Strictly Professional (6 page)

“Hello?”

“Hey, Vannah.”

“Hi, Sabrina. What’s up?”

“Just checking to make sure you’re on time.”

“Should be. I don’t see anything about a delay and the plane is already at the gate.”

“Good. I guess I’ll see you in Houston, then. I went ahead and reserved a car instead of a cab. That way we have transportation once we get home if we can to disappear for a bit.”

Savannah chuckled softly. “True. Hey? Maybe we can avoid Mom’s dinner party tonight that way? We can say the flights were late or something.”

“If only. You know better than that. Mom would call the airline and find out. Then we’d be busted.”

“True.”

“Now boarding. Flight 392 non-stop service to Houston Intercontinental Airport. All passengers with boarding cards in the A group, please line up behind the podium to my left.”

“It sounds like we are getting ready to board, Sabrina. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

“Okay. Be safe. We’ll have to get the other two together when we get home and go out for a drink.”

“Sounds like a plan to me, but not tonight. I need sleep. I had to work until this morning. Slept about five hours. Hit Starbucks for coffee and my car broke down. I had to get a lift from a new doctor at work that happened to be at the coffee shop, too.”

“New doctor?”

“Yeah. Cute one, too.”

“Oh, do tell.”

“I don’t have time now. See you in a little while.”

“Bye, sis.”

“Bye.”

Savannah found a seat next to the window, grabbed a pillow from the overhead bin, and drifted off to sleep before the plane even taxied from the gate.

The soft skim of his lips along her jaw had her moaning softly. Her mouth tingled for the pressure of his, but he avoided bringing them together and she whimpered. Instead, he moved down her throat to the rapid flutter of her pulse and sucked. Her hands reached for his shoulders, begging for him to continue his assault on her senses. She never knew the rough scrape of whiskers could be so enticing. The palm of his hand found her breast and she arched her back, wanting the pressure to continue. The hard nub tightened to an achy point.

“God I want you so much, Savannah.” He took her hand in his and pressed it to the bulge between his legs. “Feel how much I want you.”

“Please...”

“You need to tell me you want this, too, or I stop right now.”

“No—don’t stop.”

“Tell me, Vannah.”

“Yes! God, yes! Brandon, please...”

The jerk of the plane hitting the tarmac jarred her awake and she blinked several times trying to focus.

Oh. My. God.

The ache between her thighs almost had her whimpering her need.

I wasn’t just dreaming about Brandon Cooper, was I?

“Good dream, eh?” a pretty twenty-something girl sitting next to her said with a twinkle in her eye.

Savannah cleared her throat and dropped her gaze to her feet.

Shit!

“It’s okay. You weren’t
that
loud.” The girl’s smile got bigger when Savannah looked at her again. “I hope you are going home to see Brandon. Otherwise this might be a really long trip.”

Heat crawled up her neck and spread across her cheeks like wildfire. “Uh, no.”

“Damn. Sorry to hear that. At least tell me you know someone with the name.”

“Yeah. A co-worker.”

“You might need to figure out how to make him more if your dream was of any significance. It sounded like it might have been pretty hot.”

I am not having this conversation with a stranger.

“Thanks for the advice.”

The plane pulled into the gate and the fasten seatbelt light went off, giving them the freedom to retrieve their belongings and disembark. Savannah lifted her bag to her shoulder, pulled her roller bag behind her, and strolled up the jet way, ready to face her parents and the next round of Who Will Be Getting Married First.

Several minutes later, she was swept up in the warm hug of her sister, Sabrina. “You look like shit, Vannah.”

She took in her sisters completely unruffled appearance with her thick, dark hair pulled into a long braid down her back, her long eyelashes, and flawless complexion. “Thanks, Sabrina. You look fabulous, as usual.”

Sabrina laughed and looped her arm through Savannah’s as they made their way to the car rental counter. “Yeah, well, it’s a wonder what a good night’s sleep will do for you.”

“Well, look at what we have here. If it’s not two of Gibson sisters.” The voice brought Savannah’s attention to the partially-balding, large thirty-year-old man behind the rental car counter of Hertz rental cars. Jake Brown. The name made her want to vomit. The guy had gone to high school with her and he'd been the most conceited, jock at Destiny High School. It almost had her laugh to see how low he'd dropped. Especially when he'd hung it over everyone's head, how much money his folks had. He thought every girl should kiss his feet with his fancy sports car and money. She'd heard they lost everything when his dad got caught embezzling funds at the bank he worked for.

“How are you doing, Jake? You’ve got yourself a right fine job, I see.”

“Savannah.” Her name dripped off his pudgy lips before he turned to Sabrina. “Hey, Sabrina.”

“Jake. Can you get my car for me please? Here’s my license and credit card.”

“Sure.” He swiped Sabrina’s credit card through the machine and in moments, it spit out her contract. “Just sign right there.”

Her sister quickly signed the appropriate place and he handed her the keys. “How long you staying? Maybe we could get together for a drink?”

“Sorry, Jake. Only here for a day or two and our parents already have us booked solid.” She tucked the contract inside her purse. “Thanks for the help. See you around.”

The two women walked away from the counter and out the door to retrieve the car, but just when they cleared the glass entrance and it shut behind them, they both laughed hysterically. “Good Lord. Why do you encourage him like that? He’s been hot for you for so long, I thought he was about to drool on the counter.”

“I can’t help it. I just can’t be mean to him.”

“You don’t have a nasty bone in your body.”

“Only to IRS agents.”

The found the car and Sabrina opened the locks with the fob in her hand.

“I can’t wait to climb into a soft bed.”

“Don’t forget the party tonight.”

“I know. I’m hoping I can get a couple of hours sleep before I have to make an appearance. Do you think Mom will miss me?”

“Uh. Duh.”

Savannah laughed. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Her cell phone jingled in her purse and she reached down to grab it. When she looked at the screen, she bit her lip.

“Aren’t you going to answer it?”

Her gaze swung to her sister.”Huh? Yeah.” She opened the phone and said, “Hi Brandon.”

Sabrina’s perfectly rounded eyebrow rose in a questioning arch and she mouthed, ‘Brandon?’ Savannah shook her head.

“I wanted to make sure you got to Houston okay and let you know I’ve already had your car towed to my place.”

“Oh. Yeah, I’m here. I just hooked up with one of my sisters and got the rental car.”

“Good. I haven’t gotten the distributor cap yet. I’ll pick it up later.”

“Did you get any sleep? You said you hadn’t been to bed yet when we met at the coffee shop.”

“No, not yet.”

She chuckled and rolled her eyes. “I get the impression you’re worse than me for getting sleep. I’ve already gotten the lecture from my sister and told I look like shit.”

He laughed on the other end of the phone. “I thought you looked pretty good when I saw you earlier.”

Silence.

“I...uh...”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Just an observation.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“You’re welcome.” He sighed into the phone. “I better go. I do need to get some sleep sometime today. I’ll talk to you later, I guess.”

“Yeah. Thanks again for taking care of my car and dropping me off at the airport.” Her gaze swung to Sabrina again and she bit her lip.

“No problem. See you when you get back.”

“Bye, Brandon.”

“Bye.”

She shut the phone with a click and slid it back inside her purse as they rolled through the gates of Gibson estates.

“Brandon? Who’s Brandon, Savannah?”

“A guy at work.”

“Ah. The doctor who helped you with your car that you mentioned earlier.” She tapped her finger on her lip. “Cute one, you said, if I remember correctly.”

“Don’t start. It’s not like that. He’s only helping me.”

“Uh-huh.”

Luckily they pulled up the front door of the house and Savannah pushed open the passenger door, saving her from retorting. The last thing she wanted at this point was to explain the strange relationship—or whatever you wanted to call it—with Brandon to her sister.

“I’m sure Mom would be interested in your friendship with Brandon.”

“What? Savannah? You have a boyfriend?” her mother said from the porch and Savannah shot a death glare at Sabrina before she turned around. Savannah wrapped her arms around her petite mother and felt the warmth surround her. She stepped back, kissed her mother on the cheek, and said, “No, Mom. I don’t. He’s a co-worker.”

Sabrina laughed hysterically. “But he took you to the airport, Vannah.”

“Shut up, Sabrina!”

“You’ll have to tell me about this young man, Savannah.”

“Nothing to tell, Mom. Sabrina is blowing it way out of proportion.”

They stepped inside the cool interior of the large hall that encompassed the entrance of the house. The Mediterranean style home a stark contrast to the Spanish/Mexican heritage of their mother and old Texan of her father. A sweeping staircase led to the upper floors off to their right with its oak banister gleaming from a fresh coat of polish. The marble floor sparkled in the afternoon sun and Savannah was almost afraid to step on it for fear of scuffing the white surface. One thing about their mother, she always kept an immaculate house.

“Savannah, Sabrina. I’m glad you’re here.” William Gibson grabbed each one in turned and hugged them tight.

“Where are Serena and Susannah? They aren’t here yet?”

“No, but they should be here soon,” Maria answered. “Why don’t you take your bags up to your rooms, girls?” Her eyes swept over Savannah. “You look like you need a nap, sweetheart.”

“I do, Mom. I worked last night, remember?”

“Ah, yes.” Maria pushed the hair back off Savannah’s forehead. “Well, why don’t you lie down for a while and I’ll wake you for dinner?”