“No thanks,” Savannah said, and playfully rolled her eyes.
“Your bed is ready, then...whenever you’re ready for it,” he said. “Can I get you a T-shirt or something to sleep in?”
“Sure. That would be nice.”
Edward disappeared into his bedroom and returned with his favorite Harvard T-shirt.
“Thanks. I remember this shirt. It’s a little faded,” she teased.
“It’s gotten a lot of use,” he smiled. “You should feel honored that I let you wear it.”
“I do. Nobody’s ever been allowed to touch this shirt. I wasn’t even allowed to wash it with the other laundry back in the day.” She giggled, took the shirt and headed toward the guest bathroom to put it on.
“That’s right! And you should handle it with care,” he said.
“I will.” She gave him a wink before popping into bathroom.
In the small powder room, she took a curious peek into the medicine cabinet. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but felt the need to be nosy. Wondered if she’d find an extra toothbrush or evidence that someone had been there for any length of time and left something behind. It was exactly what she’d avoided before, but suddenly her curiosity got the best of her. The cabinet was virtually empty, with the exception of a small bottle of Tylenol. She grabbed a washcloth from the linen closet and washed her face, then stared at her reflection in the mirror for a moment. Her day had been long, and her evening with Chloe at the emergency room had been trying. Spending the night at Edward’s place wasn’t the norm, but the thought of driving home after her rough day had been an exhausting thought. She was grateful for his offer, but wouldn’t get too comfortable. She just needed to get through the night, and then she’d be on her way in the morning.
She walked past Edward’s master bedroom. The light was on and the door was ajar. She took a quick peek as she crept past. His room was immaculate with a masculine-looking comforter on the king-size bed. She remembered that Edward had always been a neat person. It was one of the things that they shared in common. She never had to clean up behind him. His California king bed was neatly made, and everything seemed to be in its rightful place.
She wanted to catch the news before retreating to the guest room for the night, so she made her way into the den area. Edward, wearing a pair of pajama bottoms and a crisp white T-shirt, lounged at one end of the sofa, the remote control in his hand.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were still up. I wanted to catch the news before I turned in. If you don’t mind,” Savannah explained.
“I don’t mind at all. I always watch the news myself before bed,” said Edward. “I still have trouble sleeping.”
“Still?” She plopped down at the opposite end of the sofa.
“I’m up way past midnight every night and then up at the crack of dawn every morning. I usually get less than six hours.”
“That’s not very healthy. Particularly for a man who is more health-conscious than anyone I know.”
“It’s not healthy, but it’s my reality.” Edward stood. “I’m going to have another glass of wine. You care for one?”
“Sure,” she said.
He disappeared into the kitchen and then returned with an open bottle of wine and two glasses. He handed her a glass and poured wine into it. She curled her feet beneath her bottom, made herself at home.
“What a trying day,” she exclaimed as she took a sip of wine, then leaned her head back and sighed.
“Chloe gave us quite a scare with that high fever.”
“I was pretty scared when I received the phone call from her school. She’s my baby.”
“Mine, too,” he reminded her. “After the divorce...you know...well, she’s all I have.”
“I know how you feel about your daughter, Edward.” She wanted to clear the air, address the elephant in the room. “And I’m not trying to hurt you by taking her away. I’m just trying to do something for me—something to make me happy for a change.”
“I get that, Savannah,” he said. “I don’t like it, but I get it.”
“I’ve put my life...my dreams on hold for so long. It’s my time.”
“I get it. It was all about me...always. My career destroyed our marriage, robbed us of our family. If I could go back and change it, I would.”
Savannah was shocked by his words. She’d never heard Edward admit that he was wrong—let alone that he would change his actions if given a chance. After she’d filed for divorce, he had begged her to stay, but she’d always been convinced that he only begged because he thought it was something that a man should do. That she had bruised his ego. That a breakup would blemish his political ambitions.
“What would you have done differently?” She was really curious.
“It wasn’t a good time for me to run for mayor, I admit. Not as a newlywed with a pregnant wife. I would have waited until our marriage was more mature, able to handle the campaign.”
“I could’ve been more understanding,” she admitted. “You were certainly young and ambitious. I was just so damn insecure.”
“You were beautiful. Are beautiful. What would you have to be insecure about?”
“For starters, I weighed a ton when I was pregnant.” She giggled.
“You were beautiful when you were pregnant.”
She blushed at his comment, but said, “Your campaign manager was slim and beautiful, and very much into you.”
“Quinn?”
“Yes, Quinn.” She said, “Don’t act like you’re surprised.”
“She was my friend. Still is.”
“And in love with you! Don’t forget that part,” said Savannah. “She had more access than me. And I was jealous of her. She had more of you than I did.”
“She was the last person you needed to worry about.”
“But I did. I worried.”
There was an awkward moment of silence.
Edward looked her square in the eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Water under the bridge.” She stood, finished her wine and placed the glass on the coffee table. “Now we have Chloe, and she’s our focus.”
“And we have to do what’s in her best interest. Whatever that is.”
“And we will.”
“If you leave with Chloe, my life will be empty,” he said. “And not just because Chloe’s gone. But you. Truth is, I’ll miss you, too, Savannah.”
Tears almost welled in her eyes. She headed out of the room before he saw her vulnerability. She needed to be strong. “Good night, Edward.”
He sighed. He was losing her already, just when he’d gotten her to open up. “Good night.”
Savannah made her way to the guest bedroom. She shut the door securely behind her and stood with her back against it. For the first time in years, those old feelings had returned—myriad emotions of love, anger, jealousy and fear. She felt confused. She had long moved on since their breakup, but couldn’t understand what she was feeling at that moment. She had used her father’s home in Savannah, Georgia, as her refuge—a place to heal and get over Edward—and she thought she had.
After graduating from art school in Georgia, she’d landed a job in Florida, and decided that it was time to move back to Florida and face Edward again. Her daughter needed a father and she wanted to make their co-parenting work. She had even found romance again—with a man who promised her the world. Though he wasn’t Edward, whom she was still madly in love with, she accepted his proposal of marriage. She wanted a better life for Chloe and for herself. And even though it hadn’t worked out with him, she was sure that she had recovered from Edward. Until now.
She walked over to the bed, pulled the covers back. She shut off the light and climbed into bed. She just needed to get through the night. Tomorrow she and Chloe would g
o back to their normal life—the place where she could rid herself of whatever it was she’d just felt after her conversation with Edward. She closed her eyes tightly and prayed for sweet dreams, not the ones that used to haunt her so many nights before.
Chapter 7
Edward flipped the wheat pancake and browned the other side. He checked on the turkey bacon that sizzled in the oven. He warmed maple syrup in the microwave and cut up fresh honeydew melon and pineapple into chunks. The kitchen table was set for three. He was determined to surprise Savannah and Chloe with breakfast. He hoped that he could make up for upsetting her. She’d obviously been bothered by their conversation the previous night. He’d made so many mistakes with her. He knew that he had gotten it all wrong before, but he wanted to make things right. And hopefully, in the process, he could convince her to stay in Florida.
The part of Savannah’s heritage that was white and black Caribbean was the part that had always connected with Edward. Her mother was a white Londoner and her father’s ancestors had hailed from the Dominican Republic. Their Caribbean roots had transcended all. From the moment Edward saw her, he knew he would make her his wife. He wanted her. He loved her. But he was young—and life had become overwhelming. Though his father, Paul John Talbot, had been the perfect role model, Edward had completely ignored his teachings. The signs were all there—that his marriage was ending—but he didn’t see them. Not until Savannah had completely relocated to Georgia with their infant daughter. And even then, he thought she was being unreasonable and was confident that she would return home soon. It wasn’t until he was served with an order for divorce that the reality hit like a ton of bricks. His marriage was over.
He should’ve fought harder, made more sacrifices, but he was cocky—blamed her for everything. She should’ve been more understanding of his career, of his need to succeed. Didn’t she know that everything he did was for their family? Yet it hadn’t been enough. In his mind, she’d been the selfish one, ungrateful even. He had regretted every moment since then. Everything he thought she’d been, time had proven him wrong.
“Good morning.” Savannah was completely dressed in the business suit she’d worn the day before. The strap of her purse securely on her shoulder and keys in hand, she stepped into the kitchen. “Chloe’s getting dressed. We’re headed home.”
“But I cooked breakfast. At least stay and eat.”
Savannah looked around at all that he’d prepared and seemed to contemplate his offer.
“Please. Be a shame to waste all of this food,” said Edward.
“Okay. We’ll eat, but then we have to go.”
Savannah placed her purse in the empty chair and took a seat at one of the place settings. Edward brought piping-hot food over to the table and placed it in the center. Chloe came into the room. She wasn’t her usual bubbly self as she gave her father a hug.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Edward said, and picked his daughter up. “How do you feel?”
She laid her head on his shoulder. He took a seat at the table, placed her on his knee.
“She’s still feeling a little crappy,” Savannah explained.
Edward touched her forehead. “She’s still warm, too.”
“I just gave her some Tylenol,” Savannah said.
“Daddy made pancakes,” Edward said. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“No. I just want to lie down.”
“Maybe she should just stay here,” said Edward.
“She has a bed at home.”
“I know she has a bed at home, but she has one here, too.” Edward stood. “I’m going to tuck her back in.”
Savannah sighed as he stepped out of the kitchen. He carried Chloe to her room and placed her in the bed, removed her shoes from her feet. Her head hit the pillow and she immediately closed her eyes. He kissed her forehead and pulled the covers over her. When he returned to the kitchen, Savannah had begun to make her plate.
“I have to get home, shower and change. Maybe I’ll come back and pick her up a little later.”
“Leave her. She’s fine,” Edward said. “Why don’t you go home and grab some more clothes. Come back. We can fire up the barbecue grill later, cook some fish...”
“I don’t know about that, Edward.”
“I need to be near her. But I can’t take care of her by myself when she’s sick. I need your help.”
Savannah cut her pancakes into little squares, and placed two pieces of turkey bacon on her plate. “Okay. I’ll come back. But just for the night. We have church in the morning.”
“Excellent.” He sat down at the table across from her and made himself a healthy helping of pancakes and fruit.
He looked forward to her return.
* * *
With a baseball cap placed backward on his head and a chef’s apron tied around his waist, he took a quick sip of his Heineken beer. Edward carefully flipped the thick fillets of mahimahi on the grill.
“So you two are just going to sit there lounging while I slave over a hot grill?”
“I made the fresh lemonade.” Savannah smiled. Her legs were crossed and stretched across the lounge chair as she took a sip from her glass.
“And I helped Mommy.” Chloe sat on the lounger next to her mother.
“Yes you did, sweet girl.” Savannah toasted her glass against Chloe’s plastic Doc McStuffins cup.
“Well, maybe you can come over here and help your dad cook this fish,” said Edward.
Chloe giggled, and Savannah did, too.
“Oh, you think this is funny?” Edward placed the spatula down next to the grill and made his way over to Chloe, picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. He raced around the yard with her as she laughed heartily.
“Mommy, help me!” she exclaimed.
Savannah laughed and raised her glass in the air.
“Mommy can’t help you now, kiddo.” Edward continued to race around the yard. Then he placed Chloe into Savannah’s lap. “Here, Mommy, help your daughter!”
He was beside himself with joy. He had his two favorite girls in one place for an entire evening and it felt good. He stepped into the house and grabbed a casserole dish to place the fish on. Went into the living room and found some music on his iPad. He played his Caribbean playlist and turned the volume up so that they could hear it in the backyard.
He peeked his head out the back door and asked Savannah, “Would you like a glass of wine?”
“I’d love one,” she said.
He poured her a glass of Chardonnay, handed it to her.
“I would like a glass of wine, Daddy,” said Chloe.
“And you will get one. In about twenty years.” Edward laughed. “But until then, would you like another cup of lemonade, madam?”
“Yes,” Chloe groaned.
He stepped into the kitchen. When his cell phone lit up, he walked over to the counter where it lay charging. He noticed a text message from Jack.
Call me when you have a minute. I have some news to share.
He made a mental note to call Jack once his phone was fully charged, poured Chloe a cup filled with lemonade and stepped back outside. The evening couldn’t have been more perfect, with mild weather and palm trees blowing in the wind just before sunset. He glanced at Savannah lounging in her chair and noticed how beautiful she looked. Dressed in a pair of capri pants and a strapless shirt, her bare feet gave him the indication that she was comfortable.
“They’re playing our song,” he said to her.
As the lyrics of Gregory Isaacs’s “Stranger in Town” drifted through the air, Edward remembered a time when he and Savannah loved each other.
“I love that song,” she stated.
“Dance with me,” he said.
“Edward, I don’t feel like dancing...”
Before she could finish her protest, he’d already pulled her up from the lounger.
The two of them moved to the music, just as they had so many times before. He grabbed her hand and spun her around. He placed his hands on her small waist and got lost in the Caribbean rhythm that would forever be their song. As he pulled her close, he took in the moment.
While the nighttime drew near, the three of them enjoyed mahimahi and vegetables on a candlelit patio. Edward and Savannah laughed about the good times and told Chloe funny stories. After the mosquitoes began to bite, Savannah helped him take dishes into the house.
“I’m going to help Chloe get her bath,” she told Edward. “She had a good afternoon, but she’s feeling a little warm again.”
“Okay, I’ll finish cleaning up here.”
Savannah and Chloe disappeared while Edward loaded dishes into the dishwasher. After he placed leftovers into plastic containers, he went into the living room. He found some soft music. Then he turned the television on ESPN, but muted it. He collapsed onto the leather sofa. Savannah returned and took a seat at the opposite end of the sofa, just as she had the night before. She wore a two-piece pajama set—a silky button-up shirt with matching shorts. Edward found it difficult to peel his eyes from her. The scent from whatever she’d bathed in caressed his nose.
Savannah stretched her feet onto the leather sofa. Edward moved closer and placed her feet on his lap, began to rub them. He squeezed her arches, heels and toes. She leaned her head back against the back of the sofa, closed her eyes. He knew she enjoyed the feel of his fingertips between her toes; she always had. He rubbed her ankles and then moved up to the calves of her bare legs.
“I remember those foot rubs, sensual and wonderful,” she whispered.
He moved closer, placing her long legs in his lap. His fingers brushed against her face, caressed her chin. His breathing changed and his nose touched hers.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered.
She was silent, just stared into his eyes. He leaned in for her lips.
“Mommy.” Chloe’s voice startled them. She climbed onto the sofa, plopping herself between them.
Second Chance Seduction Page 5