year. Losing Orella in such a devastating way had really shocked them. Yes, the siblings had grown closer, but only after Harper had intervened and told them that they were isolating themselves in their individual grief. Once they started to talk as a family, that’s when they started to heal.
That didn’t mean that he wanted Talia to heal enough to be flirting with some ass though!
“Anything else?” the brunette waitress asked.
Gaelen blinked, looking at the other woman. “Where is Savannah?” he asked, peering around for the woman he wanted. And not just sexually. He wanted to talk to her about what Talia had just said, needing her advice. Hell, just seeing her smile and hear her reassurance that his baby sister would be okay would be enough for the moment. Not that Savannah even knew Talia, but her words of reassurance would help, regardless.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
“She’s taking a break,” the waitress said, with a snippy attitude, then slapped the check down on the table and stalked away.
Glancing at the bill, he pulled out his wallet and laid three twenties on the table for a fifteen dollar check, then stood up. Even as he walked out, he looked around for Savannah. Damn it, he’d love to speak with her one more time before going into this meeting, but, checking his watch, he knew he would have to wait. At least for a couple of hours.
Chapter 6
Savannah leaned her head back against a box of…something. The supply room here at the diner was always packed with stuff. She had no idea, nor did she care. The breakfast rush had finally slowed and she had time to breath.
“You okay?’ Cindy asked, poking her head into the supply room and handing Savannah a glass of ice tea.
Savannah accepted the glass, gratefully. “I’m fine,” she lied, taking a long sip of the cold drink. Cindy had added extra lemons and no sugar to the ice tea, just the way she liked it.
“I take it that guy was someone special to you?” Cindy asked, leaning against the door so she could talk to Savannah while still keeping an eye on the dining room. It was quiet right now, with only two people sitting in a booth, both of them sipping coffee and arguing about politics. In another hour, the lunch rush would start, which would last for several hours. Savannah would finish her shift after that and she could head back to her apartment and have a good, long cry.
“I thought he was. But apparently not.” The story of her life, she thought as she closed her eyes. The men in her life tended to be a bit too…uninterested in her, she thought. “Why is it that every man I find attractive turns out to be a royal jerk?” she asked.
Cindy scoffed. “Because you haven’t found your ‘Mickey’ yet,” she answered, winking at her husband as he passed by. “That guy,” she started, tilting her head towards the door even though Gaelen had left hours ago, “what happened?”
“He’s the one that helped me the other night. I just,” she paused, her voice cracking. She swallowed before continuing, “I didn’t know that he had a girlfriend or significant other or whatever that gorgeous woman was. And I probably made a fool out of myself.”
Cindy moved over to hug her. “You’re not a fool!” she whispered fervently. “You’re beautiful and wonderful and someday, someone is going to fall madly in love with you!”
Savannah absorbed the hug from her friend and laughed. “I’m not holding my breath.”
A few more customers trickled into the diner and Cindy gave Savannah another hug, then moved off. “Take it easy for a while. Have Mickey make you a burger. You’re looking a bit pale.”
Savannah smiled at the motherly woman, even though she was only about five years older than Savannah. Still, it felt good. Her mother had died a long time ago and her father hadn’t cared enough to notice her.
Unfortunately, the idea of a burger didn’t sit well with her stomach and she sighed, leaning her head back against the box again, letting the tears stream down her cheeks. For the next few minutes, she could be weak. She could cry and mentally collect herself. Obviously, she’d fallen for Gaelen, which was idiotic. How could she be so disappointed in a man she’d met only a day ago? It was stupid, she thought.
“Why are you crying?” a deep voice demanded.
Savanah spun around, shocked to find Gaelen standing in