Page 37 of Nothing to Fear

“Four months ago.”

“Shit, baby, no wonder it’s still screwing with your head.”

He’d never called her “baby” before. Was that a slip of his professional veneer? Could it be that this was becoming a something?

“I have to go.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pressure you.”

“No.” She sat up, eager to shake off… whatever. “You didn’t. I just… have something to do.”

“Anna—”

“Goodnight.”

Ending the call, she held the phone to her cleavage. They’d never met, never laid eyes on each other, but he knew her. Had heard more of her secrets than any other living creature.

She flopped forward, planting her face in the bed. Damnit. She was making a mess. Whoop-de-do. Just her style.

ELEVEN

MONDAY CAME AND went. Tuesday was good.

On Wednesday, in the systems room, she was busy updating their pricing when Nessa came rushing in.

“Oh my God, you have to get out here.”

In the Breckenridge department store, anything could happen. They’d had shoplifters, marriage proposals, even streakers, yes, more than one. And that was in spite of their floor being members only.

Following Nessa out, she caught the door and let it drift from her hand when—she stopped.

Alice Breckenridge stood on the other side of the counter between Celeste and Maureen. Why was Luxe Leathers Maureen on their patch?

“Thank you, ladies,” Alice said, leaving them to track her at the counter. “Savanna… is there somewhere we can talk?”

“My lunch is in an hour.” Alice didn’t move or react, her expectation remained the same. Right, duh. “We can talk in the break room.”

This woman and her husband owned the building. They owned the main store, every sub store. Stores across the globe. With money like theirs, even what they didn’t own, they could buy.

Maybe that was why opening the counter for Alice and leading her to the employee only door was just pathetic. They went down a short corridor, bland, beige, not at all glamorous. The break room consisted of an old couch, a dinner table with a few chairs around it, a fridge, and a blessed coffee machine.

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Yes, thank you.”

She gestured at a chair and Alice was gracious enough to sit. What was she doing? The woman could take all the damn furniture and kick her out. It wasn’t her place to give Alice Breckenridge permission to do anything.

The coffee machine brought her up short. Shit. Coffee? From that crappy machine? She tipped out what was in there and washed the pot. Feeble. What could she do but change the filter and try her best?

Deep breath; she turned. “I don’t know what Darroch told you—”

“Darroch?” This wasn’t about her son? “He’s a good boy for the most part. His mouth runs away with him at times. He’s headstrong, all of them are. I can only apologize if he has upset you.”

“If this isn’t about Darroch… What’s it about?”

For the first time, Alice exuded pain. “I didn’t know it was you. I’m so sorry, Savanna.”

“Know what was me?” The minute the words left her lips, clarity struck. “Oh, that.”

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