Whisper's Edge

by LuAnn McLane

  Tristan felt a flash of guilt.

  She sighed. “I might not make it to every one of them, well, or most of them, but I sure do have fun window shopping in the magazines.”

  He looked at the coffee table. “You do a lot of window shopping.”

  Savannah shrugged. “Keeps me out of trouble.”

  “Yeah, you look like a troublemaker.”

  She laughed. “I guess part of the interest in seeing the world came from listening to the stories of people who live here.” She shook her head. “They might look like Grandma and Grandpa, but boy, oh boy, have I heard some grand adventures from the residents. I want to have some of my own to tell someday.”

  “What’s your number one destination?” he found himself asking.

  “Oh that’s easy. I won’t get to use my passport but I’d love to go to Hawaii!” She leaned over and pointed to a glossy cover. “All of the islands would be cool but Maui in particular. It’s called the Magic Isle. They say there are too many waterfalls to count on the road to Hana. That’s on the rain forest side of the island.” She leaned back in her chair. “Have you been there?”

  “To Maui, yes, but not to Hana,” he admitted. He had been with his girlfriend at the time and although he’d wanted to explore the island all she had wanted to do was lounge poolside, something they could’ve done anywhere. Dating her had ended after the trip. Unbidden, the thought ran through his mind that traveling with someone like Savannah would be a blast.

  “I bet you’ve been to a lot of amazing places.” She looked at him with interest.

  “Not as often as I would have liked,” he admitted, and realized that it was true. “Law school was demanding and my work schedule after that was brutal.” He took a long swig of the cold tea. “There are a lot of lawyers out there. If you want to succeed you have to put in the time.”

  “So you made a lot of money but didn’t get to enjoy it.”

  “Pretty much.”

  “That’s too bad,” she said with such sincerity that Tristan had to smile. She was such an upbeat, caring person. No wonder the residents loved her. “You need to stop and smell the roses.”

  “You’re right. My mother says the same thing to me.”

  “Smart woman! So you must be close.”

  “We are.” Tristan nodded slowly.

  “That’s nice.” The wistful look in her eyes made him want to ask about her mother but he refrained.

  “So what’s on your bucket list, Tristan?” She put a hand to her chest. “I mean, Mr. McMillan.”

  “Call me Tristan.”

  She shook her head. “You’re my boss.”

  “Please.” He rolled his eyes. “You call Kate by her first name, don’t you?”

  “Yes, well, okay…Tristan,” she agreed a bit shyly.

  “There you go.” Tristan was used to bold, assertive women, but he found Savannah’s quiet confidence and softer nature to be a breath of fresh air. And she actually seemed interested in what he was saying. Nice…he could get used to conversations like this.

  “So what about your bucket list? And I don’t mean business stuff. I mean fun…adventure…” She tilted her head and waited.

  “I don’t have one.”

  “You need one,” she said firmly. “And they don’t have to be big things like Maui. It can be something simple like a book you always wanted to read. Or seeing someone amazing in concert. Stuff like that.”

  “You’ve put a lot of thought into this,” he said, dodging the question.

  “Yeah, I have. And I actually check things off.” She smiled at him. “But then it makes me feel as if the end is near so I add more things.”

  Tristan chuckled at her reasoning but it made a weird kind of sense.

  “Don’t you believe me?”

  “Oh, I believe you,” he replied, but then fell silent. Savannah was getting into personal territory and he was enjoying their simple conversation way too much. He glanced down at his watch and winced.

  She grabbed the arms of her chair. “Oh my goodness! Your meeting!”

  “Yeah, I’ve got to go.”

  “I’m so sorry. Me and my nonstop chatter.” She pushed up from the chair and hurried over to the dryer. “The bell telling you that the clothes are dry doesn’t work anymore,” she explained over her shoulder. After opening the small door she reached up and started pulling his clothes out. “Yes, dry. I had them on low so as not to shrink anything.” She shook out his shirt and then held it up for him to see. “No wrinkles! I think you’re good to go.” She folded the clothes into a neat pile and hurried over to him. “I even put a dryer sheet in there so you’ll smell nice.”

  “Thanks,” he said briskly, but when their fingers brushed he felt a warm tingle of awareness. He took a quick step away.

  “You can change in the bathroom.” She pointed to the hallway. “I hope you’re not late.”

  He was but shook his head. “Don’t worry. I’ll make it.”

  “Good!” Savannah smiled. “I wouldn’t want to keep you from something important.”

  “Then put your mind at ease,” Tristan said before he headed down the short hallway. The rest of her home appeared as neat and tidy as the living area. A small office was to the right with a bathroom on the left. Out of curiosity Tristan paused at her bedroom door and peeked in. He was expecting something dainty and cute but the furnishings were made of smooth, sleek wood with very little clutter except for lots of pillows on the bed. It was almost as if she wanted to clear her head before going to sleep at night. The walls were painted a soft cream that set off the dark wood of the vintage-looking bed. The mound of colorful throw pillows hinted at the playful personality that Tristan already glimpsed in the short time he’d known Savannah.

  Not wanting to get caught snooping, he ducked into the bathroom and changed into his dry clothes. After folding the orange towel he finger-combed his hair and headed back out to the living room.

  As soon as he entered, Savannah stood up. “I hope the clothes are dry enough?”

  “I’m good to go,” Tristan assured her, even though he felt hesitant to leave her company. “And smelling fresh.”

  “After the rain.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “The scent of the dryer sheets. I’ve always liked that clean, earthy smell,” she said. “Here I am going on about nothing when you’re in a hurry.”

  Tristan suddenly didn’t want to be in hurry.

  She shook her head. “Well, thanks, you know, for coming to my rescue.”

  “I didn’t really save you, remember?”

  “That’s not the point,” she said and then grinned. “Kinda like it’s the thought that counts, you know?”

  “I’ll take being a hero by default.”

  Savannah’s grin faded and she looked up at him with serious eyes. “Hey, you’ve saved Whisper’s Edge. A lot of people are going to sleep easier tonight.”

  “Savannah—”

  She raised a hand of protest. “Nope, don’t play it down. I know this is just a glorified trailer park to some but to the residents it’s home. It’s my home too, for that matter,” she added with a soft smile and a catch in her voice. “But I don’t want to keep you.” She cleared her throat. “You’d better get to that meeting of yours.”

  “Yes, I should go.” Tristan nodded and managed a smile but once he was outside he immediately felt an odd wave of sadness mixed with guilt. Stupid, he said to himself. Developing this land would be another boon to the local economy. Jobs would be created and add enticement for more investors to come into the community. Sure, some residents would be displaced, but there had to be a price for progress. Right?

  He was still pondering the question when he crossed the street to Whisper’s Edge’s office.

  “So there you are.” Kate peered at him over zebra-striped reading glasses. “I was getting worried.”

  “I had a little mishap,” he told her.

  Kate pushed her glasses to the top of her head and f
rowned. “Care to elaborate?”

  “I have a feeling you’ll hear all about it sometime soon,” he said with a slight grin. “In the meantime I came back for my phone.”

  “Okay, I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with that. Will you be back here soon? I have some paperwork and finances I need to go over with you.”

  Tristan nodded. “Feel free to e-mail anything to me to review but I’ll head back here as soon as I get settled. I’m renting a furnished condo down by the baseball stadium so I won’t be far away.”

  “I’ll probably do that so you can get a handle on things here.” She reached over and picked up his phone. “Here’s your phone. It’s been making all kinds of noises so you might have missed a message or two…or thirty.”

  “Thanks, Kate. It was nice meeting you,” he said and then hurried out the door. But after a few moments he decided he was going to blow off the meeting with the mayor of Cricket Creek. He’d thought he was eager to get the ball rolling with city permits, but now he wasn’t so sure. Instead, Tristan decided to head to a local tavern that he’d spotted called Sully’s and grab some pub grub and a cold beer. While he ate he could jot down some thoughts and try to clear his head. Tristan had always been a note taker and a list maker, weighing the good, the bad, and the ugly of a given situation. He grinned slightly. And now he had beautiful to add to the mix.

  6

  Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

  “YOU’VE BEEN AWFULLY QUIET FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, SAVANNAH. Something wrong?” Kate tilted her head in question.

  “No, everything’s all right.” Savannah looked up from her computer screen and the expense account she was filling out. After a yawn she said, “I’ve just had a little trouble sleeping lately.”

  “Oh, sugar, I know the name of that sad tune. Damned night sweats wake me up and I cannot go back to sleep for the life of me. I’ve watched some really weird late-night reality TV and bought some strange items on HSN. At three in the mornin’ a juicer seemed like somethin’ I needed to have.”

  Savannah chuckled. “So, have you used it?”

  “Hell to the no. Damned thing is still in the box. You want it?”

  “Maybe.” Savannah rarely turned down anything for free.

  Kate waved a hand through the air. “Well, then, it’s yours. Just remind me to bring it in.” She angled her head and said, “But you’re too young for night sweats so something else must be keeping you up. What is it, sugar?”

  Savannah shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve just been feeling…restless.”

  “I’m tellin’ ya, it’s that biological clock of yours ticking away. You’ve got the big three-oh birthday coming up, you know.” She made ticking sounds to prove her point.

  Savannah rolled her eyes. “Don’t remind me. And don’t go throwing a big party, okay? I usually love birthdays but this one has me feeling a little bit uneasy.”

  “You’re hardly over the hill.”

  Savannah shrugged.

  “But you know what? We do need to get out of here more darned often.”

  “You could be right.” She hesitated and then added. “I’m not sure how good of a mama I’d be, having never had one of my own.”

  “Savannah, you’re one of the sweetest, kindest people I know. You’d make a wonderful mother. But look, if there’s anything else on your mind feel free to bend my ear.”

  “Thanks, Kate,” Savannah said, but she wasn’t about to confess that thoughts of Tristan McMillan had been keeping her up at night. To add insult to injury, when she finally did fall asleep she’d often have dreams about the man. She’d hoped to get a glimpse of him again but had been disappointed thus far. Trying to keep her voice nonchalant she said, “Has Tristan McMillan been back to see you?”

  “No, but I sent him some finances to look over.” Kate gave her a measuring look. “Why do you ask?”

  “Oh…I was just curious. You know how I am.”

  Kate pushed her glasses up and leaned back in her chair. “Handsome devil, isn’t he?”

  “I suppose,” Savannah responded airily, but she could feel heat creep into her cheeks. “If you like that type…”

  “Sexy as sin and successful? You mean that type?”

  Savannah lifted one shoulder and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I hadn’t really noticed.”

  “Girl, you need your eyes checked. You need my glasses?” She looked around for them.

  “On top of your head.” Savannah laughed. “Okay, he’s good-looking.” Especially in a towel. “That’s for sure.”

  “But not your type?”

  What was her type? She didn’t have one! “I like…cowboys.”

  Kate snorted.

  “Okay, I made that up.” Savannah sighed. “It’s a moot point, Kate. Even if I were interested in someone like Tristan, he would never go for a girl like me. Tristan McMillan is…sophisticated. Super-educated and all that good stuff. I just bet he goes for tall, beautiful blondes with legs that go on forever and manes of straight, amazing hair. A Stacy Keibler kind of woman. Not short, curly-haired redheads with stumps for legs.”

  “Ahhh, so you’ve thought about it?”

  “That my legs are stumps?”

  “Savannah…”

  “Look, I’m just sayin’. The man is waaay out of my league.” Savannah raised her palms upward. “And he’s my boss to boot!”

  Kate shook her head. “You sell yourself way too short.”

  “I am short.”

  “Savannah! I’m gonna throw somethin’ at you. I’ve got a few new blonde jokes if that will help.”

  “You’re blond!”

  “And waiting to have more fun.”

  Savannah rolled her eyes. “Look, I’m being realistic.”

  “Whatever.”

  When Kate fell silent Savannah thought she was off the hook. She went back to her work.

  “It’s Friday,” Kate suddenly stated.

  “I know, Captain Obvious.”

  “So, what are your plans?”

  “Well…” Savannah looked up. “Trying out making these cute headbands that I saw on Pinterest.”

  “Now, what in blue blazes is Pinterest?”

  “Kinda like Facebook only for crafts, travel, and such. See, you follow people and pin things you like. You create your own boards that are like a collage. It’s fun!”

  “Sounds like a blast.” Kate rolled her eyes. “Another Internet time suck.” Although Savannah had finally convinced Kate to get a Facebook page, she still had that little cartoon head for her profile picture and, like, twelve friends.

  “I needed something new for craft day and I was drawing a blank. After the popularity of the flip-flops I had set the bar pretty high.”

  “Those were fun,” Kate admitted.

  “Well, I think the headbands will be too. I bought the stuff I needed so I thought I’d give it a whirl tonight.”

  “You’re kidding me.”

  “No, they’re cute.…See, you wrap ribbon—”

  “No, I mean you’re kidding about that’s how you’re spending Friday evening on a gorgeous June night?”

  “Well…yeah.” Her chin came up defiantly. “But I’m eating at Ken and Betty’s first.”

  Kate gave her a deadpan stare and then twirled her index finger in a circle.

  “Oh, and Miss Patty might drop by and make a headband. You know, a prototype.”

  “Savannah…”

  “You really need to stop saying my name in that weary tone. She said she’d bring a bottle of wine. A big one.”

  “Sounds like a wild night.”

  “So what are you doing tonight, Kate?” Savannah raised her eyebrows to match her tone.

  “Going to Wine and Diner for dinner and then maybe heading over to Sully’s to dance the night away.”

  Savannah’s eyebrows fell back down to their rightful position on her face and her jaw dropped open. She clamped it shut and then narrowed her eyes. “Really?”

  “Yep
.” Kate pointed at Savannah. “And you, my friend, are going with me.”

  “But—”

  “No buts! Ken and Betty will get over it and Miss Patty can drink wine with someone else. You have other plans,” Kate said firmly.

  “Well…” She thought about protesting, but although Kate might nag Savannah about getting out, to be honest, her boss wasn’t much better about socializing. She didn’t want to keep Kate from having some fun. “What are you going to wear?”

  Kate’s face lit up. “So you’re going?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “No,” Kate said even though they both knew that she did. “I think I’ll wear black Capri pants and a sweater set. The nights still get a little bit cool near the river.”

  “True.” Savannah started mentally going through her wardrobe. She really needed to stop in Violet’s Vintage Clothing up on Main Street. Violet often held back clothing in rich, earthy hues of gold, olive, camel, and spicy orange that she said suited Savannah’s deep red hair and green eyes. “I’ll bring a light shawl or sweater with me.”

  “We can walk if that’s okay? I don’t want to worry about driving if we have one too many. And I hope we do.”

  “And have hangovers tomorrow?”

  “Don’t be a Debbie Downer. You’re acting as old as the residents.”

  “Are you kidding? I had to ask the Camden brothers to calm it down the other night. Joy and Etta Mae made Jell-O shots for the last book club meeting! Some of these folks still know how to let their hair down.”

  Kate laughed. “So you’re in?”

  “Sure, and I don’t mind walking. I’ve been sitting way too much today. I think when I stand up my butt might be glued to this chair.”

  “Super.”

  “No, I’ll look silly with the chair stuck to my butt.”

  Kate laughed. “I meant super that you’re going.” She glanced at her computer screen and then back at Savannah. “It’s almost four o’clock. Let’s wrap things up.”

  “Cool,” Savannah said with a smile. “Gives me time to get ready.”

  Kate leaned forward and gave Savannah a wink. You have some nice curves. Show them off.”

  Savannah grinned. “Why, thank you, I believe I will.”