Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
“O h, boy.”
Savannah brushed past Hunt, grabbed his glass of Blanton Gold, and chugged it.
“Easy, baby.” He stroked her back, trying to ease her nerves. He enjoyed that her sexy, red cocktail dress left most of her back bare.
She huffed out a breath.
“Just relax,” he said.
“You relax.” She dragged in a breath. “Sorry, I’m just really, really nervous.”
He cupped her cheek, careful not to wreck her makeup. “It’s your first art showing in years. You’re entitled to some nerves.” He lowered his voice. “Have I told you how much I like your dress?”
Her gray gaze met his and she smiled. “No, but you gave it away when I set it out on the bed and you took one look, then dragged me down on the floor and made love to me.”
He smiled. “I like the dress, and I like the way you wear it even more.”
She touched her silky hair. Over the last few weeks, she’d let it return to her more natural silvery blonde. Right now, it was up in a sleek roll.
She snagged a flute of champagne from a passing server and sipped. “There are so many people.”
There were. They were in a wing of the Hutton Museum.
Over the last few weeks, Haven had worked her butt off, pulling the showing together.
Savannah had worked her butt off, too, creating new paintings and sculptures for the show.
Haven had also had several of Savannah’s sketches framed and displayed.
Thankfully, none were of him naked.
He’d turned his guest room on the top floor beside his master bedroom into an art studio for her. She loved it. She spent hours in there, her music pumping. She’d also hired Ella-Mae, who did jobs for Savannah—replenishing art supplies, packing up artwork, helping to keep the studio clean.
The teenager had fully recovered from her ordeal. Her parents had gotten her to see a therapist, and that had helped him convince Savannah to talk to someone, too.
Each day, she was lighter. Trusting her new life more and more, and leaving Andrew Walkson behind. The man had been sentenced, and was up on new charges for the additional women he’d murdered in Kansas, Colorado, and Florida. He would never see the light of day as a free man.
“God, you look so handsome in your tux.” Savannah fiddled with his bowtie.
“The showing’s going to be great. People are already loving your art.” He turned her. “Look.”
There were lots of people, all dressed in tuxedos and fancy dresses. Haven was talking with an elegant-looking couple who were staring intently at one of Savannah’s paintings.
“It doesn’t feel real,” Savannah murmured. “It’s like a dream.”
“It’s real.” He slid a hand down to her stomach. She’d had the work done on the scars. There would always be something there, but they were hardly noticeable now.
She didn’t seem to think about them anymore.
“I lost everything, now I have everything and more.” She spun. “I’m really, really glad my grumpy, detective neighbor came thumping on my door.”
“Me too, baby.” He kissed her. “Love you.”
“I love you too, Hunter.”
“Excuse me.” Haven appeared in a long, pretty, purple dress, sounding bossy. “You don’t get to monopolize the woman of the night, Hunt.” Haven took Savannah’s arm. “Come on. There are lots of people who want to meet the artist, and spend lots of money.”
As Haven pulled her away, Savannah shot him a look that was part terrified, part excited.
He smiled and sipped his bourbon.
“Looks like Savannah’s showing is a big success.” Vander stepped up beside him.
Vander somehow managed to look dark and dangerous in his tuxedo. He cradled a glass of something amber. Probably a hell of a lot more expensive than Hunt’s Blanton.
“Lots of sold stickers already,” Easton said, from the other side of Vander. The billionaire looked like he wore a tux every day.
“I’m damn proud of her,” Hunt said. “She deserves this.”
He planned to give her everything she deserved. All the things that had been denied to her for so long.
“I might have purchased that sculpture called Woman for an exorbitant amount,” Easton said. “I’m pretty sure Haven hosed me.”
Hunt had admired the piece and been lucky enough to see it being created. It was a woman with her arms raised above her head, her naked body covered in a tiny wisp of fabric. Savannah had worked on it for days. It was both elegant and sensuous.
Hunt’s lips quirked. “I take it you recognize the model.”
Easton’s eyes flashed. “I recognize my woman’s naked body when I see it.”
Vander grinned.
“Brynn posed for Savannah as well,” Hunt said. “The piece isn’t finished yet.”
“Shit.” Vander’s smile disappeared. “I’ll buy it before it goes to a showing.”
Hunt heard music start up in the back corner. There was a small band, and later there’d be a jazz singer and dancing. He planned to lure his woman onto the dance floor, and have her in his arms, as soon as she was finished hobnobbing.
She deserved to bask in her success.
He watched her talk with a trio of potential buyers. She gestured to the painting on the wall, then she glanced over and saw him watching her.
She blew him a kiss.
“Careful,” Vander warned. “You keep looking at her like that, and the place will go up in flames.”
“I get how you feel now, Vander. About Brynn.”
Vander’s gaze shifted, zeroing in on Brynn. Hunt’s cousin wore a sexy, one-shouldered dress in a pretty blue-gray. She was laughing with Harlow and Gia.
“You’d take on the world for them,” Vander murmured. “Stop anything from hurting them, all so they’ll look at you with love on their face.”
Hunt nodded. “Exactly like that.” He held his glass up. “Here’s to the love of a good woman.”
Vander touched his glass to Hunt’s.
Ryder and Camden appeared.
“What are we toasting?” Ryder asked.
“Loving a good woman,” Hunt told him.
Ryder shook his head. “I like to spread the joy. The ‘one woman’ thing isn’t for me.”
Easton, Vander, and Hunt all traded a look.
Cam stayed silent, but as Hunt followed his brother’s gaze, he saw him looking at Saskia Hawke. Savannah’s best friend had flown in for the showing. She was slim, with a body suited to the ballerina she was. She looked stunning in a black sheath dress.
“Your time will come,” Easton told Ryder.
“Nope.” Ryder sipped his beer, then half choked. “Who is that ?”
Hunt turned. A woman stalked along the edge of the dance floor wearing a shimmery, metallic dress in blood-red.
It clung to her long, fit body, molding over an ass that deserved more than a second look.
It had tiny, spaghetti straps, and no back.
It dipped all the way down to the top of her spectacular ass.
Her long, brown hair—streaked with gold—was loose.
Vander made a sound. “That’s the newest Norcross Security employee. Siv Pedersen.”
“Seeve,” Ryder repeated. “I wonder if she likes to dance.”
“Careful,” Vander warned. “She’s ex-Norwegian special forces, with a specialty in Arctic warfare and oil rig security.”
“Sounds badass,” Hunt said.
Ryder set his drink down and straightened his bowtie. “I’ll be back.”
Hunt shook his head. His brother had always liked a challenge…and getting himself into trouble.
Once again, Hunt scanned the room and found Savannah. Yes, when the right one appeared, it made everything worthwhile.
Eric, Mitchell, and Manny hadn’t made it home. They’d died for their country, but Hunt would live—in their memory, for Savannah, and for himself.
* * *
Okay, she was giddy.
And it wasn’t just from the copious amounts of very excellent champagne.
“I hope you can’t die from happiness,” Savannah said.
“Nope,” Haven replied. “I can confirm that.” The woman’s smile sparkled. “You’re a huge success, Savannah Cole.”
“I am.” There were so many sold stickers. People had loved the showing and her artwork. “All thanks to you.”
Haven shook her head. “No, thanks to your talent.”
“My art is being appreciated, I’m safe, and I’m in love with a hot detective.”
Hunter was in a huddle of handsome hotness with some of the Norcross men.
“You totally deserve it all.” Gia held up a bottle of Moet and topped up Savannah’s glass. “And I bought two pieces for myself. Saxon got a third.”
“That nude of the curvy brunette.” Haven winked.
“You can’t tell it’s me,” Gia said. “My face is obscured.”
“He could,” Haven said.
Savannah sipped, enjoying the bubbles on her lips.
“Just weeks ago, I had nothing. And now…” She saw her mom and brother dancing together.
They were laughing. Her mom called Savannah every other day, and Savannah and Hunt were planning a trip to New York in the near future.
Her mom still tripped up occasionally and called her Susannah, but it was less often now.
They were still working through some of the pain and hurt, but love shone through strongly.
And her mom loved Hunt.
Savannah scanned the room and spotted Camden, lurking in the shadows on the edge of the room. As she watched, a pretty blonde approached him. The woman said something, smiled hopefully, and waved at the dance floor.
Cam shook his head.
The blonde wrinkled her nose, then slipped away. Hmm . Savannah would have to work on the man she considered an honorary brother. Cam deserved someone special. Someone who made him happy.
Then she saw Cam straighten, staring intently.
Who was he staring at? Savannah craned her neck, trying to get a better look. He pushed off the wall and stalked across the room. That’s when Savannah saw that he was following Saskia into the next room.
Savannah’s mouth dropped open. She might be reading too much into it… But the more she thought about it, the more she decided her confident, beautiful friend would be perfect for Cam.
If she didn’t live on the other side of the country.
Hmm, well, any obstacle could be surmounted.
“Can I dance with the wildly successful artist?”
Hunt’s deep voice pulled her away from her musings, and she spun. “Yes, you can.”
Her man led her to the dance floor and twirled her into his arms. She breathed in his scent—Hunt’s sandalwood cologne permeated with his own scent.
“I’m so proud of you,” he murmured.
She flushed. “Thank you. I wouldn’t be here without you.”
“We make an excellent team.”
Gia and Saxon danced passed them. The pair moved well together.
“And I love your brothers and your friends,” Savannah added.
“They love you back.”
“You’re a cocky, arrogant ass,” a sharp female voice snapped.
They swiveled and saw Ryder on the dance floor, facing off with a stunning woman in a metallic, red dress.
“Uh-oh,” Hunt muttered.
The woman wasn’t pretty, exactly, but she was striking. Her brown hair was shot through with streaks of gold, and her face was all slim, sharp features. Her arms were very toned and she looked fit.
“Babe, I’m just confident,” Ryder said
The woman rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Wow, a woman who’s not impressed with Ryder’s charm,” Savannah murmured.
Hunt grunted.
Ryder smiled and said something else to the woman, too low for Savannah to hear.
Then she didn’t see exactly what the woman did, but her leg moved and hooked Ryder’s ankle. He went down hard, flat on his back, in the middle of the dance floor.
The woman smiled, then turned, and stalked off, her red dress swishing behind her.
“Wow, she’s awesome,” Savannah breathed.
Ryder sat up, staring hungrily after the woman.
Hunt shook his head. “It’s lucky my brother has a hard head.” Hunt pulled Savannah closer. “Enough of my brother. I want to know when we can sneak out of here and go home?” He nipped her jaw. “I really, really want to peel you out of this dress.”
Desire flickered in her belly. “Why, Detective Morgan…”
His gaze traced over her face. “Every smile, every laugh, every time you look at me with love in your eyes, I feel like the luckiest man in the world.”
She melted. “Oh, Hunter.” They kissed, right there in the middle of the dance floor. “Let’s go now.”
“You sure?”
She nodded, hungry for him. “If I get into trouble with Haven, I’ll tell her it was your fault.”
Hunt laughed. “I don’t know, Haven’s meaner than she looks.”
“I’ll have to give you some incentive.” Savannah went on her toes and whispered exactly what she planned to do to him once they got home.
“Fuck.” He squeezed her hand and dragged her off the dance floor.
Savannah laughed. “I have to say goodbye—”
“You’ll see everyone tomorrow.” He pulled her close. “You’re mine now, Savannah Cole.”
Her chest filled with warmth. She felt so light, happy, free.
“I sure am. Now take me home, Detective.”
* * *
I hope you enjoyed Hunt and Savannah’s story!