Page 64 of A Lifetime in 30 Days
Vanna was just about to get something to drink and maybe another one of those delicious maple-and-brown-sugar-infused waffle wedges before heading back to her table when her phone buzzed in her back pocket. She pulled it out while walking toward the glass doors that would take her into the hallway, because the bingo caller was pretty loud.
The second she was in the much quieter hallway and glanced down at her phone, she paused. It was Aden.
How had he known she was going for the second helping of waffles instead of another one of those fruit-parfait cups? With a slight grin, she shook her head because she knew damn well he couldn’t know that. Her conscience had obviously decided to step on the scene.
“Hello,” she answered when she realized the phone had been ringing a few times and would soon go to voicemail.
“Hey, Savannah,” he said, and her body instantly reacted to the sound of his deep voice. And byreacting, she meant she felt warm all over, the same way she recalled feeling whenever he’d wrapped his arms around her.
Rolling her eyes, she inwardly berated the helpless romantic that she rarely brought out to play. And for good reason, considering her track record with men.
“Hey, Aden,” she replied, and hoped she didn’t sound too chipper, given the way they’d left things five days ago.
And yes, she’d been counting the days.
“I wanted to check in with you to see if you were able to find a security company,” he said.
She was just about to ask how he knew she was looking for one when he continued, “I spoke to Jovani earlier this week, and he told me about the break-in.”
“I’m fine,” she said out of habit.
“I know,” he replied. “Jovani told me that you and Granny were amazing, considering all that had happened. But then, I already knew that.”
She didn’t smile at the comment, although her traitorous stomach did a whimsical flip-flop anyway. “I did find a company that was in my price range,” she said. “They’re coming out on Tuesday.”
“Tuesday?” he asked. “As in a few more days away? You couldn’t get someone to come sooner? I was thinking you and Granny were secure in the house by now.”
“It’s the earliest appointment I could get,” she replied.
“I’d feel better—hell, I’d be able to get some sleep at night if I knew you had a system in place today,” he replied.
That comment, as well as this call, warmed Vanna in an unexpected way. A way that highlighted what she’d really been feeling this past week when she hadn’t reached out to him was fear. Everything she’d done and said to Aden that day had come from that place. And him leaving the way he did and not contacting her provided the safe haven she’d needed to retreat into.
It took a very concerted effort to resist the urge to do a deep dive into how she really needed to stop letting negativity overwhelm her.
“I appreciate your concern,” she said. “But I’ve taken care of the issue.”
“Okay,” he said after a moment’s hesitation. “It’s just that I care about you, Savannah. And I want to be sure you and Granny are safe.”
She let out a slow, shaky breath that she hadn’t been aware she was holding. “Thank you,” she said, and then cleared her throat. “Thankyou for your concern. I know I might not always act like it, but I do appreciate it.”
“You’ve got a funny way of showing your appreciation,” he said. The slight chuckle that followed suggested he might be joking. But another part of her guessed he was serious.
“You’re right,” she replied with a sigh.
“Wait a minute ... Who is this on the phone, and what have you done with Savannah?” Now he was really laughing, and she couldn’t help but grin along with him.
“All right, don’t go overboard,” she said.
“I mean, I’m just shocked. Usually, I would have gotten more of an argument from you.”
“Well, I’m not at home, and I need to get back to the bingo game.”
“Yeah, I saw that was on your schedule for today. But I just wanted to call to make sure you were okay,” he said in a much softer tone. “I’ve wanted to call you every day this week.”
And now her heart swelled in that way that had her even more afraid than she’d been before. Because this was a definite sign that no matter how much she’d tried to convince herself that she couldn’t deal with this right now, that she could just walk away from him, she was already in too deep with this man. “Why didn’t you?”
“Because I didn’t want to argue with you again.”
