Page 17 of Soaring Free
“Okay, I don’t think she wants to be my best friend. Am I scary or what?” Savannah leans forward and asks in a hushed tone.
“I don’t know, that was strange. She wasn’t like that when I ordered, she seemed friendly. And you’ve never been introduced before today?”
Savannah shakes her head. “No, I don’t think I’ve even heard her speak more than two or three words before today. Maybe she doesn’t like my vibes.” I laugh at her joke as she cuts a piece of her cinnamon roll to pop in her mouth. “This was kind of you, thank you.”
“How are you doing today?” I ask as I try not to focus on the way her lips wrap around the fork.
“I’m fine, but I think I might have to change my number or something. Shane flipped out when he received the notification about my change in representation, but Pippa told me to just keep screening his calls. He really doesn’t like when the tables are turned against him, but it’s too bad my give a damn is busted when it comes to him.” She lifts her drink in cheers before she rolls her eyes.
There he goes dimming her light again. “Was he bothering you? Did he do something?”
She shakes her head as she tucks a rogue piece of hair behind her ear. “Nothing more than another tantrum about not being in control of things. I honestly think he thought I’d just take whatever he offered so I’d stop this back and forth, but he seriously underestimated how pissed off I am.” She wiggles her eyebrows in a playful way but her cunning smile makes her looklike a sexy evil mastermind. She has a bit of a dark side and something about that makes her even more attractive to me.
“He’s a fool, that fact has been proven time and time again.” I clear my throat as I try to redirect my thoughts before I get in a physically uncomfortable position sitting here with her. “What are you up to?” She has a stack of papers in front of her and lets out a huff in frustration at my question.
“Just changing a bunch of accounts over so you know, I can pay bills and keep a roof over my girls’ heads.” She shakes her head in annoyance.
“Pippa will have that all straightened out soon. I know my sister, and she won’t let you down. As her brother, and a fellow attorney, I would not advise anyone ever standing in her way.”
“I think my sister would say the same thing about me,” she responds.
“I met your sister briefly once—here actually—and she was with Shane.” Savannah rolls her eyes at the mention of her estranged husband’s name.
“Odds are, Viv was here doing something, and Shane just happen to have stopped by to get coffee. He was never too interested in having relationships with my family. Our brothers are good guys, and her boyfriend Walker gets along better with them than Shane ever did.”
“Walker is the FBI Agent who was in charge of the case that involved your sister, right?” She nods.
“Yeah, he was, I’ll have to—whoops! Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear.” She nods to the front of the shop, and I turn as a tall man with broad shoulders enters. I don’t need someone to tell me that he is a federal agent, his stance and presence screams it loud enough. “Hey, Walker!” Savannah calls out to him with a wave, and he walks over while she gathers the papers and shoves them in her tote.
I stand as Walker approaches and extend my hand to introduce myself. “Hello, we haven’t had the chance to meet yet. I’m Theodore Smith-Harrington. It’s nice to meet you, Agent Bennett.” He shakes my hand with a lift of hischin and takes in the scene before him. He’s trying to figure out who I am and why I’m sitting with Savannah, which is nice to know that she has people looking out for her.
“It’s nice to meet you. Please call me Walker, any friend of Savannah’s is a friend of mine.” His words may say it’s nice to meet me, but his eyes say that if I’m an asshole he will end me. He nods to the chairs and we both sit down at Savannah’s table.
“Well, I’m not sure if we’re friends, but Theo’s sister is my new attorney for the divorce bullshit Shane is pulling.” Savannah huffs. “Pippa said Theo may be helpful with the case if we need to utilize a—what did she call it—a creative strategy in the future.”
“Yeah, it’s a good idea to have an ace up your sleeve.” And I’m a great weapon to add to any legal battle.
“I do kind of want to be friends with his sister though, Pippa is awesome,” she tells Walker. “She’s like a kickass lady boss that is also able to assassinate the bad guys with her words alone.”
“That’s true, but what am I, chopped liver? We can be friends; I’m a great friend.” And I already know I want to be more than friends with this woman, but I’m going to have to take my time, due to multiple factors. It’s a good thing I’m capable of being focused and patient when pursuing a goal—especially a goal that is as gorgeous as Savannah.
“Oh, I’ve heard many stories about your friendship, sir.” She shakes her head and I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion. What bad stories could she have heard about me? And then it dawns on me.
“Psh. I would encourage you to consider the source.” I raise an eyebrow as I can only imagine what bullshit Shane has fed her about me. “And that source has made it clear lately that he has poor judgement.” Savannah’s eyes go to her left hand, but the ring she’s wearing doesn’t look like a traditional wedding ring.
Savannah sits up and rolls her shoulders back. “Enough talk of him and all that drama. What are you up to today, Walker?”
“I just have a few errands to run in town before I head into Nashville. Are you getting everything figured out?” Savannah’s smile immediately drops from her face. The jovial tone shiftsdramatically and it’s clear Walker knows about Savannah’s financial situation. “He’s an asshole, Savannah. You know we’ve got you, right?” Walker reaches over and squeezes Savannah’s shoulder.
“Both of those statements ring incredibly true.” She shakes her head and looks down at her hands.
“Hey, hey.” I reach out and briefly place my hand over hers. “He isn’t worth you bowing your head, Savannah. He made the mistake of messing with the wrong queen.” I shake my head as I continue, “He has not and will not win. You keep your head up and know that with Pippa leading your legal team, she will ensure he will rue the day he tried to screw you over. Queens do not bow for court jesters.”
“And if that doesn’t work, The Cavalry will deliver its own justice.” Walker smirks and Savannah’s face breaks out in a smile as she wipes away a rogue tear.
I missed something. “What’s The Cavalry?”
“It’s what we call our sibling group, basically,” Savannah says.
