by Reese Ryan
“She’s inquisitive. That’s her nature.” Blake had expected Parker to let him have it with both barrels over his affair with Savannah. “I’d say it’s served us well.”
Parker stood and paced. “It has when she’s used it for us, not against us.”
Blake sat on the edge of his desk. “What are you talking about?”
“She’s been asking a lot of questions about our company. About how it got started and whether Gramps ever had a partner. Why is she suddenly so interested?”
“She works here.” An uneasy feeling crawled up Blake’s spine. Still, he folded his arms and shrugged. “That information could be useful as she prepares for the remaining jubilee events and news coverage.”
“But why is she so fixated on some nonexistent business partner of Granddad’s?” Parker shoved a finger in his direction.
That was odd. If she wanted to know, why hadn’t she just asked him? It was one more thing they needed to discuss.
“I’ll get to the bottom of it, Parker. Don’t worry. Besides, it’s not as if we have anything to hide.” Blake studied his brother’s face. “Do we?”
“No, but I still don’t like it. Feels like she’s got her own agenda. One that isn’t aligned with ours.” Parker sank into his chair again.
“Then why come to me? Dad’s CEO of the company, and she reports directly to Max.” Blake’s eyes didn’t meet his brother’s.
“You hired Savannah, and I know...” Parker ratcheted down the judgment in his voice. “I know how fond you are of her.”
Blake’s jaw tensed. “I’d never jeopardize this company. Nor will I allow anyone else to. So if you think we have reason to be wary of Savannah...”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Parker crossed an ankle over his knee.
“Then what are you saying?” Blake pressed his brother. If he was going to make an accusation against Savannah, he’d damn sure better be clear about it.
Parker tapped on the arm of the chair. “One of us needs to find out exactly what she’s trying to uncover and why.”
“Are you willing to possibly burn this bridge?” It was the same question he’d been forced to decide where he and Savannah were concerned.
“Dammit, Blake, none of us wants to lose her.” Parker sighed heavily. “She’s been good for us. Made a major impact in a short period of time. But our first job is to protect this distillery, and to protect the family. Even if that means losing Savannah.”
Blake nodded. “Let’s talk to Max about this when he returns from Philly tomorrow. Then we’ll decide how to approach it.”
The situation between him and Savannah had just become exponentially more complicated. If he gave her an ultimatum on their relationship, and she turned him down, the company’s inquiry into her behavior would seem like retaliation.
That would be devastating to their reputation. Something he’d never allow.
Eighteen
“I’m going on my dinner break now. Do you think I’ll be able to clean your office when I return?” Maureen stood in the doorway in her housekeeping uniform, doing her best not to look annoyed.
“I’ll try to finish up for the night before you come back.” Savannah smiled at the woman, and she turned and left.
When the elevator doors closed, Savannah rushed to Maureen’s cleaning cart.
Savannah had worked late every night since the gala, looking for her opportunity to search the archived files that predated the company’s use of computers.
It was her last hope of finding something useful before her sister’s looming two-week deadline.
Savannah retrieved the large key ring from Maureen’s cart and made her way down to the file room. She tried nearly every key before she found the right one.
She slipped inside the large, windowless space and switched on her flashlight. The room smelled stale and dust floated in the air. Steel file cabinets lined the brick walls in the first portion of the room. Antique wooden furniture was pushed up against the back wall.
Savannah checked her watch. She had little more than half an hour. She moved to the file cabinet marked with the earliest dates and pulled out a drawer stuffed with yellowed files. Most of the papers were typed. Some were handwritten.
By his own admission, Joseph Abbott had dumped her grandfather as his partner before starting the company. Maybe the files contained information about the origin of the company’s recipes and procedures.
Savannah checked her watch again and cursed under her breath. Fifteen minutes left.
She was dirty, sweaty, and had gotten several paper cuts during her frantic search through the files. She finally found a pad with notes written in familiar longhand.
Her grandfather’s.
She removed the notebook and continued sifting through the files. Savannah opened an envelope marked “Old Photos.” She recognized her grandfather in one of them. “Joe and Marty” was scribbled on the back.
Savannah froze at the sound of voices in the hall.
Someone’s coming.
She quietly closed the drawer and hid in the shadows, crouching between a tall bookcase and a large antique bureau desk. She clutched her grandfather’s notebook and the photo of her grandfather and Joseph Abbott.
Keys jangled in the door, and then the hinges creaked.
“Switch on the light. I just walked into a spiderweb.”
Savannah’s blood ran cold.
What’s Parker doing here?
He’d never been her biggest fan, but lately he’d been grumpier and questioned everything she did.
Had he followed her down here?
The light switched on.
“So where’s this stuff Mom just had to have tonight?” Max. He’d left hours ago. Why had he returned? And what were they searching for?
Had her conversation with Joseph Abbott prompted them to destroy evidence of their theft?
“Mom had a few of the guys set the pieces she wants aside in the back.”
Blake.
“Wait—do you guys smell that?” Blake sniffed, then glanced around the room. “Someone’s been in here, and I know that scent.”
Savannah pressed a hand to her mouth to muffle her gasp. She was wearing the perfume Blake had bought her. Her heart beat furiously as footsteps crept closer.
Blake made his way through the maze of furniture until he was standing in front of her.
“Savannah, what are you doing in here? And why are you hiding?”
Her knees shook so badly she could barely stand. Blake didn’t offer to help her up, so she braced herself on the wall and climbed to her feet.
“Blake, I’m so sorry.” She could hardly get enough air into her lungs to say the words.
All three brothers stood in front of her.
“I knew something was going on with her.” Parker’s nostrils flared. His entire face had turned crimson. She got a chill from his arctic stare. “You aren’t authorized to be down here. You’re trespassing. You’d better have a damn good explanation for being here or I’m calling the sheriff.”
Max almost looked amused. “Don’t tell me this is how you’ve been spending all those late nights.”
“I’ve never been down here before tonight. I swear.”
“Why should we believe anything you say?” Parker demanded. “And where’d you get these keys?”
“From Maureen’s cart. I recognize her key ring.” The heartbreak in Blake’s voice and the pained look in his eyes were unbearable.
Blake didn’t deserve this. And nothing she could say would fix it.
“What’s that you’re holding?” Max asked.
“They’re mine.” She clutched the photo and notebook, her hands shaking.
“Hand them over.” Blake held out his hand, his voice jagged.
Savannah released a long, agonizing breath. She h
ad no choice. There were three of them and one of her. They weren’t going to let her leave with the notebook and photo. She handed both items to Blake, who handed them to Max.
“That’s it. I’m calling the sheriff. We’ll have them search her. Who knows why she was down here or what else she might be hiding.” Parker gestured wildly.
“Calm down, Park. Why don’t we ask her what she’s doing down here?” Max kept his voice calm. “Maybe Savannah has a logical explanation.”
The three brothers turned to her.
Savannah stared at each of them, her gaze lingering on Blake’s face. Tears stung her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
“I was...I was looking for...” Savannah stammered.
She couldn’t tell the Abbotts the truth. Not until she was sure she had solid documentation to support her grandfather’s claim. Once they learned her reason for being there, they’d surely destroy any potential evidence.
The truth wasn’t an option.
She’d tell them she was looking for info to use in the yearlong celebration of the company’s inception.
“I came down here because...” Savannah snapped her mouth shut, stopped cold by the pain and disappointment in Blake’s eyes.
She couldn’t tell Blake the truth, but she wouldn’t lie to him, either. Which left her out of options.
Savannah turned her attention to Parker. She held out the keys. “If you’re going to call the sheriff, call him. I don’t have anything else to say.”
“Gladly.” Parker pulled out his phone.
“Don’t.” Blake took the phone from him.
“Why not? We caught her stealing irreplaceable archival documents. Who knows what else she’s taken since she’s been here? She’s obviously a thief.” A vein twitched in Parker’s forehead. “Likely a corporate spy. She was probably sent here by one of the Kentucky distilleries.”
“Blake’s right, Park. We don’t need the bad publicity. It’ll counter all the positive press we’re getting now.” Max clapped a hand on Parker’s shoulder. “Most of it thanks to her.”
“All right.” Parker snatched the key ring from her open palm. “But I’m filing a complaint with the sheriff. So don’t think of skipping town until everything has been accounted for.”
“Of course.” Savannah extricated herself from the small space, unable to bring herself to meet Blake’s wounded gaze.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Parker held up a hand, his large body blocking her exit. “A member of the security team will escort you to clean out your desk. It should go without saying that you’re fired.”
“Is that really necessary?” Blake turned to his brother.
“Very. Who knows what else she’ll try to take on the way out,” Parker insisted.
“No.” Blake made it clear the topic wasn’t up for debate. “We’re not causing a scene. I’ll walk her to her office, then to her car.”
“Good idea.” Max stuck his hand out. “Give me the key to your truck. Parker and I will load those tables and lamps Mama wanted for the barn.”
Blake handed Max the truck key and took Maureen’s keys from Parker. He gripped Savannah’s arm and led her out the door to the elevator.
“Blake, I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
“Then don’t.” He wouldn’t look at her. The tone of his voice was icier than Parker’s eyes had been moments earlier. Shivers ran down her spine.
When they got on the elevator, she plastered her back against the wall.
“I never meant to hurt you, Blake, I swear. This isn’t what it seems.”
“Then what is it, Savannah? Do you have a reasonable explanation for stealing the housekeeper’s key, breaking into our archives and cowering in the corner? If so, I’d love to hear it.”
Her eyes met his, tears spilling down her cheeks. Her answer caught in her throat.
She’d imagined the misery of the day when Blake would learn she was a fraud. But the pain in his eyes and the pain exploding in her chest were so much worse.
For an instant, she wished she’d never come to Magnolia Lake. But if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have uncovered the hand-scribbled notes and photo that proved her grandfather had worked closely with Joseph Abbott.
“I wish I could tell you everything...but I can’t. Not yet.”
“You lied to me. Made a fool of me.”
She’d misled Blake. Taken him off guard. But he wasn’t the fool. She was. Because she’d fallen for him. Hard.
“I had no choice. Believe me.”
“I wish I could.” He stepped off the elevator and led the way to her office.
“Blake, what are you doing here?” Maureen looked up from searching her cart.
“I had to retrieve something from the archives. I forgot my key.” He held out her key ring. “Hope you don’t mind—I borrowed yours.”
Savannah’s breath hitched.
Blake was protecting her, even now. Allowing her to save face with Maureen.
“Of course not.” Maureen grinned as she accepted the keys from Blake and dropped them into the pocket of her smock. “I was afraid I’d lost them some—” Maureen paused, her head tilted. She’d noticed Savannah had been crying.
“Savannah isn’t feeling very well.” Blake spoke up before Maureen could inquire. “We’ll be ten or fifteen minutes. Then we’ll be out of your way.”
“Hope you feel better, Savannah.” Maureen nodded and rolled her cart away.
Blake closed the door and shoved his hands in his pockets. He leaned against the wall, maintaining maximum distance between them.
“I’ll help you carry your things down.” His voice was stripped of the warmth and affection she’d come to adore. He was looking through her. Past her. Probably wondering what it was he’d ever seen in her.
The wave of nausea she’d been feeling for the past week rose. Savannah grabbed a half-full bottle of ginger ale from her desk and chugged it.
She dropped her planner, phone and a few other items from her desk into her bag and grabbed her purse. She held it up. “This is everything. Do you need to check it?”
Blake sighed, as if repulsed by, then resigned to, the idea of needing to search her.
He did a cursory search through the two bags she held open. Then he patted her pockets while she held her arms out wide and turned her back to him.
“One more thing.” Savannah pulled a small package from her desk drawer and handed it to Blake. “I’ve been meaning to give this to you. It’s one of those calming shirts for Benny, so he doesn’t freak out during the next thunderstorm. Unfortunately, they didn’t have one in my size.”
Her crushed heart inflated the slightest bit when a small smile curled the edge of Blake’s sensuous mouth.
The same mouth that had kissed hers. That was acquainted with her most intimate parts.
“Why didn’t I see this coming?” Blake laughed bitterly as he scanned her office. “Your office is as nondescript as your apartment. No family photos. Nothing personal. You never intended to put down roots here. You used me, and I was such a fool that I begged you to do it.”
Tears stung her eyes again and her nose burned. But Savannah bit her lower lip, refusing to let the tears fall. She had no right to cry. In this, she’d been the one who was heartless and cruel. Blake had been innocent.
And she’d hurt him. Just as his ex had. Only Savannah was worse. She’d always known this was inevitable. That they would both be hurt.
It was a sacrifice she’d been willing to make for her family.
As Blake’s eyes searched hers, demanding an answer, her conviction that the sacrifice was worthwhile wavered.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I honestly didn’t intend to hurt you. I swear.” She swiped angrily at her eyes and sniffed.
“Say I’m crazy enough to believe that’s t
rue.” His voice vibrated with pain and anger. “Then tell me why you did this. What did you hope to gain?”
Savannah lowered her head, unable to answer him. She’d betrayed Blake and lost the best man she’d ever known. And without the notepad and photo, she didn’t have a single thing to show for it.
Nineteen
Savannah pulled the covers over her head, blocking out the sunshine spilling through the curtains. It was nearly noon and she’d spent the entire morning in bed for the second day in a row.
She was stressed, scared, miserable and missing Blake. Her body wasn’t handling the wave of emotions well. It rebelled.
She’d made countless trips to the bathroom and felt so tired and weak she could barely get out of bed. All of which was out of character for her. She prided herself on being able to endure just about anything. After watching their rattrap apartment burn to the ground with her parents inside, there was little else that could faze her.
Until now.
The attachment she felt to Blake Abbott was powerful. Unlike anything she’d experienced before.
She’d been in a handful of relationships. She’d even imagined herself to be in love once or twice before. But the end of those relationships hadn’t shaken her to her core, the way losing Blake had.
She missed his intense, dark eyes, mischievous grin and sense of humor. She missed the comfort she felt in his presence—even if all they were doing was watching a movie together in silence.
Savannah clutched at the hollowed-out emptiness in her belly. She’d lost Blake and a job she actually loved. And she’d gained nothing. Except possibly an arrest record if Parker Abbott had his way.
She made another trip to the bathroom. After more retching, she rinsed her mouth and splashed cool water on her face, sure there was nothing left for her body to reject.
Savannah crawled back into bed and dialed her sister.
“Thought you weren’t talking to me anymore.” There was a smile in Laney’s voice when she answered the phone.
Savannah was about to make a smart remark in reply, but the instant she heard her sister’s voice, tears welled in her eyes. She whimpered softly.