Guarding His Fortune

by Stella Bagwell

  Chapter Ten

  “Savannah, a fairy must have sprinkled pixie dust over you last night,” Marva said the next day as the two women made their way to a small break room for coffee. “You’ve been smiling all morning.”

  “Why shouldn’t I be smiling? It’s a lovely spring day outside and these classes are getting easier or I’m getting smarter,” she joked.

  In truth, Savannah did feel happier than she’d ever felt since arriving in Austin. And she was beginning to wonder if the old adage about making up after an argument was even better than not having an argument in the first place.

  Something had happened to Chaz last evening after they’d quarreled. She honestly didn’t have a clue as to what or why the change had occurred. She only knew that he’d felt so much closer, so much more willing to share himself with her.

  Marva chuckled. “You must be getting smarter, Savannah. I’m still trying to make sense of how one tiny cell of bacteria can turn into an epidemic,” she joked.

  The two women entered the break room and headed straight to the coffee machine.

  “Actually, I’m a bit excited about this evening, Marva. I’m going out to dinner. With Chaz and his brother and sister-in-law.”

  The older woman cast a doubtful look at Savannah. “You’re going out with your bodyguard?”

  “Well, it’s not like a date. I mean, yes, he’ll be guarding me, but it’s sort of a family thing, too. You see, Chaz’s sister-in-law is my cousin. A few months ago, my family learned about a bunch of relatives we didn’t know we had. Many of them live here in Austin.”

  “Hmm. I’ve noticed the Fortune name popping up here and there around town. Someone told me that the business magnate that owns Robinson Tech is actually a Fortune.”

  “That’s right. He’s my uncle. Or half uncle, I guess you’d say. In any case, I’m not sure I’d ever want to meet him.”

  Marva frowned. “Why not?”

  Savannah waved a dismissive hand through the air. “It’s a long story. So long in fact that I only know portions of it. Some day when we’re not studying about good and bad bacteria I’ll tell you what I do know.”

  Marva gave her a sly wink. “I’m going to hold you to that promise.”

  “Hey, ladies. How about some cookies to go with that coffee? Got them fresh from the deli this morning.”

  Savannah looked around to see Arnold entering the room, waving a white paper bag at them.

  “What kind of cookies?” Marva wanted to know.

  “I’m not picky,” Savannah told him. “I’ll take one.”

  She stirred cream and sugar into her coffee and followed Arnold over to one of the utility tables.

  As she started to sit in a chair next to him, the cell phone inside the slash pocket on her skirt began to ring.

  Deciding she should check the caller ID to make sure it wasn’t any of her family, or Chaz checking on her, she pulled out the phone and glanced at the screen.

  Live Oak Lane Apartments. Why would someone with the apartment complex be calling her?

  “Excuse me, you two, I need to answer this.” Savannah stepped away from the table and pressed the accept button.

  “Hello, am I speaking with Savannah Fortune?”

  “Yes,” she answered cheerfully. “I’m Savannah.”

  “This is Loretta Baines. I’m the superintendent for Live Oak Lane Apartments. We talked when you took out the lease.”

  “Yes, Loretta. I’ve not forgotten how nice and helpful you were. Is there something—”

  “You need to come to your apartment now, Miss Fortune,” the woman interrupted. “There’s been an incident.”

  The urgency in the superintendent’s voice alerted Savannah and sent fingers of fear rippling down her spine.

  “Incident?” Savannah repeated, her mind whirling. “I have to be back in class in fifteen minutes. I can’t—”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “But the police need to speak with you. Your apartment has been vandalized.”

  Police? Her apartment? What was going on? Where was Chaz?

  Something cold and heavy hit the pit of Savannah’s stomach as the questions raced through her mind.

  “No! That can’t be!” She barely managed to mutter the words.

  “Please get here as soon as you can, Miss Fortune.”

  The phone connection went dead in Savannah’s ear and the silence broke through the shock that had momentarily frozen her.

  “What’s wrong, Savannah?” Arnold asked. “You look white.”

  She looked over to her classmates to see Arnold had risen to his feet while Marva was staring, obviously concerned.

  “There’s been an emergency at my apartment. I have to go. Now. Will one of you please explain my absence to the professor?”

  “Of course,” Marva insisted. “We’ll take care of it.”

  Arnold promptly shooed Savannah out the door. “You go, Savannah, and do what you need to do.”

  Outside the building, Savannah caught a taxi and on the way to the apartment complex, she called Chaz’s number several times. Each time the ring sounded odd and his voice mail answered.

  Earlier this morning when he dropped her off at the science building, he’d told her he was planning to make a trip to the winery while she was at class. Apparently, there was a problem with his phone, or the signal was spotty in his area. Whatever the reason, she desperately wished she could hear his voice. She needed him now more than ever.

  * * *

  Chaz was working on a security buzzer on the main door leading into the fermenting room when his phone signaled a new text message had arrived.

  Figuring one of his brothers was simply saying hello, he finished connecting the electrical wires before he put down his tools and pulled the phone from his pocket.

  The number attached to the message didn’t register with Chaz. But the content was chillingly clear.

  Miss Fortune’s apartment has been vandalized.

  Oh, God! Savannah! Where was she? Had she gone back to her apartment for something? Had she been harmed? Taken?

  Horrible scenarios flashed through his mind as he punched her cell number and waited for the sound of her voice.

  No answer!

  He trotted down the hallway and was nearly to the main office when Esteban stepped through the door.

  “Chaz, I was just coming after you. I’ve made a fresh pot of coffee and—”

  “Later, Dad. Something has happened with Savannah and I have to go. I’ll deal with the door alarm later.”

  Esteban looked horrified. “Savannah? What—”

  “I don’t know! I’ll get in touch with you and Carlo later.”

  Throughout the drive back to the apartment complex, Chaz continued to ring Savannah’s phone, but each time it went to voice mail. He then tried the science building on campus and after a long wait was told she wasn’t present in Professor Barcroft’s class. The information pushed his fear to outright panic.

  Damn it! He should have been on campus or at the apartment. He shouldn’t have gone to the winery for any reason.

  Chaz realized his thinking was irrational, but he couldn’t stop the self-condemning thoughts. Savannah was precious to him. Very precious. If anything had happened to her, he’d never forgive himself. He’d never get over it.

  As soon as he turned onto the street running adjacent to Savannah’s apartment, he spotted two police cars parked in front of her unit and a small group of onlookers huddled together on a nearby lawn.

  Once he found a place to leave his car, he trotted to the apartment and discovered the door wide open. His heart racing, he stepped inside and was immediately stopped by a police officer.

  “Sorry. This is a crime scene,” he explained. “Do you have a connection to the victim?”

  Victim? Chaz flash
ed him his identification. “I’m Miss Fortune’s bodyguard,” he answered. “What’s happened here?”

  “Sorry,” he began again. “You’ll have to—”

  He didn’t wait to hear more. In spite of the bulky frame of the officer, Chaz managed to plow his way forward and into the living room.

  Even though part of his gaze registered the upturned furniture, ripped drapes, broken lamps and other damage, Savannah was his main focus. To see her standing in the middle of the shambles, being questioned by two police officers, was like a knife in the chest. Especially when he spotted a track of tears on her cheeks. Yet, the enormity of his relief of finding her here and unharmed was so great his knees went weak.

  The police officer who’d been guarding the door suddenly came up behind him. “Sir, you’re going to have to leave. This is—”

  “My business,” Chaz told him bluntly. “I’m her bodyguard.”

  And I want to be so much more.

  The thought was whispering through his head when Savannah suddenly looked up and spotted him.

  “Chaz! Oh, Chaz!”

  Sobbing openly, she rushed straight to him and flung her arms around his neck.

  Chaz gathered her in the tight circle of his arms. “Please don’t cry, Savannah. We’ll get this mess cleaned up later. You’re okay. That’s all that matters.”

  “Oh, Chaz, I don’t care about me—or this mess! When you didn’t answer the phone, I was terrified. I thought the vandals might’ve done something to you!”

  Tucking her head beneath his chin, he stroked a hand down her silky hair. “I thought the same about you. I thank God you’re safe.”

  She clung to him and Chaz realized her whole body was trembling. He pulled her closer and looked over at the officers, who were regarding the two of them with interest.

  “I don’t think she can deal with any more of this,” Chaz told them. “If you have all the information you need for now, I’d like to take her out of here.”

  After a quick conference between them, the elder of the two lawmen stepped forward. “Okay, you two can leave. After we finish here, we’ll have the superintendent lock up. If you find anything missing, call the police department and let us know. Otherwise, if we get any information on the vandals, we’ll contact Miss Fortune.”

  Chaz seriously doubted they’d hear anything from the police. But he hardly needed them or anyone else to tell him who was behind this malicious act. He had no doubt that this devastation of Savannah’s apartment was Charlotte Robinson’s work.

  He thanked the officer for his consideration and drew Savannah aside and out of the earshot of the three men.

  “Savannah, I really don’t think it’s safe to stay here now. The place is in shambles anyway.”

  Nodding numbly, she looked at him and Chaz couldn’t mistake the fear clouding her eyes.

  “I’m not going to argue. I don’t feel safe here, Chaz. I’m not sure I’ll ever feel safe again,” she said, her voice threatening to break from another bout of tears.

  Swamped with the need to comfort her, Chaz gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Come on. Gather up whatever essentials you’ll want with you for tonight and we’ll get out of here.”

  * * *

  A half hour later, they arrived at Chaz’s apartment. The living quarters weren’t nearly as posh as Savannah’s residence at Live Oak Lane, but it was comfortable. And Chaz felt confident that no one had followed them here. Which was somewhat of a relief, but was hardly enough to make him feel completely safe.

  If Charlotte had already learned about Savannah’s presence in Austin and located her apartment that meant she most likely knew about Chaz, too. The thugs who’d demolished the apartment had obviously known that he, or Savannah, wasn’t at home when they’d made their hit.

  So how long would it take Charlotte to figure out where Chaz lived? And would she dare to come after them here?

  He tried to hide his dire thoughts from Savannah as he helped her to the brown leather couch in the small living room, but she seemed to pick up on them anyway.

  “You’re worried,” she said. “I can see it on your face.”

  He pressed her hands between the two of his. Her fingers felt cold and her face was as pale as his white shirt.

  “I am worried,” he said. “About you. You’re still shaking. I don’t want you going into shock.”

  She tried to smile, but her lips only managed a wobbly slant.

  “Don’t be silly, Chaz. I’m just feeling a little cold. I’m okay now. Especially now that we’re away from Live Oak Lane. Really.”

  He wasn’t convinced. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

  * * *

  Savannah watched as he picked up the bags they’d brought with them from her apartment and left the room. Once he was out of sight, she leaned her head back against the couch and closed her eyes.

  She’d never felt so stupid or shallow in her life. From the moment she’d arrived in Austin and learned that Chaz was her bodyguard, she’d believed the whole issue of her safety had been ridiculous. She’d believed her father had blown everything out of proportion. Now, she had to admit that her father, Chaz, even her brother Nolan had been right. The New Orleans Fortunes were just as much a target for Charlotte as the Austin or Houston branches of the family.

  Besides ruining the furnishings in the apartment, many of her personal things had been torn and smashed. The viciousness had appalled her and the invasion of her private space had left her sick to her stomach.

  Eventually, her father would have to be told about the break-in and the devastation. But she was going to have to pull herself together before she shared the news with any of her family. For one thing, as soon as her father was told, he’d send Nolan over here and her brother would most likely insist on her moving in with him. And Savannah wasn’t about to let that happen. Not only did she want her privacy, but she understood that as newlyweds, Lizzie and Nolan needed theirs also. Savannah would go back to New Orleans before she disrupted their lives.

  Footsteps sounded nearby and she opened her eyes to see Chaz returning. A folded patchwork quilt was jammed beneath one arm while he carefully balanced a steaming cup on a saucer.

  “Is that for me?”

  He placed the drink on a low coffee table, then shook out the quilt and draped it over her legs. “All for you. I want you to get warm and relaxed.”

  She patted the cushion next to her. “Just sit by me, Chaz. That will be enough to get me warm.”

  He eased down beside her and handed her the cup. “Drink this. It’s hot and sweet.”

  Since her hands were still trembling, she wrapped them both around the cup and gripped it tightly.

  “This doesn’t look like coffee,” she said, peering curiously at the light brown liquid.

  “It’s tea. Plain Earl Grey. And before you ask, yes, I do drink hot tea on occasion. It’s good for you.”

  She didn’t want anything to drink. All she wanted was to have him close to her. But because he’d gone to the trouble of making it for her, she took a few sips.

  “You’re good for me, Chaz. After today, I realize that more than ever.”

  A quizzical look came over his face and then he groaned and shook his head. “Just like I thought. You’re in shock. You don’t know what you’re saying.”

  She placed the cup back on the coffee table, then reached for his hands. A spurt of joy rushed through her when, instead of pulling away, his fingers curled tightly around hers.

  “You’re wrong,” she told him. “My mind is very lucid.”

  He was nowhere near convinced. “You’ve been traumatized.”

  “Sometimes danger can open a person’s eyes. And earlier today, when I couldn’t get you on the phone, I was so scared that you were in the apartment when the vandals hit. If you’d been there—if they’d hur
t you—I couldn’t bear that, Chaz.”

  His gaze was warm and gentle on her face. “If something had happened to you—” his hands released hers and curled tightly around her shoulders “—it would have been my fault, Savannah. How do you think I could have lived with that kind of guilt?”

  “No, Chaz. You can’t think that way.” Her hands framed his face, her thumbs reaching out to caress the lean hollows beneath his cheekbones. “And anyway, you’re here and I’m here and that’s all that matters.”

  His gaze dropped to her lips and Savannah’s heart slowed to an anxious thud. During the drive from her apartment to Chaz’s, something had happened to Savannah. Maybe the fear she’d gone through had affected her thinking. Or maybe it was facing the truth about being a target of Charlotte’s. Or maybe those things had nothing to do with the way she was feeling. She couldn’t put a finger on what had caused the change. She only knew that when she’d looked away from the police officers and saw Chaz standing in the middle of the ransacked apartment, it was like a ray of sunshine had filled her heart.

  “You’re making things very hard for me, Savannah.”

  “Not any harder than you’ve been making them for me.”

  His face drew closer, until a tiny space was all that remained between their lips.

  “I said I wouldn’t kiss you again.”

  “I’m forgetting that you said that,” she said boldly. “I’m forgetting everything but the two of us—together—like this.”

  She closed the gap between their lips and the contact created an instant combustion. Desire shot straight to her brain, wiping away every thought in her mind, except making love to him. And with a tiny moan, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her upper body to his.

  Her response was like an accelerant being tossed on a fire that was already raging. The desperate search of his lips rocketed her senses to another dimension, where nothing existed, except for the dark mysterious taste of him, the heat of his body next to hers and his strong arms cradling her close. So close.

  Over and over, he kissed her until her swollen lips ached with pleasure and the heat inside her had grown, until it was radiating up and down to every pore, every cell of her body.