Page 37 of The Hookup
“Nothing. Nothing much. Izzy and Xavier did a great job of keeping an eye on him.”
“You leftthemto look after him?” Her eyes widened with disbelief. “Xavier?” she repeated, unable to comprehend how Savannah could have been so irresponsible.
“Not just him, but Izzy, and my parents. Xavier wanted to help out.”
Her brain scrambled for reasons as to why he would have. “Are they an item?” It wouldn’t surprise her. Xavier Stone could get lucky with a brick if it had a pulse. The horny little shit.
“No.” Savannah laughed as if it was the most ridiculous suggestion. “They couldn’t be more different. My parents had Jacob most of the time, but Izzy would come over at weekends, and I think Xavier wanted to help out. Jacob likes him, and I want him to have more male role models in his life. You know how bad Colt was.”
“And you think Xavier would be a better role model?”
Savannah sipped her drink through a straw. “He’s misunderstood. He’s not such a bad guy. But he’s off limits to you, all the same.”
“As if I had any intention of getting involved with him,” she cried indignantly, wanting to put that ghost to rest. She had no plans to get close to Xavier Stone even if she lived to be one hundred.
“How’s the man-free diet going?” Savannah examined her face closely. “You would tell me, wouldn’t you? If you veered off course?”
Kay put down her glass. “Do I look as if I have time for a man?”
“Good evening, Ladies.”
She didn’t need to look up to know that he was standing right next to her, so close that she could detect that electric buzz that passed between them. So close that she had no doubt he’d heard what she’d said.
“Luke!” said Savannah, rising to her feet with a smile.
“You’re back,” he exclaimed. “And you’re looking great.” She felt a sharp stab of jealousy hearing Luke pay a compliment to another woman. They hugged and exchanged cheek kisses, while Kay remained seated and suffered in silence, feeling even more awkward when he completely ignored her. She hadn’t been prepared for this—to see him and have him ignore her.
Savannah remained standing while they continued their conversation, laughing and reminiscing over the wedding, making small talk as she stared into her glass feeling completely left out.
“You know Luke, don’t you, Kay?” Savannah asked, pointedly. “He was at the wedding.” Kay begrudgingly looked up at him.
“We’ve met.”
“Hello,” he said, smiling. “Can I get you ladies another round of drinks?”
“I’ll have another one of the same,” said Savannah, pointing to her half-empty glass.
“I’m fine,” Kay told him. The expression in those cornflower blues eyes seemed cool, almost distant. He seemed to be handling this unexpected meeting better than she was.
“I’ll be back with the drinks,” he told Savannah and then left, prompting Savannah to comment on how nice he was, and what a wonderful job he’d done at the wedding.
“Your wedding was a fairytale come true,” mused Kay. “You’re so lucky, Sav.”
“I am, aren’t I?” Savannah blushed. “It feels so big-headed to agree, but I feel so blessed. After Colt, I couldn’t see myself wanting to be with anyone ever again.”
“And you hit the jackpot.” She hadn’t intended for that to sound bitter, but it did. Savannah’s brows pushed together, and she frowned. “It just happened, Kay. I wasn’t looking for it, and I didn’t have any expectations.”
“I know,” Kay replied, flashing a smile in an effort to over-compensate.
“Playing hard to get wouldn’t hurt.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“That if you didn’t give in so easily to a bit of attention—”
“I don’t give in that easily.”
“There’s no need to get so defensive. I’m just offering advice. If you don’t focus on looking for a relationship, you might find it.”
