Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
In the short two years we had there had been so many wonderful experiences. It was hard to think about the changed woman who now behaved like a stranger. What had gone wrong? Why had she left me to suffer alone? I had failed to believe Robert’s claim of her being a gold digger, but it would seem he had not taken his own warning seriously? Or maybe he was just getting his rocks off while he could.
The longer I sat staring into space the more thoughts of revenge against Savannah seemed ridiculous. I’d been so shocked and angry by their betrayal I had let my emotions get the better of me. I felt as though I had erred in my assessment of her. The anger and rage I had felt had been stoked by her four years of silence. But just seeing her had made me remember the kind of person she was.
There had to be some sort of explanation for her actions. I should at least give her the benefit of the doubt. I should give her a chance to make things right and explain why she deserted me in my hour of need. Even if she was a gold digger, one call would have not hurt. So why not?
My curiosity peaked. I needed to know what had happened.
I left my office and drove to my favorite watering hole. But even a few drinks could not dampen the need to know what had caused Savannah and me to fall apart so suddenly. I thought we had had something strong and unshakeable. But clearly there was a breach somewhere.
I ordered one last drink, followed it with some strong black coffee and prepared for the drive home. The Friday night liveliness of the bar was lost on me. Such a scene could not be enjoyed in my current state of mind.
When I left the bar, it was minutes to eleven and it had started to rain. I was soaked to the skin by the time I got to my car. I drove carefully in the driving rain, my thoughts on Savannah and every possible way I could find to get her to talk to me. Send her flowers? Nah. That had never been her thing. Then a crazy thought crept into my head. I checked the clock on the dashboard. Don’t do it, Max. But before I could talk myself out of the idea, my hands were already spinning on the steering wheel. The car’s wheel skidded on the wet road.
The rain was now coming down in sheets and the wipers were going at top speed.
I parked and dashed into the lobby. Too revved up to wait for the elevator I took the stairs two at a time. A rush of adrenaline sped through my veins as I walked down the familiar corridor and knocked on that old door. What was the worst that could happen? She could call the police and have me arrested? A bitter laugh rose into my throat. Go for it, Savannah. Been there, done that.
I raised my hand to knock once more, but the door swung open. She stared at me in disbelief. I felt my shoes squelch as I stepped past her.
“We need to talk. And we need to do it now.”
12
SAVANNAH
I had always loved rainy nights and tonight was no different. I had sat by the kitchen counter looking at the streaks of water running down the window pane, until I heard someone knock on the door. Probably a wrong food delivery again. That would be the second time tonight. But when I had looked through the peephole and seen Max I had almost fainted.
I closed the door and stared at Max. I blinked a few times. Should I pinch myself? Maybe the random thoughts that had been popping into my head all week about him had crept over into my waking moments. But no. This was no daydream. This was reality.
There he was, soaked from head to toe, and dripping all over my carpet.
“Stay there.” I turned on my heel and went to the bathroom to find the biggest towel I had. I returned to find that he had actually obeyed and not moved. He was staring at me in a strange way. I was surprised to see he wasn’t shivering. What on earth was he thinking to be out in weather like this? I stepped over to him, the towel over my shoulder.
“Strip.”
His eyebrows rose with surprise, then a look of amusement filled his eyes.
My mouth tightened. “Don’t go there,” I warned tightly.
Wordlessly, he pulled off his tie and shirt followed by his shoes and socks and pants. He was about to carry on with his boxers when I lifted a finger to stop him. Though they were soaked and left nothing to the imagination, they had to stay on. I was not going to have him butt naked in my house at this time of the night.