Strictly Professional (7 page)

“That would be heaven. I’ll see you in a couple of hours then.”

Savannah almost ran up the stairs to her old room. The huge soft mattress called to her weary muscles like nothing else could. When she reached the door, she pushed it open and her eyes got a little misty. The room still looked like it had when she’d left home some ten years ago. Her trophies still lined the shelf on the wall from all the years of riding horses, playing baseball and soccer, and running cross-country in high school. She shut the door behind her, set her suitcase on the chair by the window, and then brushed her fingers over the shiny metal figures on top of each. She quickly brushed the tears away, sighed, and kicked her shoes off before she crawled beneath the comforter on the bed and drifted off to sleep.

* * * *

Savannah swept down the stairs in her black strapless dress, her legs bare of any nylons, and her strappy shoes with just a bit of heel. She didn’t want to stand too much taller than anyone else and already being five foot, seven inches, even three-inch heels usually put her well above everyone else except her sisters.

“Vannah! There you are!” Serena swept her up in a large hug and kissed her cheek before she stepped back and her other sister, Susannah, did the same.

“We thought you might sleep all night.”

Savannah kissed Susannah before she said, “I might have, but I knew none of you would let me. I’m sure Mom already has several men here picked out for all of us.”

“Of course she does and Daddy, too,” Susannah said.

Savannah compared the two of the four Gibson sisters standing in front of her. Both were tall like her, with thick, dark hair, although her own had a few more red highlights and Savannah had the brown eyes of their mother.

“So what’s this we hear about a boyfriend?”

Savannah rolled her eyes. “I
do not
have a boyfriend.”

“But Sabrina said...”

“Don’t listen to her. My car broke down on the way to the airport and a guy from work drove me in so I wouldn’t miss my plane.”

“A doctor we hear, and cute, too.”

“I’m going to kill her,” Savannah grumbled.

“Oh lighten up, Vannah. We’re only teasing. Of course it would be just like you to have a husband first.”

“Well I am the eldest.”

“By what, a year? Give me a break.”

“Come on girls. Mingle,” Maria said, waving from her spot next to the pool.

Savannah smiled at their mother, but grumbled out of the corner of her mouth, “You two do realize this is to introduce us...”

“Yeah, we know. Why do you think she invited half the eligible bachelors in Houston?’ Serena grinned and waved at their mother too.

“Shall we?” Savannah grabbed her sisters’ arms and drug them with her before they were swept up in the crowd of people her parents had invited.

Several hours later, she stood next to a fairly handsome blond with green eyes while he told her all about his business. “As the controlling stockholder in Admiral Cattle, I’m pretty set for life, I’d say.”

“Really? That’s fascinating,” Savannah drawled in her best sweet southern belle voice.

And the man continued while she fought the urge to puke on his shoes.

What would he do if he had a child that wasn’t feeling well and threw up all over him? That would never do. He would probably hold the kid out by his armpits until the nanny could be retrieved to take care of him.

Her cell phone vibrated and she frowned when she retrieved it from the pocket of the sweater she threw over her shoulders when the sun went down.

A small smile rippled across her lips when she read the text. It was from Brandon. He told her he was reporting on her baby—her car. It now ran like a top and sat in a very special spot in at his place. He had even bought a night cover to go over it until she got home. She moved away from the blond and he didn’t even seem to notice when she sent Brandon a text back.

‘You didn’t have to do that.’

‘I know, but I wanted to. How’s the visit with your parents?’

‘I’m currently at a dinner party with half the eligible bachelors in Houston in attendance.’

‘Oh, fun. Sounds like something my parents would do.’

‘Did you get any sleep today or did you take of my car all day?’

‘Took care of your car.’

‘Brandon?’

‘What?’

‘You should have slept.’

‘I will. Later.’

Her head snapped up when she heard Serena’s voice.”What are you grinning about, Sis?”

“Huh?”

Serena snatched the cell phone from her hand and spun around. “Brandon? Isn’t that the guy who took you to the airport?”

“Yes. Now give it back.” Savannah grabbed for the phone, but her sister managed to dance away with it.

“Let’s see what he said.”

“Rena? I’m going to throw you in the pool if you don’t give me back my phone.”

Her sister only grinned. “Oh look, he texted again.”

“Give me the damned phone, Serena,” Savannah growled as she reached out her hand to her sister. “Otherwise, I’m going to tell Mom you are interested in Clayton Miller.”

Rena gasped. “You wouldn’t?”

“Yes, I would. Now give me the phone.”

Her eyes narrowed before she grumbled, “Fine,” and handed the phone to Savannah.

The phone vibrated again.

‘Where did you go? You still there?’

‘Yeah. I had to wrestle my sister for the phone.’

‘Huh?’

‘She saw you text me. Now they're all in a twitter.’

‘Why?’

How do I convey a cocked eyebrow on a text? Not happening.

‘They're all thinking...’ she cringed before she finished the text, ‘boyfriend.’

‘Ah. I understand.’

‘You do?’

‘Yeah. Guy. Friend. = Boyfriend.’

Savannah shook her and fought not to laugh.
At least he understands.

‘I’m sorry. Need to go before my Mom finds your text and calls you.’

‘Calls me?’

‘Yeah. Guy. Friend = Boyfriend.’

‘Got it. TTYL.’

‘Sleep well.’

‘Sweet dreams.’

The rest of the party went by on a cloud for Savannah. She couldn’t help but grin every time she thought of Brandon taking care of her car.

Why would he do that? He hardly knows me and he’s been nothing but sweet.

Thankfully around midnight, the last of the partygoers left and they could retreat into the house and relax.

The four sisters each took a seat around the living room and released a heavy sigh.

“Well, my darlings. Your father and I will be bidding you good night. We’ll see you all in the morning at breakfast.”

“Night, Mom. Night, Dad,” each one chorused in turn before the older couple disappeared up the stairs.

“I’m glad that’s over,” Sabrina said.

“Yeah. Me too,” echoed Serena and Susannah.

“I just want to go to bed and sleep until tomorrow. I’m beat.” Savannah yawned. “This broken sleep crap is for the birds.”

“So what was Brandon sending you text messages for?”

Savannah gave Rena a scowl.

“What?”

“You didn’t have to tell them.”

“Why not? I think it’s cute.”

“There isn’t anything
cute
about it.” Savannah shot a glance at the other two. “He only sent the messages to tell me he had taken care of my car.”

“Are you still driving the Volkswagen?”

“Yes.”

“God, Savannah! It’s not like you can’t afford to buy a new car. Your trust fund is...”

“What, Susannah? I don’t use my trust for things like that and you know it. Not that Mom or Dad would care, but it’s for the future—my future—my children’s future at some point. I will get a different car when I’m done with my residency next year. Until then, I’ll make do.”

“Especially if she’s got a hunky doctor willing to help her with it,” Sabrina smirked.

“There is
nothing
between me and Brandon. He’s a colleague. That’s it.”

“Whatever you say, Savannah.”

She rolled her eyes, stood, and headed for the stairs. “I’m going to bed. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

“Night, Sis,” the other three chorused.

She slipped up the stairs to her room, quickly stripped off her clothes, and headed for shower.

I’d love a long soak in the tub, but I’d probably fall asleep and drown.

She frowned. Quick shower, and then off to bed.

The next evening, the four women sat around the table chatting about mundane things like their living situations, lack of significant others, their jobs, and so on.

Maria and William swept into the dining room with their normal commanding presence. Maria kissed each one on the cheek and said, “Good evening, my daughters. What a beautiful sight. I love having you all here, you know, but we have something we need to discuss with you all.”

Savannah shot a worried look at her siblings, who picked up on the unusual behavior of their parents, too.

Something’s up.

She laid her fork down next to her plate. “Mom? Dad? What’s this all about?”

Maria shot a look at their father before she took a seat at the table while he retrieved coffee for them both. “We hadn’t planned on discussing this during dinner.” William sat the cup down in front of her and took a seat. “What do you think, darling? Shall we?”

His broad shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Doesn’t matter. They aren’t going to like it.”

Savannah’s heart clenched with worry.

What? Is one of them dying? One of them is sick. That has to be it.

“Is one of you ill? If so, you know we’ll do everything we can—get the best doctors involved...”

Maria raised her hand to stop the flow of words. “We aren’t ill, Savannah, so calm down. We just have a bit of an issue we need to discuss with you all.”

All four sisters released a collective sigh of relief until the next words reached their ears.

“Your trust funds have been suspended.”

Chapter Four

All four of the women started talking at once.

“What do you mean?”

“You can’t do that!”