by Chris Taylor
“No, Savannah.” Lucy’s voice was firm. “What you have to do is get the police involved. Let me talk to Pete—”
“No! I’ve already told you, I don’t want Pete to know anything about this. Not until I’ve asked a few more questions. James Bond is not the kind of man to go unnoticed. If he has anything to do with the illegal activities going on, one of the girls will know about it. Malee mentioned something about a man called Billy—maybe that’s who he is?”
“Savannah, I get that you want to help, but you can’t go back there. You’ve just finished telling me how dangerous it is. You were lucky you got out unscathed the first time.”
Knowing there was no use in rehashing the argument, Savannah glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall and pushed away from the table.
“Goodness, look at the time. If you want me to attend this charity “do” with you and Pete tonight, I’d better get home and drag out some glad rags.”
Lucy stared hard at her a moment longer and then sighed. “I’m sure you’ll look fabulous and don’t worry, I’m not going to try and set you up with anyone. I just thought you might like a night out, a chance to kick up your heels.” A rueful smile crossed her face. “Little did I know you’ve been taking care of that just fine, all on your own.”
Savannah laughed and collected her handbag off the dining room table. “What about a ticket?”
“You can pick it up at the door. It’ll be fun. Trust me.”
“Yeah, that’s what you said about that trivia-night thing. I ended up seated next to a recently divorced father of five who spent most of the night sobbing on my shoulder. It was the best fun I’d ever had.”
CHAPTER 5
Monday evening
Savannah’s taxi joined the stream of traffic heading into the city over the Harbour Bridge. She gazed out over the impressive expanse of dark water and the usual magic imbued her spirits. Lights spilled out of the multi-million dollar houses and ritzy restaurants perched along the waterfront and sparkled onto the waves below.
The colorful city skyline looked beautiful with the iconic Centrepoint Tower and the Opera House dominating the view. A warm breeze drifted off the ocean and in through the car’s open windows, gently lifting strands of her unbound hair.
Less than fifteen minutes later, the cab turned into the sweeping entryway of the Hilton Hotel. She paid the driver and climbed out of the car. On her way inside, she was met by a smartly dressed hotel ambassador.
“Good evening, madam. Do you require any assistance?”
Excitement and anticipation jiggled around in her belly. It had been much too long since she’d dressed up and gone out for a night on the town. She vowed to make the most of it.
“Thank you. I’m here for the Emergency Services Charity Ball.”
“Of course. That’s being held in the Grand Ballroom on level three. The elevators are right over there.” He pointed and Savannah nodded her thanks.
Walking through the grand lobby, she couldn’t help but be impressed. The Hilton was one of Sydney’s oldest hotels, but in recent years, it had undergone an extensive refurbishment and the results were nothing short of breathtaking.
An enormous glass atrium stretched up to the fourth floor. She could imagine how it would flood the lobby with natural light in the daytime. A scattering of people patronized the café that lay off to her right and the soft murmur of their conversation drifted toward her.
She took the elevator to the third floor and gave her name to the doorman. Within minutes, she’d been ushered inside the ballroom. The sheer size of the room and the crowd already within was overwhelming. The rich patterned carpet of gold and maroon and sage was complemented by walls the color of wheat, right before harvest. Despite the vastness of the room, a myriad of down lights created an intimate ambience. The room vibrated with the sounds of conversation, laughter and the tinkle of crystal.
Savannah made her way through the press of people, scanning faces as she went and eventually spied the back of Pete’s head. His prematurely gray hair was cut military short. The style might have looked austere on some men, but on Pete, it only enhanced his appeal. It also helped that the stark hairstyle was relieved by a pair of sparkling brown eyes and a mouth that barked laughter as often as it barked orders. Lucy was a lucky girl.
Speaking of Lucy, where was she? Savannah craned her neck, but couldn’t see her friend anywhere in the vicinity. As she got closer, she realized Pete was speaking with someone. She caught a glimpse of black tuxedo and crisp white shirt before Pete moved and blocked her view.
A low, familiar drawl registered only seconds before Pete turned and caught sight of her. Almost simultaneously, she was offered a view of his companion. Her heart stopped and then took off at a gallop.
It was him.
James Bond. Her mystery man. The man she’d allowed to put his hands and lips all over her—until she’d kneed him in the groin. Her chest tightened with apprehension.
“Savannah! It’s good to see you again. Lucy told me you were coming.”
Pete greeted her with a friendly smile and drew her close for a hug. She buried her face in his jacket and clung to him in desperation. Her heart continued to pound. She tried with increasing panic to get her brain to work.
Maybe he wouldn’t recognize her? After all, she’d been decidedly underdressed the last time they’d met. And he’d thought she was a prostitute. He’d hardly be expecting to see a working girl in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel.
Much too soon, Pete pulled away and she had no choice but to lift her head and greet the man who’d haunted her thoughts. Fixing a polite smile on her face, she strove to keep her expression neutral. At least she’d find out who he was.
“Savannah, I’d like you to meet Will Rutledge. He’s—”
“In advertising.” Will interrupted and held out his hand.
“Savannah O’Neill.” Returning his firm handshake, she battled to bring her heart under control.
Will Rutledge? Had Pete really said Will Rutledge?
“Savannah’s a friend of my wife’s. They were at school together.”
Pete’s words forced her frenzied thoughts back to the men. She kept the smile in place with a sheer act of will and hoped she didn’t look as stunned as she felt. James Bond was Will Rutledge, presumably of Rutledge Advertising.
Surely, there couldn’t be another one? He’d said he was in advertising. She chanced a glance at him. His curious gaze was still assessing her closely.
“Nice to meet you, Savannah.”
She eased her breath out on a shaky smile, relieved to find no hint of recognition in his eyes.
She could get through this. He hadn’t recognized her. It was fine. It was good. She could do this.
“Nice to meet you too, Will.” Her gaze landed somewhere near his perfectly executed bow tie and stayed there. He extricated his hand and she blushed, unaware until then that she’d still been holding it. The butterflies in her stomach multiplied and were now making it hard to breathe. Despite her silent reassurances, she didn’t know how long she could sustain her charade of nonchalance. She turned to Pete with a tight smile. “Where’s Lucy?”
“Where do you think? We’ve barely been here half an hour and already she’s headed off to the bathroom.” He grinned and rolled his eyes at Will. “Pregnant women. This baby can’t come soon enough.”
Forcing another tense smile, Savannah stared unseeingly into the crowd. Her palms were sweaty and she felt lightheaded. She hadn’t taken a full breath since the moment she’d recognized Will.
She could still feel his gaze upon her. The longer she stood there, the greater the chance he might recognize her. She stole a look around the crowd for another familiar face…and found one.
Savannah smiled in surprised delight when she spied her friend.
“Chloe Sabattini! I mean, Chloe Munro! What on earth are you doing here?”
Chloe was just as pleased to see her. She enveloped Savannah in a warm hug,
made a little awkward by the fact that Savannah towered over her.
“Savannah! How fantastic to see you! I’m so sorry I haven’t returned your call. I’ve been flat out at work and—”
Savannah waved off her explanations good naturedly. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. It’s so great to see you! You didn’t even tell me you were coming!”
Chloe smiled. “Well, we didn’t know we were coming until the last minute. Pete spoke to Declan about it a few months ago, but we’ve both been so snowed under. I didn’t dare mention it to you in case we didn’t make it. Fortunately, Declan managed to wangle some time off work and we jumped in the car and hightailed it to Sydney. And here we are.”
Chloe twirled around in her sapphire-blue cocktail dress that fitted her curvy, petite frame like she’d been sewn into it. Chloe often bemoaned the fact she barely came up to Savannah’s armpits, but another truth was, Savannah often felt tall and awkward around her more delicately proportioned friend.
Savannah shook her head and grinned. “You look wonderful. I didn’t even know you knew Pete! How’s that for coincidence? Talk about six degrees of separation. We live in a very small world.”
Chloe nodded in agreement. “You’re absolutely right. It’s amazing, isn’t it? Pete used to work with Declan, when he was still a New South Wales detective. Declan spent a number of years living in Sydney. When Pete invited us to come, I was more than keen. It gave me an excuse to catch up with you.”
“Well I’m certainly not complaining. It’s wonderful to see you! Where are you staying?”
“Two of Declan’s brothers are also in Sydney. We’re staying with his older brother, Tom, and his wife, Lily. You might remember them from the wedding?”
Savannah nodded and smiled at the memory. “Of course. There was a tribe of them. They filled the first few pews to bursting. Huge, broad shouldered Goliaths. Not one of them was less than six feet.”
Chloe laughed. “You’re right. They’re all fine strapping men. Too bad they’re all married. I could have put in a good word for you.”
Savannah grinned and wagged a finger in front of Chloe’s face. “Oh no, you don’t. Have you forgotten about Jonathan? I’m not going to give my heart away again. It hurts too darn much when it’s trampled and tossed by the wayside.”
Chloe’s expression sobered. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make light of it. What happened to you was absolutely horrible and I hope you never have to experience something like that again.”
“You and me both, Sabattini.” She grinned. “Sorry, Munro. I keep forgetting.”
“Well, it’s only been six months. I forgive you for forgetting. I forget myself sometimes.”
“Well, one thing’s for sure: it suits you, this thing they call marriage. I’ve never seen you looking so happy.”
A blush stole across Chloe’s cheeks. “You’re right. I’m more than happy. I’m ecstatic. And I’m so glad I ran into you here. Now I get to tell you our special news in person.” Chloe’s hand drifted to her stomach.
Seconds later, comprehension dawned. “You’re pregnant?” she squealed. Are you really?”
At Chloe’s delighted nod, Savannah laughed. “Chloe, that’s fantastic! No wonder you look over the moon. You’re simply glowing.”
“Thank you, Savannah. “We’re both thrilled.”
“How far along are you?”
“We’re just through the first trimester. Still a long way to go, unfortunately.”
“It will be here before you know it.”
“Yes, that’s what the nurse told me at the prenatal visit. I guess I’m just impatient for it to arrive. We both are.”
Savannah smiled and stifled the tiny burst of envy. “Do you know what you’re having?”
Chloe shook her head. “No, we thought we’d leave it a surprise.”
A moment later, Declan joined them and gave Savannah a friendly greeting. Savannah offered him her congratulations. She noticed Will’s eyes narrow when Declan drew her close for an enthusiastic hug.
Having almost forgotten him amidst the surprise of running into Chloe and Declan and the excitement at hearing their news, when Will’s gaze clashed with hers, Savannah’s heart somersaulted. With slow deliberation, his gaze dropped lower and leisurely and ran over her body.
She had dressed in a long halter-neck dress. The slit up the side of the black crepe outfit ran from ankle to mid-thigh and displayed a fair amount of smooth, tanned skin. She recalled how she’d looked at herself in the mirror and had been pleased with the stylish and sexy image reflected back at her. She’d even welcomed the idea of flirting with someone at the ball.
The crowd receded. A fresh wave of nervousness surged through her. What would she do if he recognized her? How would she explain she wasn’t a prostitute, but was actually a well-respected journalist? How would she explain it to Pete? He’d be as upset as Lucy had been that she’d put herself in so much danger. Her dilemma resolved itself when Will offered to go to the bar for fresh drinks.
“Savannah, can I get you something?”
She forced herself to look up at him. His gaze challenged hers.
“A beer? A glass of champagne? An orgasm?”
Her face flamed, despite the fact she was sure he was merely referring to a popular Kahlua-and-Baileys-based cocktail.
“No, no, I’m fine, thanks.” Just go. She needed to get away from him so she could breathe properly.
“How about you, Pete? Declan? Chloe? Are you guys right for drinks?”
Just say yes! Just say yes! The thought reverberated inside Savannah’s head. She didn’t want Will Rutledge to have a reason to come back to their party. Surely, a man of his social stature would know plenty of people in the room? There must have been nearly a thousand of Sydney’s wealthy and influential there. What were the odds she’d run into him again? She refused to even consider that he might be sharing their table.
“Yeah, another beer would be great, thanks,” Pete replied. “And I guess you’d better get Lucy a glass of orange juice.” He turned to Chloe and Declan. “What are you two drinking?”
“I’ll have a beer, too,” Declan replied and then looked at Chloe. “How about you, sweetheart?”
Declan gazed at his wife with tender adoration and Savannah’s heart clenched. She swallowed a sigh and forced away another flash of jealousy. How would it feel to have a man look at her like that? Like she was the most important person in the world? Jonathan had never looked at her like that, not even after they became engaged.
“No thanks, I’m good,” Chloe replied. “Why don’t you guys go ahead? I’ll stay here and keep Savannah company.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Pete agreed. “That way Lucy will be able to find you when she comes out of the bathroom.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing you want, Savannah?” Will murmured.
He’d moved closer. His voice glided over her, low and intimate and her belly clenched with remembered desire. She cleared her throat.
“Actually, I-I might have a glass of champagne, thank you.” If there was even the slightest possibility she was going to share a table with him, she sure as hell needed something to take the edge off her panic.
He eyed her boldly. “Coming right up,” he murmured.
Her cheeks flamed at the double entendre. Once again, his gaze slid down her body, leaving a trail of fire. She held her breath and turned her face away, refusing to acknowledge his comment. He moved even closer. So close, if she leaned in just a little, she could touch him.
A hot blush stole across her face and spread lower to her neck. Every part of her burned. Unable to help it, she breathed in the fresh, woodsy aroma of his expensive cologne. Memories of their encounter in the brothel assailed her. Her pulse accelerated. He was way too close.
A knowing smile turned up his sensuous lips. The same lips she remembered driving her crazy. As if he could see the pulse that beat frantically against her neck, a glint of pure male satisfaction gleamed in h
is eyes. Moments later, he turned and shouldered his way toward the bar, Pete and Declan following in his wake.
She took a deep breath and worked on trying to relax, glad that the man who’d haunted her thoughts since Saturday night had finally moved away. Chloe sidled up beside her, a shrewd look in her eyes.
“What was that all about?”
Savannah blushed again and averted her gaze, deciding to play it cool. “What was what all about?”
Her friend grinned and nudged Savannah with her elbow. “Don’t play coy with me, Savannah O’Neill. I know you too well. I can’t believe you haven’t told me about Will Rutledge. He’s gorgeous! And here you were not more than five minutes ago trying to get me to believe you were still heartbroken.”
Savannah shook her head. “No, no, you have it all wrong. I might not still be suffering from a broken heart, but that doesn’t mean I’m looking for a replacement. I-I don’t even know the man. We-we only just met. Just now. Like…a minute ago. Right before you showed up.”
“Mm, no wonder you haven’t mentioned him. I’m sure I’ll be hearing a lot more about him in the future, though. I saw the way he looked at you. He couldn’t drag his eyes away.”
Savannah’s heart thumped. Excitement mixed with more than a little nervousness flooded her veins. Maybe she’d overreacted? After all, nothing had been said about Will recognizing her. Apart from his parting comment—and that could have been simply a quip from a man who found a woman attractive—his behavior had been nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe she was worrying about nothing?
She looked at Chloe and smiled. She’d been gifted a few hours with a friend she hadn’t seen since she’d moved to Sydney. It might have only been six months ago, but when they’d been used to catching up every few days, it felt like a lifetime.
She recalled her earlier vow to let her hair down and enjoy herself. There was no reason it couldn’t still happen. Having Chloe along for company was an added bonus. Will looked good enough to eat in his tuxedo and he was obviously not immune to her.