Bound For Me (22 page)

The stars burst inside her anyway.

Every time it got harder to maintain the little distance she had left. Every time it got harder to remain the one in control. He was stealing it, tipping the balance. Because while she might be the one on top, he was the one driving beneath.

And he was the one who’d pulled her close into his embrace, warming her, soothing her over-sensitized body until she slept.

The man was gorgeous. And strong. And—was that her phone?

Frowning she snuck from the big bed, scrambling for her bag. Her phone hardly ever rang. When it was did, it usually meant trouble.

“Hello?” She pressed the phone to her ear.
 

“Savannah. It’s me. Mom.”

Suddenly cold, despite the fire still burning low in the grate, Savannah scurried back to bed and pulled the coverings up around her. “What is it? Is dad okay?”

That was the only reason she could think that her mom would call.

“Uh, yes, I think so.”

“Then what is it?”

“There’s something I wanted to tell you.”

She was getting married. If she thought Savannah was going to be bridesmaid, she was wacked. But—

“I’m having a baby.”

Savannah’s thoughts totally derailed. “
What?
”

“A baby. Brad and I are having a baby.”

“But…” Savannah couldn’t say it. Wasn’t she too
old
?
 

But no. Her mom had only been twenty when she’d had Savannah… twenty-four years later and she was obviously still fertile. And she had the benefit of Brad’s younger man sperm. Dear heaven. It was a nightmare.
 

“Have you told him?” Savannah asked, panicked. “Dad?”

There was a silence.

“You
have
to tell him.” Savannah said angrily. “I’m not telling him for you. You’re not putting that on me.”

“Savannah—”

“Congratulations, mom. I’m thrilled for you.”

She ended the call and threw the phone to the floor. First time they’d spoken in months, and it was to be told
that
.

Rejection sliced open old wounds. That was it then, her mom was never going back. Not to Belle, Louisiana. Not to the place or the people she’d walked out on.
 

She had a new man, new baby. And it was going to destroy Savannah’s father. Because even though her mom had walked years ago now, her father still hoped. He’d gambled everything in an attempt to impress and win her back.

He’d lost everything material already.
 

But this new would kill that last hope.

Savannah would have to go see him. She didn’t think her mom even knew how low her dad had sunk. How badly he’d messed everything. Because not only had he lost all his own money, he’d stolen Savannah’s savings too. Together her parents had left her with nothing.

Tears pricked, stinging, but her heart hurt more. Her father was going to be shattered and once again her mom was leaving her to pick up the pieces.
 

“Savannah? You awake, Sugar?”
 

As the door opened, Savannah scrunched lower down the bed and pulled the sheet over her face, pressing her knuckles to her eyes. “I’m not here.”

She heard his chuckle and tried to stop her pathetic sob.

“I thought I heard— are you
crying
?” he sounded aghast.

“Go away.”

“No I’m not going away.” True to his word, she felt him sit on the bed. “I’m not leaving you alone like this.”

“I
want
to be left alone.” She inhaled deeply. Getting angry with him helped her control her distress.

“Too bad.”

“Stop being the good guy who looks after every one because you’re freaking ‘honor-bound’.”

“I don’t want to look after everyone,” he answered reasonably. “I get that you don’t want to get too involved, but can’t we be friends as well as lovers?”

She didn’t bother to answer that one.

“Why do you isolate yourself so much? Where are your friends?”

“You’re not going to leave this, are you?” She yanked down the sheet so she could glare at him. “You want me to open up and tell you all my problems so you can fix them?”

“I’m not so arrogant as to think that I can fix anyone’s problems. I can barely manage my own.” His laugh held a bitter edge. “If I could, life would be so different. But I do know that talking things over with a friend makes things easier.”

“Where are
your
friends?” She snapped back, rattled. “You sit at my bar night after night,
alone
.”

“Because they’re in Manhattan, mostly. But we’re in touch all the time.” He looked at her solemnly. “I’d be lost without them.”

“No you wouldn’t. You’re too strong ever to be lost.”

His brows lifted. “Is that a compliment? From you?”

“It’s the truth.”

He placed his arms either side of her and leaned over her. “If I’m at all strong, it’s
because
of my friends. My brother. They’re all fucked up, but they’re awesome with it.” He reached out cupped her jaw. His hand was too gentle. “Is it an ex? Someone giving you trouble?”

She looked at that damn protective concern in his eyes and whispered before she could think better of it. “It’s my mom.”

“Your mom?”

“She’s having a baby.”
 

His lips parted. “Wow.”

“Exactly.” Savannah pulled back out of his gentle touch. What was she thinking confiding in him? In anyone? Long ago she’d learned not to trust in people. They always betrayed you at some point. “So, you mind giving me a minute, I’d like to shower and get dressed.”

“I’ll be in the other room. Take as long as you like.”

No. She needed to get going. She’d take the day to pack up and then tell Luca she was finishing. She’d sort out her father and then start again.

But ten minutes crying her heart out in the most amazing shower ever was one weakness she couldn’t overcome.

Connor looked up from his computer when she eventually walked out of the bedroom. Judging from the paperwork on his desk he’d been working for a while this morning. Yeah, she’d been wrong about him in so many ways.

“New plan for the day.” He stood, not giving her a chance to speak first. “We’re having an adventure.”

“You can have an adventure. I’m going to work.” Handing in her notice.

“Not ’til later. You have all morning to have fun.”

She really wasn’t in the mood for fun.
 

“It’s not negotiable.” He didn’t take his eyes from her as he walked round from behind his desk. “You’re working at one of the country’s best ski resorts and you’ve never skied.”

“We’re not all born to such privilege. Or born in states with snow.”

“I’ll teach you.”

“No, thanks.”

“Scared of falling over in front of me?” He walked until he was standing right in front of her. Tempting. Challenging. “Scared of needing me to help you? You’re
really
frightened of that, aren’t you?”

“You think you’re so smart.”

“I can have you competent in a day.”

“Competent?”

“Not good enough for you? She who must be the best.” He teased and bent to whisper to her. “Or are you too chicken?”

“I’m not afraid of falling in the snow in front of you.” She turned and paced away from him so she had some chance of being able to
think
. This was him doing his charming hero act. Trouble was, she was finding it hard to say no. The thought of escaping her screwed-up family for just a few more hours? One last morning of fantasy? “I’d have thought you had too much work to do. That you can’t afford the time to have fun.”

“I can always find time to spend up on the mountain.”

“So it’s the
mountain
you’re investing the time in… of course.” She faced him again barely able to stop her small smile. “I don’t actually like the snow. It’s wet and cold. I prefer wet and hot.”

“Your hotel was a summer place?”

“Of course. Steamy Louisiana summers. Anyway, you can’t take me today. You have that wedding.”

“And I have an extremely capable manager who’ll ensure all goes well now the flowers are all so perfect. Come on. I even have some sexy snow pants you can borrow. Summerhill brand is
very
popular for good reason.”

She shook her head. “You’re doing it again.”

“What?”

“Taking care of the wounded party. You know I was upset. You’re trying to fix it. You’re making sure I have the perfect Summerhill experience…”

“Would it be so awful if that were partly true?” He stepped right into her personal space, so close she could feel his heat.
 

“Yes. I don’t want your pity,” she whispered, unable to tear her gaze from the bottomless blue of his eyes.

“Well you don’t have it.” He bent, whispering right into her ear. “Being near you turns me on and I like it. I like touching you. Kissing you. Arguing with you…” He pulled back and smiled down at her. “Don’t think I’m doing this for you, Sugar, this is all about me being selfish.”

She could barely breathe, turned on by his rough-edged talk, by his sly smile. He pulled off workaholic-turned-wicked very well. “Seeing you put it like that…”

He took her hand and turned. “Come on, we’ll find you some butt ugly ski gear.”

He’d obviously put in a couple of calls while she’d been showering to set the deal up, because only twenty minutes later, she was clad in new season Summerhill brand skiwear and he was walking her towards a helicopter that was apparently loaded with all the equipment they’d need for a morning in the snow.

“Why a helicopter, can’t we just go on that lift over there?” Savannah asked with a longing look at what she knew to be the beginner slope. “You know, the one nearest the doctor and those warm fires.” And Connor’s huge bed.

“Because we want to get to the
best
slope.” He sent her a sideways look. “You’ve been in a helicopter before?”

Actually no, she hadn’t. And to be honest, this didn’t look like the biggest helicopter. He guided her into the front seat and handed her a headset. She looked about for other people as he went round the other side to get in. But then she slumped back into her seat as he pulled on the headset and started fiddling with the controls. “You’re the pilot. Of course you’re the freaking pilot. Is there nothing you can’t do?”

“Of the things that need to be done on the mountain? No.” He pulled a paper from a compartment and scribbled a couple of notes on it before folding it and stowing it again. “Don’t worry, you’re safe with me. I fly almost everyday, I’m not a hobbyist.”

“Why do you fly every day?”

“I usually do a couple advanced skier drops and I do any accident runs and—”

“
Accident runs
?”

“You’ll be fine,” he soothed, still focused on his pre-flight checks.
 

“Gee, it must be something to be picked up by the handsome young CEO of Summerhill when you’ve broken your leg skiing,” she said with mock awe. “Does it make them less likely to sue?”
 

“You think I’m handsome?”

She laughed.
 

He finally glanced at her. “You ready?”

Savannah held her breath as the rotor blades whirred. Even with the headphones it was noisy. And then they lifted up and she held her breath so long her lungs were about to burst.

His soft laughter sounded whisper close through the headset. “Relax, Sugar. Just take in the view.”

Oh there was
no
tearing her eyes from the view. One look from this eagle’s angle and she understood why he loved it.
 

She could see for miles and miles and
what
she could see was utterly majestic. So much bigger than either of them. The mountain range stretched far, gorgeous snow covered peaks, tree-studded on the lower slopes and then the valleys of the expansive countryside.

So beautiful it made her eyes water.

In minutes they were swooping, following up the snow-iced ridges until they were flying well above the tree line. Exhilaration flooded her. The helicopter cockpit was basically a glass bubble, it was like she was a bird flying without feeling the wind. And she was so not going to tell the guy how amazing his flying skills were.

“You like?” he asked.

She hesitated, then decided not to play the shrew. “I love it,” she muttered. “I just love it.”

She sensed his smile—was too riveted by the beauty of the ranges to turn and look at him. But the bubble of happiness enveloped her and she instinctively knew it held him in it too. A bubble of pure joy.

In silence she gazed as he took her higher and deeper into the range. And then she realized he wasn’t just dipping for a thrill, he was descending.

“You’re landing?” she asked. “We don’t have to do this, you know. I’m happy just taking in the view.”