The Temptation of Savannah O’Neill
Page 21
“Of people, of leaving the Manor, of…” Savannah sighed. “Falling in love.”
“Well, then I imagine someone should show her that there’s nothing to be afraid of. That falling in love is something to treasure. A gift. A very very rare one.”
“Why haven’t you been in love?” Savannah asked.
“I was, a very long time ago.” Margot sat in the chair across from the desk. “Your grandfather was quite a man. And when he died in Korea, I knew that was it for me. Some people get love like that a few times in their lives, but I wasn’t destined to be one of them.”
Savannah took a deep breath. “So it’s up to me?” she asked. “I’ve got to show her that love is a gift?”
Margot laughed. “You’ve got a very good man waiting for you.”
“I know,” Savannah said. She slipped her hand in her pocket and found that river rock, curled her fingers around it until it seemed to get hot in her palm.
I can do this, she thought. If Matt could put the building collapse behind him and forgive his father and love her enough for the both of them, then she could go to him. She could put her faith in him. In love.
She stood. “I’m going to take Katie on a trip.”
“An excellent plan.”
“I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
“A very excellent plan.”
“I can do this,” she said, trying to convince herself.
Margot clasped one of Savannah’s hands in both of hers. “You can do anything.”
Savannah threw her arms around Margot. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for keeping us safe. Thank you for being the best mother I could have ever wished for.”
“You’re welcome. Now go get that man before he decides life is easier without you.”
Crap. That could really happen? Savannah grabbed her purse and ran out of the library.
The sun was bright and she blinked at its radiance, feeling as if she’d come out of a cave into a brand-new day.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
MATT FLIPPED CARTER’S CARD around in his fingers, the edges of the fine paper getting soft, dingy from wear. To call or not to call, that was the question.
“All right,” Erica said, coming into his office with yet another box. “This is the last one.” She dropped the heavy box next to the other ten. All that was left of his business. Files he needed to keep. Tax returns. Other documents that seemed too important to shred.
He was getting rid of the office space—the last of the work he could do from home.
“Thank you,” he said, pushing back in his chair until it hit the floor-to-ceiling window looking down on Washington Avenue.
“You already have,” Erica said, her eyes becoming watery. The Rolex he gave her sparkled tastefully at her wrist, but he knew that wasn’t what she was talking about.
“When do classes start?”
“In a few days. Matt—”
He waved his hands. “You’re going to be an incredible architect and Washington University will give you the best education.”
It had been hard convincing her to take the opportunity, but he knew she’d been saving for the chance to go back to school. He simply sped up the process.
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“Well, I’m going to finish the Monroes’ lake house and the library in Creve Coeur, but then…” He flipped the card again. “We’ll see.”
“No more disappearing acts?”
He nearly laughed. It seemed like a miracle she could even see him. Every day he woke up and looked in the mirror at his body, and wondered how it was still around. He felt like he was vanishing, bit by bit. A walking, talking ghost.
“I swear,” he said and held up his hand. “Now, you should head out before traffic gets too bad.”
“Okay,” she said. He quickly hugged her, before her tears could start in earnest, and promised to stay in touch, to take care of himself.
Blah, blah, blah.
Matt just wanted to be alone. To lick his wounds. To examine all of his memories of Savannah and Katie in quiet. Torture himself in peace.
She wasn’t coming. He knew that. He knew that the second he made the demand. She said she loved him, but without faith, love was shallow. Practically empty.
An hour later he heard the door open again and he spun away from the view he’d been staring at. The sun had set and his office was gray and shadowy, the yellow light from reception cutting a bright slice out of the gloom.
“I told you I’d—”
Savannah stepped into the doorway.
NERVES WERE CUTTING OFF all brain function. Savannah could only look at him and wonder if she was too late.
Do you still want me? she wanted to ask. Even though I’m a mess? Even though it took me so long to believe in you, in the goodness and wonder of you?
Her mouth was dry. Her palms damp.
“Hi,” she said. Idiot.
“Savannah?” He stood, slowly as if in disbelief. He was thin again, pale. But so handsome in a suit, the tie pulled loose.
He wore his glasses. And she just wanted to curl up in his arms and lick him.
“Matt!” Katie barreled into the room, nearly knocking Savannah over in her enthusiasm. “Whoa! Look at that view!” She ran to the window and pressed her face against it, her breath creating condensation against the glass. She’d been this way the whole journey—two days of uncorked curiosity. It was exhilarating. And exhausting. “You’re not going to believe it. We saw the Mississippi River. It looks dirty. And we saw a homeless person and we got stuck in traffic. Lots of traffic. We stayed in a motel, Matt. With a pool. Can you believe it?”
“No,” he whispered, not taking his eyes off Savannah. “I can’t believe it at all.”
“I’m…ah…” Savanna lifted her hand, feeling foolish in a hundred different ways. Sorry? As if that covered the extent of her emotions. So in love I can’t sleep at night. So in love it hurts being away from you.
“Here?” he asked, slowly, oh, so slowly circling his big desk.
She nodded, her smile gaining strength. Courage. She gripped the rock in her pocket, her talisman, her compass leading to Matt. “I am. I’m here.” Oh, this was the hard part. The killer. “If you still want me?”
“Want you?” he asked, his eyes like flames against the night. He practically stalked her across the room, his look so predatory, and it was thrilling to be the focus of all that desire. All that raw want.
Her body went hot in answer, her heart beat fast in anticipation.
Touch me. Oh, please touch me. I’m so much more real when you touch me. So much more myself.
“I will never stop wanting you,” he said. “I love you.”
His hand grazed her shoulder and she shuddered in relief, collapsing against him. “I love you, too. Oh, God, I love you.”
“I didn’t think you’d come,” he breathed against her hair.
“Not come?” She looked back at him. “For you?” She brushed aside some of his hair, touched his forehead, his cheeks, the gorgeous beloved curve of his lip. “You can’t get away from me now,” she said. “I’m unleashed. I’ll chase you anywhere.”
“This is the only place I want to be,” he whispered, pulling her so tight against him she could barely breathe.
And it was perfect.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for making me do this. Thank you for having faith in me.”
“Always,” he said. “You are my salvation, Savannah. My light.”
“Hey!” Katie cried as he was leaning in to kiss Savannah. “Can we go see that arch thing? And a riverboat, I want to see a riverboat. Mom said we could go see the ocean. Want to come, Matt? Have you seen the ocean?”
“The ocean?” he asked.
“It was a long trip,” Savannah said. “And she was so excited. I feel like now that we’re away from the Manor we need to see it all. I’ve taken a leave of absence,” she said. “I was hoping…” She looked up at him.
“There’s a whole world out there, Matt, and I’d like to see some of it. With you.”
“And I’d like to show it to you,” he whispered. He kissed her, or she kissed him. She wasn’t sure. And it didn’t matter.
They were together. And the journey was just beginning.
EPILOGUE
To Carter and Tyler
From Savannah
Hi, guys! I’ve only got a few minutes before our flight leaves. Matt, Katie and I are on our way to Paris. Matt wants to show me the Eiffel Tower and I want to see it! Katie wants to eat French fries in France—she thinks they’ll be better there. She’s going to miss some school, but you only live once, right? I know, I can’t believe it’s me saying that, either.
We’re going to be gone for two months and Margot is leaving for another cruise in two weeks so the Manor is going to be empty. Juliette says she can keep an eye on it, but frankly I’m worried. You know Mom broke in a while ago and I didn’t press charges. I know what you’re thinking, Carter, but I didn’t want to take that process on with her. Not when it feels like my whole life is starting.
Anyway, I don’t think we’ve seen the end of her. Carter, I know you’re busy being very important and Tyler, you’re busy doing…what are you doing, again? But it would mean a lot to me and to Margot if you’d check in on the house. If one of you could keep an eye on things. Carter, I imagine it would be you. Tyler, sorry, but you’ve never been good at the responsibility thing.
Anyway, I love you both. Life is better than I ever imagined. I’ll send postcards.
Love,
Savannah.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6493-3
THE TEMPTATION OF SAVANNAH O’NEILL
Copyright © 2010 by Molly Fader.
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*The Mitchells of Riverview Inn
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