turned to see her reaction and wasn’t surprised that she had turned her back and was getting dressed. Why was he pushing her? Why couldn’t he just let this play out and enjoy what they had right now? He had more than he ever thought he would have with her again. Why wasn’t that enough? Questioning himself would do no good. With anyone else, he might have been able to take it one day at a time and just enjoy the fun. But nothing had ever been that simple with Savannah.
He looked around for his clothes and remembered they were still downstairs in the mudroom. He headed toward the door.
Savannah stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Let me at least make you some coffee.”
“I’ll get some at home.”
“Zach, don’t be angry.”
“I’ll have your car brought back. You got an extra set of keys?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “But—”
He walked out the door. He told himself he didn’t want her to call him back, but that was a lie. He didn’t allow any kind of vulnerability in his life anymore, but with Savannah, he was open and exposed. And though he knew it was stupid to have expectations of more after what he had done to her, he couldn’t help but be hurt at her rejection. They’d wasted so many years, and though it was stupid of him to expect to be able to just pick up where they’d left off, it was obvious they still had a strong attraction to each other. Why couldn’t they build on it?
Zach nodded. Hell yeah, they could build on what they had. He was known for his patience. He’d just be persistent, wait her out. Seduce her. Show her how much she still meant to him. Show her that this time, it could last forever.
Zach grabbed his clothes and threw them on. Then, stooping down, he picked up Savannah’s skirt and withdrew her car keys from the front pocket. By the time he got to his car, he had a plan. Savannah was wary, understandably. Instead of pressuring for more right now, he would sit back and woo her like she deserved. He could do things now that he couldn’t do back then. Savannah might not know it but she had issued him a challenge and he had accepted it. She was about to get some major wooing from the man who’d lost his heart to her ten years ago and had never reclaimed it.
Savannah swallowed her now cold coffee, grimacing as the liquid hit her queasy stomach. She’d been sitting at the kitchen table since Zach left, unable to do anything but stare into space.
She had hurt him and she hated that. Now she wasn’t sure how to proceed. Her heart just would not allow her to take her feelings any further than what had happened between them last night. The sex had been wonderful—the most satisfying night of her life. But sex was all she had to offer. Opening herself up to vulnerability like before wasn’t something she could allow. Explaining her reasons without ripping open a vein and bleeding her heartache all over again was going to be difficult. But he wasn’t going to just let this go … she’d seen the evidence in his eyes. And he deserved the truth; it was just a matter of how long it would take her to work up her courage to tell him.
Sighing her sadness, she finally stood and poured herself another cup of coffee. She was severely behind. Her grandfather’s clothes were packed and ready to be picked up, but his library was taking longer than she’d anticipated. Her grandfather’s interests had been extensive and the library director at the Midnight Public Library had been thrilled when Savannah had called and offered to donate his collection.
Problem was, she had no energy for or interest in packing anything right now.
Opening the back door, she stepped out onto the large bricked patio and inhaled the thick, warm air. A humid tropical paradise surrounded her. Her mother had designed and planted most of the flower garden. After her death, her grandfather had taken over, eventually becoming something of a gentleman gardener. Every conceivable exotic and tropical flower and plant surrounded the patio. The memories of the barbeques and impromptu picnics they’d shared here brought a smile to her face and an ease to her soul. She realized she hadn’t taken any time to explore and enjoy her favorite places around the house and estate.