy white skinny jeans and added a thin silver woven belt she’d found at Violet’s. After slipping on strappy sandals with a wedge heel—that, thank God, made her taller—and a matching purse in gunmetal gray, she felt ready to head out the door.

“Oh…dear lord.” Her reflection in the mirror showed a good amount of cleavage peeking above the gauzy blouse. This just might be showing off a bit more of her curves than she wanted to! In a panic she turned back to the mound of clothing but a glance at the digital clock on her nightstand said that she couldn’t take the time to try on anything else. With a quick intake of breath she grabbed a loosely woven white crochet poncho that Miss Patty made for her birthday.

“I made one for my granddaughter and she loved it,” Miss Patty had explained. “I thought you might too. She said seventies stuff is back in style.”

Savannah smiled at the memory. While her social life outside Whisper’s Edge might be lacking, she sure did love living where people fought over her company instead of having the horrible feeling of being invisible or worse yet, feeling in the way. Still, nights could be lonely.

Who was she kidding? Nights
were
lonely.

She gave her appearance one last critical once-over in
the mirror. “It’s only dinner and drinks in Cricket Creek,” she whispered with a shake of her head. But as she walked out the door into the breezy evening her heart kicked up a notch. Maybe it simply felt good to be dressed up and getting out be but as she strolled toward the front office there seemed to be a hint of anticipation hanging in the air.

Silly, she thought as she waved to people here and there. The Camden brothers whistled and winked as she passed their yard where they grilled steaks and sipped cocktails. “Come on over for a Manhattan, Savannah!”

“Sorry, boys. Have to take a rain check.”

“Don’t wait for it to rain!” Clyde called out. Or maybe it was Clovis.

“Woof!” Willie looked up from his perch between Miss Patty’s feet where she lounged in a white wicker chair while reading a paperback novel on her front porch. One would think that Miss Patty would enjoy cozy mysteries but she favored gritty detective suspense stories. When Savannah waved, Miss Patty called back, “Have fun tonight!”

“Thanks!” Everything was as it should be at Whisper’s Edge, making Savannah smile.

But when she rounded the corner and spotted Tristan’s sleek sports car parked in front of the office her heart thudded, and butterflies started fluttering in her stomach. She slowed her pace, half hoping he would leave before she reached the front door. Eyeing a big oak tree, she wondered if she could hide behind it. Um…no. Not even close. She wanted to see him…and then she didn’t. A part of Savannah longed to turn on her heel and run back to her quiet little home, to have dinner with Ken and Betty and make headbands with Miss Patty. Her life, she realized, had become easy…
safe
and she liked the comfort of consistency.

But she wasn’t a coward. So Savannah put one wedged sandal in front of the other and willed herself not to stammer and blush in front of Tristan. Perhaps he was simply dropping something off or bringing the paperwork over
that Kate had given him. Surely he wouldn’t linger long and would go on about his business.

As she approached the front door Savannah could hear voices filtering through the open window. Kate made one of her usual wisecracks followed by two sets of deep male mirth. Savannah had to smile. Kate could make anyone laugh. She had managed to keep her sense of humor intact through the recent tough times at Whisper’s Edge.

Relax, Savannah told herself as she opened the front door and walked inside.

“There you are,” Kate said and pressed a cold Corona with a jaunty lime sticking out of the top into Savannah’s hand. “I was just getting ready to call you.”

“I couldn’t decide what to wear,” Savannah answered honestly. After poking the lime down the neck of her bottle she gave a shy nod to Tristan and Ben.

“Well, that olive shade of green suits you.” Kate nodded with approval. “You look great.”

“So do you.” Savannah smiled before taking a swig of her beer.

“I clean up well,” Kate said with a chuckle. As promised, she wore the black Capri pants and had opted for a sweater set in a soft shade of lavender. Kate’s hair sported a bit more fluff than usual and a soft shade of coral lipstick brightened her normally low-key makeup. Kate was a naturally pretty woman on any given day but tonight she looked sassy and stunning in a Sharon Stone kind of way. Surely Ben thought so too? If Ben’s lingering glances were any indication, he was well aware of Kate’s beauty. “Tristan stopped over to bring me some paperwork he had been going over.”

“Oh,” Savannah said and wished she could think of something clever to say. “I hope you’ve gotten a chance to see some of the town this week?”

“Not really. I’ve been pretty busy,” Tristan answered. “I finally just shut my laptop and got out of the condo. It’s too nice of an evening to work.”

“I agree.” Savannah nodded and then took another swig of her Corona.

“Me too,” Kate chimed in. “That’s why Tristan decided to come out on the town with us.”

Savannah tried to swallow her beer but of course the knowledge that Tristan was coming along, making this sort of like a double date sent the swallow down the wrong pipe. To her horror she started sputtering and coughing. She wasn’t sure but a piece of lime pulp might have flown out of her mouth. Dear God, she hoped beer didn’t come running out of her nose.

“Are you all right?” Tristan asked, rushing over to her side, but seeming to be at a loss as to what to do.

“Give her a pat on the back,” Kate instructed.

“Okay,” Tristan said and gently patted between Savannah’s shoulder blades. “Better?”

When Savannah nodded, Tristan removed his hand but the tingle of his touch remained. She immediately missed the warm, soothing way he was rubbing her back and thought about adding another round of coughing. “Thanks.” She accepted the tissue offered to her by Ben and dabbed her mouth in case any of the lime pulp was stuck to her generous application of lip gloss. “Wrong pipe.”

“It happens,” Tristan said with a grin. “Even though we really only have one pipe.”

“For some reason I feel the need to make a fool out of myself whenever you’re near.”

Tristan tossed back his head and laughed. “I have to admit that there’s never a dull moment around you, Savannah.”

“You mean that in a good way, right?” she asked with another little cough.

“O
F COURSE, SAVANNAH…” TRISTAN DREW OUT HER NAME
and widened his eyes in mock innocence. “I enjoy coming to your rescue for no real reason.”

“At least you didn’t get wet this time,” Kate pointed out before tilting her Corona up to her lips.

“Or naked,” Tristan added.
Oh crap, why did I say that?

“Naked!” Kate swung around to face him so fast that droplets of moisture flew from her bottle.

“Tristan!” Savannah sputtered. His comment brought two spots of color to her cheeks.

“What?” He tried to keep things light and teasing in order to hide the effect she was having on him. When he’d patted her back the feel of her warm skin beneath the thin fabric of her blouse sent a hot jolt of awareness humming through his veins, taking him by surprise. If a mere touch could do that what would it be like to have her in his arms?

“Oh, sugar, don’t leave us hanging,” Kate pleaded.

“I tugged a towel off him while I was drying his clothes.”

“Well, now.” Kate wiggled her eyebrows.

“It was because he had a handful of my panties.”

“That explains a lot.” Kate rubbed her hands together and shot Tristan a look. “This is gettin’ good.”

“Un, maybe we shouldn’t be discussing this,” Ben said slowly but Kate shushed him.

“No, wait…I wasn’t
wearing
them,” Savannah explained.

“Like I said,” Ben tried again.

“You sly dog.” Kate turned and raised a palm at Savannah. “No wonder you yanked his towel off. High five.”

Savannah automatically started to high-five Kate but then drew her hand back. “It was an ac-ci-
dent
.” She looked imploringly at Tristan.

“It was,” he admitted.

“Ohh, Tristan, have a heart and tell them what happened!” Savannah pleaded.

“Okaaay.” Tristan chuckled and then briefly explained what really transpired. “Totally embarrassing, but innocent,” he finished.

“Thank you!” Savannah said with a sigh.

“I’m just messing with ya,” Tristan promised in a big-brother tone, but the sight of her amazing breasts peeking out over the silky fabric had him feeling anything but brotherly. He wasn’t the teasing type but Savannah had a knack for bringing out a playful side in him that he hadn’t known was there until now. His mother would be stunned. His mother would also adore Savannah.

Stop!
This line of thinking was getting him into the dangerous territory that he wanted to avoid. He was in Cricket Creek to prove himself as a businessman, not for romance or making friends.

“Why does everybody like to see me get worked up?” Savannah raised her hands upward.

“Because it’s so easy and so much fun,” Kate replied, drawing laughs from them all. “I knew the story was going to be something like it turned out to be or I wouldn’t have egged you on. Sugar, I know you better than that.” She looked at
Tristan. “And I really shouldn’t be going on like that with my boss.” She held up her bottle. “Blame it on the beer.”

“We’re all off the clock,” Tristan assured them. “And trust me, I could use a fun night out.”

“Oh boy.” Savannah shook her head. “Tristan, you’re being an enabler. Kate will be unstoppable.”

“You’re in for it now.” Kate laughed. “But listen, we really should head up to Wine and Diner. Fridays can get busy in Cricket Creek, especially on a gorgeous night like this. Let’s finish our drinks and head on up the road,” Kate suggested.

Tristan nodded but thought maybe he should think of an excuse to bow out. He shouldn’t have agreed to come with them, but after sitting all day, he’d needed fresh air and wanted some company. Friday nights back in Cincinnati meant happy hour and laughter, and he just didn’t feel like sitting alone one more night. He’d used the excuse of bringing paperwork to Kate to get him out the door. If he was being honest he had been hoping to run into Savannah, and the unexpected invitation to join them was too hard to resist.

Still, he was already enjoying himself way too much. He felt more at ease and relaxed than he’d been in a long time…not good when he needed to make some serious business decisions in the very near future. Becoming close to these people, or romantically involved with Savannah, could potentially cloud his clear thinking.

As they walked out the door he told himself to simply enjoy the warm summer evening, but after tonight he vowed to find entertainment in Cricket Creek that was not connected to Whisper’s Edge.

“I just love late spring when everything is in full bloom,” Savannah said as they strolled through the community.

“Yeah, I enjoy it too. I always wanted to have a few tomato plants on my terrace but never seemed to find the time.”

“Really? I started a garden club and give awards for the best something or other every week.” She chuckled. “Boy, oh boy, these ladies are competitive.” She pointed to planters laden with blooms. “Best flower pots caused quite a stir. Next week it’s hanging baskets. So be prepared to see lots of baskets swinging from front porches,” she said with a grin, and it was damned near impossible not to grin back. “Each basket bigger than the one before.”

“Looks like you’ll be installing lots of heavy-duty hooks,” Kate said to Ben.

“Yeah, having a flower pot fall on someone’s head would not be a good thing,” he said.

“Maybe you should have size limits,” Kate suggested.

“That rule would be broken for sure,” Savannah said.

“I’ll keep an eye on things,” Ben promised as they turned the corner.