“This is ridiculous.” Savannah tossed another dress onto the growing pile on her bed. Not for the first time, she wished Sarah was here. Then she wouldn’t be stressing about picking the perfect dress to wear to dinner with Stefan.
Dinner—with Stefan Carlisle. Have I lost my mind?
If she were being totally honest with herself, she was alternately terrified and tantalized at the prospect. Scared, because she hadn’t been out with a guy, any guy, since everything that happened in New Orleans. Part of her was excited. Not because she was going on a date—a date!—but because of who she was going with.
Stefan Carlisle. The man had fascinated her ever since she’d woken up in the hospital, and he’d been standing beside her bed, watching her. At first, she’d panicked at finding a stranger watching her while she slept. Especially after the endless days locked away in the penthouse. She’d wake up to find Danny standing over her bed, his expression raw and unguarded. Her whole body tensed at the memory. But something about Stefan standing there, his expression hooded and closed, didn’t make her feel afraid or trapped. Something deep inside whispered she could trust him, and she’d been right.
Their friendship started gradually. A single e-mail checking on her. She almost hadn’t answered, but he’d been so nice after she got out of the hospital. Plus, he was Ranger’s friend. That one simple e-mail led to another and another.
The first time he called, she’d been tongue-tied, barely able to string two words together. Her, the girl who never had trouble talking to anybody, co-captain of the high school debate team, could hardly think of a thing to talk about.
After a couple of weeks, he’d suggested chatting via messages, even going so far as to set up a special chat room where they could talk without other people reading and butting into their conversations. With anybody else, this would have had huge red flags flying, screaming danger. She didn’t feel that way with Stefan. There was something unique about him—he was different than anybody she’d ever met.
Tonight she was going to dinner with him in less than an hour and couldn’t figure out what to wear. How silly was that?
“Wear the blue one.” She spun at the sound of her mother’s voice from the bedroom doorway. “You’ve always looked pretty in blue.”
Savannah reached for the dress her mom recommended, holding it in front of her and looking in the mirror.
“You think?”
“I know, baby. You’ll look stunning.”
She turned right and left, feeling the bottom of the skirt swirl against her legs. Gave a nod. “Okay, the blue it is.”
“I’ll be right back.” Her mother raced away from the door, leaving Savannah staring at the empty space.
“Wonder what that was about?” Walking into the closet, she grabbed a pair of sandals that matched the dress and stopped in her tracks. Stefan hadn’t mentioned where they were going to dinner, just that he’d see her tonight. Maybe she was going overboard, dressing up when he only meant a casual place, like drive-thru fast food. She thumped her fist against her forehead.
“Stupid, stupid.”
“Honey?”
“I’m here.” Clutching the sandals in her hand, she closed the closet door, before tossing them on the foot of her bed.
“Here. I want you to wear this.” Lying across her mother’s hand was a diamond and sapphire pendant on a silver chain. The stones winked and sparkled with each movement, keeping her mesmerized.
“Mom, that’s your anniversary necklace. Dad gave it to you.”
“And I want you to wear it tonight. It will go perfectly with your dress…and I like the thought of you wearing it on your date.” Eyes brimming with tears, her mother pulled her into her arms, and Savannah wrapped hers around her mother’s back.
“Mom…” Savannah started to point out it wasn’t really a date, but seeing her mother’s expression, filled with hope and excitement, she couldn’t do break her heart.
“I know. But I can’t help it. It’s the first time since you’ve been home you’ve even thought about going out.” Her mother laughed, wiping at her tears. “I can’t help being a sentimental old fool, but I want you to be happy, baby girl.”
Savannah felt her own tears welling. “I love you, Mom.”
“Turn around.” Her mother made a circle motion with her hand, and Savannah found herself standing with her back to her mother. Felt the coolness of the pendant and chain slide around her throat and settle in the hollow. Her fingers touched the necklace gently.
“I’ll take good care of it, Mom. I promise.”
“I know you will, baby. Now, get dressed and make yourself beautiful for your date.” Raising her hands, she cupped Savannah’s cheeks. “My baby’s going on a date.”
“Mom! I’m not twelve, for goodness’ sake. It’s not like I haven’t been on dates before.” She felt the heat flooding her cheeks, knew she’d be bright red. Never one to blush prettily like other girls, she always looked blotchy and like she had a three-day-old sunburn.
Her mother chuckled. “I know. Can’t help teasing you. Now you really do need to get dressed, or you’ll be late.” She turned to leave but paused with her back to Savannah. “I love you so much, baby. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Love you too.”
He hadn’t packed expecting to go on a date. Which meant a quick trip to pick up something suitable to wear. No way was he wearing board shorts and a T-shirt or holey jeans on his first date with Savannah. He’d ended up choosing a pair of dark denim jeans and a button-down navy blue shirt. Didn’t mind foregoing the tie, though. The things made him twitchy. His sneakers would have to do, that or sandals, and he had a feeling any nice restaurant would frown on seeing his bare toes peeking out from beneath his jeans.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the Sloane’s front door. It was opened almost immediately by Savannah’s father. “Mr. Sloane, good to see you.”
“Mr. Carlisle, good to see you, too. Savannah mentioned you were in San Diego. Here on business?” Gilbert Sloane was a few inches shorter than Stefan, with a receding hairline and the beginnings of a paunch. If Mrs. Sloane’s cooking was anything like her peanut butter cookies, he’d probably have a big gut too. He wondered if Savannah was a good cook.
“A little business and a much needed vacation. And please, call me Stefan.”
“Well, you picked a great time to come. The weather’s supposed to be perfect all week.” He stepped back and motioned Stefan inside. “Where are my manners? Don’t just stand there, come on in.”
“Thanks.”
There was a brief moment of awkward silence, and it reminded Stefan of the kind where you go to pick up your date at her parents’ house for the first time. He almost laughed out loud, because that hadn’t happened since he was a sophomore in high school. And lately, not at all. Dating took a back seat to getting his career established. Not to mention, he hadn’t been all that interested, because the women he’d met didn’t hold his interest past the initial getting-to-know-you phase.
Not the way Savannah did. She caught me with her first whispered hello.
“I want to thank you again for everything you did in helping find my Anna.” Mr. Sloane’s voice broke at the end.
“Don’t thank me. I’m glad everything turned out, and Savannah’s home safe with her family.”
The sound of a throat clearing caught his attention and he looked up, spotting Mrs. Sloane at the end of the hallway. She gave a subtle jerk of her head to the left, and Savannah stepped into view.
His breath caught in his throat, and everything else disappeared except for her. Dressed in midnight blue, she was stunning. Her hair fell around her shoulders like a shining curtain of silk, and he balled his hands into fists, to keep for reaching out and running his fingers through the strands. See if it felt as soft as it looked.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” A hint of pink spread across her cheeks. She leaned over and kissed her mother on the cheek. “See you later.”
“Pleasure seeing you again, Mr. and Mrs. Sloane.” Somehow, he got the words out, though he felt as tongue-tied as a callow youth with his first crush.
Savannah crossed the short distance. He followed her to the door, and she gave a little wave over her shoulder. Pausing on the front porch, they looked at each other, and burst into laughter. He had to lean against the wall to keep his balance, he was laughing so hard.
“Did you get the feeling like we’re still in high school, and my parents are expecting me home by curfew?” She brushed her hair over her shoulder, and he grinned.
“I started to say my mom’s driving, and I’d have you home by ten.” He deliberately pitched his voice into a high squeaky one, and Savannah laughed harder.
“Let’s get out of here, before they come out to see what’s going on.” She stepped off the porch and headed toward his rental car. Quickly stepping around her, he held the passenger door open until she slid gracefully onto the seat, before rushing around to the driver’s side.
“I made reservations at Antonio’s. Hope you like Italian.”
“Yum. My favorite.”
“Mine too.”
The restaurant wasn’t far from her house, and they didn’t have to wait. From the moment they stepped through the front door, they were greeted by the manager and immediately seated. A waiter came over, and Stefan ordered iced tea for Savannah and a beer for himself.
“I love this place. My family’s been coming here for years.”
“I asked at the motel, and they recommended it. After I read the online reviews, I was convinced to give it a shot.”
“I better warn you, the owners are friendly and very hands-on. They like to get to know their guests personally.” Tiny laugh lines crinkled beside her eyes as she looked over his shoulder. “As you’re about to find out.”
“Ms. Anna, so lovely to see you. It’s been forever since you been by.” Mrs. Antonelli frowned, her heavily accented words both a rebuke and a greeting. Without missing a beat, she pulled Savannah from her seat into a bear hug, and Stefan stood, watching the two, noting the smile Savannah gave the plump elderly woman. At first glance, she appeared stern and matronly, but her greeting to Savannah proved she was anything but.
“I’m sorry it’s been so long, Mrs. Antonelli. I’ve missed you.”
“Look at you! You’re too skinny! Sit, sit, and I take care of that.” She made a shooing motion toward the chairs, before turning and shouting over her shoulder. “Papa, come see who’s here. And bring bread—lots of bread.”
Turning back to the table, her not-so-subtle gaze met his, and Mrs. Antonelli’s eyes studied him intently, scrutinizing him until he really did feel like that high school kid on his first date. It took a supreme amount of effort not to squirm in his chair.
“You bring my Anna to Antonio’s?”
“Yes, ma’am. She says you have the best Italian food anywhere.” He figured it couldn’t hurt to compliment her a little.
“She tell you right. You sit, you eat.” She waved over an older man who wasn’t much taller than her, but thin as a stick. In his hands, he held a basket overflowing with garlic bread and cheese bread.
This must be Papa Antonelli.
The other man’s eyes lit up when he spotted Savannah. “Ms. Anna, it’s been a long time. You back from school?”
A shadow passed across her face, barely there and gone, before she smiled at Mr. Antonelli. “Yes, I’m staying with my parents.”
“Good, good. So many young people, they go away for college, and forget all about the parents. Forget all about coming home again.” He smiled and placed the bread onto the table. “You’re a good girl, Ms. Anna.”
“Who is your friend?” Mrs. Antonelli’s gaze never wavered, and she crossed her arms over her massive bosom, her foot tapping on the black and white tiles.
“Stefan Carlisle. It’s a pleasure to meet friends of Savannah.”
He didn’t miss the flash of something in her eyes when he called Savannah by her given name. It was a habit he’d gotten into when he’d been researching everything about her, during the time she’d been held hostage, and it was a hard one to break. Not that he had any intention of doing so. He liked the way her given name rolled off his tongue.
“Stefan’s visiting from New Orleans—on business,” she hastened to add when she saw the sudden smile on the other woman’s face. Stefan bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. He knew a matchmaker when he saw one, and Mrs. Antonelli had husband-finder written all over her.
“Mama, they need you in the kitchen. You come now. Ms. Anna, it’s always a joy to see you. Tell your parents they come, dinner is on me.” Mr. Antonelli grabbed onto his wife’s arm, steering her away from the table.
“Whew. You dodged a bullet there. I know that look in Mama Antonelli’s eye. You were about to get the third degree. Papa just saved your bacon.”
The twinkle in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. The little minx had enjoyed his discomfort. Turnabout was fair play—he’d find a way to get even. And seeing her this happy made him feel warm inside.
He started to signal for the waiter, ready to place his order, but Savannah placed her hand on his, stopping him. The touch was brief, and she pulled away almost immediately, yet he could still feel it.
“Don’t bother. Now that Mama Antonelli has met and vetted you, she’ll send out your meal.” At his scowl, she chuckled. “Trust me, she’s part mind reader. She always knows exactly what you want to eat.”
“We’ll see.”
Minutes later, two plates loaded with food were placed before them, and Savannah bit back her chuckle at Stefan’s face. “Nailed it, didn’t she?”
His laughter flowed through her, warming her from the inside out. “Gotta admit, that was going to be my first choice.”
“Wait until you taste it, you’ll swear you’re in Italy.” She cut into her lasagna with a fork, watching the cheese cling to it.
Stefan lifted a bite of his chicken parmesan to his mouth and chewed. Savannah almost laughed aloud at the look on his face. Mama Antonelli was very particular about who warranted her chicken parm. It might be on the menu, but if she didn’t think you deserved it, suddenly they’d be all out for the night. She leaned forward and whispered, “I think she likes you.”
They ate with frequent visits to their table by Mama Antonelli, stopping by to check on Savannah. After dinner, Stefan suggested a walk. It was cool enough, after the heat of the afternoon, and he headed for the fountain in the center of the plaza, the one he’d read about when checking out the restaurant.
“I love this area. So many small mom and pop-type shops along this area. Some of them I’ve known most of my life, like the Antonelli’s.”
“You’d think in a big town like San Diego, it would be all national chains. It’s kinda nice to see the smaller places surviving and thriving.”
The almost full moon lit the center of the plaza, with a million stars filling the blackness of the sky. No clouds obscured the sight, and Savannah inhaled deeply, loving the scent of the nearby ocean.
In the center of the plaza stood a huge fountain, lit with spotlights embedded in the ground around its perimeter. The bubbling, sparkling water overflowed the tiered delight. It was a feature she never tired of watching and tried to get by to see it whenever she was in this part of town. Since she’d been back, after everything that happened in New Orleans, she realized she hadn’t ventured far from home. She realized she missed the enjoyment she felt revisiting her special favorite places. Knowing she hadn’t lost the ability to regain something so special made this night with Stefan truly memorable.
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
His answer was slow in coming. With a gentle touch, he turned her face toward him. “Yes, it is,” he answered, staring at her. “Stunning.” Reaching down, he caught her hands, holding them in his.
“Savannah…”
“Why do you do that,” she interrupted, “call me Savannah? Everyone calls me Anna. Except you. You’re the only one who uses my given name.”
A tiny smile played around his lips before he answered. “I like your given name, it’s lovely. But it’s more than that. I know everybody, even your parents, call you Anna. But Savannah is such a beautiful name—like you—and I want to call you something nobody else does. It makes you memorable and special in my eyes.”
“Thank you, Stefan.”
“I’d like to kiss you, if that’s alright.”
Savannah’s heart did a little flip-flop inside her chest. Kiss her? She hadn’t been kissed since…stop it. Don’t go there. This isn’t Danny, its Stefan. And haven’t you wondered what it’d be like to kiss him?
“Okay.” The word came out on a breath of air, nearly inaudible, but she knew he heard her.
Not releasing her hands or crowding her in any way, he simply leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against hers. It was the sweetest kiss she’d ever gotten, and her eyes closed as a wash of emotion swept through her. He gently increased the pressure, and she found herself responding, kissing him back.
It was wondrous. Magical. And she was terrified…because she liked it too much. Her lips parted beneath his, yet he did attempt to deepen the kiss further, simply brushed her lips with his. Butterfly soft, yet more arousing than anything she’d ever experienced.
Finally, he pulled back and she stared into his blue eyes, which had darkened with desire. That was a look she was all too familiar with, and she felt a ball of fear creep up into her throat. Before she could say anything, he took a step back, releasing her hands. “Thank you, Savannah.”
Raising her hand, her fingertips brushed against the lips he’d just kissed. “I…um, you’re welcome?”
He chuckled. “I think it’s time I get you home.” Holding out his hand, he waited through her initial hesitation, until she slid hers into it, and he twined their fingers together as they walked back to the car.
When they got to her house, he turned the engine off and walked her to her door. Was he going to ask for another kiss, she couldn’t help thinking? Instead, his eyes twinkled in the porch light, and he brushed her hair back over her shoulder with a gentle touch.
“I had a nice time, Savannah. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Stefan,” she whispered, watching him walk down the drive and get into his car. He stood patiently by his rental until she went inside, then pulled out and drove away. Leaning her back against the door, her mind raced with a million questions, for which didn’t have a single answer.
Saying goodnight to her parents, she walked into her bedroom, and lowered onto the corner of her bed. And replayed the kiss over and over in her mind, slightly awed at how much she’d enjoyed it.
She found herself hoping he’d want to kiss her again. For the first time in a very long time, she found herself wanting to see where this attraction might go. Because she really wanted Stefan to…
The truth of her thoughts frozen her for an instant, and she flung herself onto her back on the bed.
The truth was she wanted Stefan.