14
Whatever it Takes
Four o’clock in themorning came way too quickly. Savannah slunk out of bed, switched on the desk lamp, and started dressing.
Zander leaned up on his elbows. “What are you doing?”
She found his sleepy face adorable. “I’m taking you to the airport.” She reached around and hooked her bra into place.
“Savannah.” He pushed out of bed and stroked her shoulders, sending tingles across her skin. “You don’t have to. I can call for a ride.”
“I want to. Plus, I’m going to photograph the sunrise.”
“It’ll give us a few more minutes together.”
She couldn’t miss the sadness in his voice.
He dressed in his suit, no tie. Though the etched lines between his eyebrows were gone, the tailored clothes were a sobering reminder that Zander King was a businessman first and foremost.
He stared at himself in the mirror. “What the hell am I doing?”
“Getting ready to fly home.”
“Not in this, I’m not.” He changed into jeans and his new black shirt.
“Much better.” Sidling up behind him, she curled her arms around his muscular abdomen and hugged him. “An uptight suit flew west, but a rugged outdoorsman heads east. The ladies are going tolovethe new you.”
She let him go and he turned to face her. “There’s only one woman I want to impress.”
“And who would that be?”
“My stepsister. Actually, she’s my former stepsister and the only family I’ve got. Gotta hang on to that woman.”
“Guess you want to keep in touch?”
Laughing, he slid into his black dress shoes. “Good assumption.”
When he finished getting ready, he shouldered his bag and opened the door. She breezed through, this time slowing to kiss him. “I’ll miss you,” she whispered before continuing into the hallway.
“You’re going to be too busy working to give me a second thought. I’ll be the one doing all the missing.”
On the short drive to the airport, she had to touch him, had to feel the warmth of his skin pressing hers, so she clasped his hand.
Though she tried being rational about their situation, her heart was breaking. Regardless of how or why they’d reconnected, she cared about this man. More than she dared to admit.
Zander’s phone buzzed. “Kent’s calling. I’ve got to take this.” He punched the talk key and hit the speaker button. “Hey, how are you doing?”
“I’ve been better.”
Zander shifted in his seat. “Did you have a setback?”
“Physically, I’m good, all things considered. I got your text that you’re flying back today. Are you at the airport?”
“No, Savannah’s driving me there now. You’re on speaker. You remember Savannah, don’t you?”
“Hey, Savannah, it’s been a while.”
“Hi, Kent. How are you feeling?”