Chapter Eleven
Furiously, her father moved closer and roared, “What did that bastard tell you?”
“The truth.” Chin up, Savannah stood her ground. “I couldn’t believe you’d stoop so low, but you did.”
“This is absurd,” he said, bringing down the sound level several notches. “Sit down, Savannah.” He walked behind his desk and sat in his high-backed leather office chair. He’d assumed his bank president persona and she admitted he did it masterfully.
Since it looked as if the conversation might take some time, she sat in one of the leather chairs flanking his desk.
“Now, what are you talking about, Savannah? What lies did that man tell you? You’re not making sense.”
“Unfortunately it makes far too much sense. How could you?”
He leaned back in his chair and regarded her indulgently. “You’re going to have to be more specific. I have no idea what you’re asking me.”
“I don’t need an answer. I know it’s true from the way you’ve been acting and from what you said about Harlan. You blackmailed Harlan to break up with me when we were in high school. You threatened his family. What is wrong with you? How could you do something so reprehensible?”
“What in the hell are you talking about? You’re accusing me of blackmail and threats? Why would I blackmail Sullivan when I didn’t know you two were dating? If I had, yes, I’d have put a stop to it, but this is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Cut the innocent act. I know what you did. You threatened to call in his family’s loan on their house unless he broke up with me.”
“I did no such thing.”
“Don’t lie to me. Not anymore.”
“Very well. I did discover you were dating him. I was understandably upset that you’d engage in a clandestine relationship with anyone, much less a boy from the Barrels. Perhaps I suggested to Harlan he should think twice before he continued with your relationship, but to imply I threatened anyone is outrageous.”
“You’re denying that’s what happened?”
“Of course I deny it,” he scoffed. “Nothing of the sort ever took place.”
“Oh, really? Why don’t I ask Harlan’s parents? They never knew what Harlan did to stop you. But I’m sure they’d corroborate the fact that you called in their loan.”
“You’re becoming more hysterical the longer we talk. I suggest you decide whether you should trust me, your father, or that Barrels scum.”
Savannah stood up, walked over and picked up her coat. “If by Barrels scum you’re referring to Harlan,” she said, putting on her coat, “I trust Harlan.”
She walked out the door to her father’s stunned silence.
*
Harlan’s phone rang around eleven. When he saw it was Savannah he picked up immediately. “I’ve been worried about you.”
“I’m standing downstairs in the lobby of your apartment building. Can I come up?”
“I’ll be right down to get you.”
“Damn,” he said when he saw her. “I was going to ask if you’re okay but you’re obviously not.”
“It shows, huh?”
He ushered her into the elevator, passed his key over the sensor, and pressed the button to his floor. “Your mascara ran.” He cupped her face, his thumb wiping gently at the black on her cheekbones. Her nose was red too.
“That’s what I get for wearing washable mascara.”
“Can I use your bathroom?” she asked once he let them in.
“Sure. Down that hall,” he said, pointing. “Want something to drink?”
“Water, please.”
When she returned a short time later she’d washed off the mascara and looked a lot less like she was going to break down any moment. Even so, he could see she was still shaky. He handed her a glass of water and she took it with her over to the big window. The square and the neighborhoods visible from his window were mostly dark. An occasional light blinked here and there, but on a weeknight even Booze’s Place closed at midnight. The rest of the square rolled up its sidewalks by ten on a weeknight. Except during the Christmas on the Square celebration. Then at least some of the businesses were open until eleven.
Savannah looked out the window, not speaking for a long moment. Then she turned to him and said, “I wasn’t crying because I was upset, though of course, I am. I cried because I’m furious with my father.”
“The meeting didn’t go well, I take it?”
“The meeting went to hell in a handbasket. He started out by telling me a bunch of lies about you and your shady business practices.”
“How did you know they were lies?”
“I checked out your company, of course, after I found out you’d bought Whiskey River Construction. In case you didn’t know, there isn’t a whisper of any illegal or shady dealings about Phoenix Homes.”
He smiled. “Good to know.”
“He then demanded I quit dating you and quit working for you immediately. When I refused he started in on my poor judgment, et cetera, et cetera.”
“You have poor judgment? You’re kidding, right?”
Lifting a shoulder, she said, “According to my father, I do. So I confronted him with what you’d told me.”
“I thought you hadn’t decided what you were going to do?”
“I hadn’t. But once I got there and he started telling me crap I knew was all lies, I said to hell with waiting.”
“How did that turn out?”
“Just like you expected. He denied everything completely. I kept at him and he finally admitted he knew about us and that he might have suggested you not see me. But he denied making any kind of threat.”
“I’m sorry. Not surprised, but sorry.”
“It’s not so much that he broke us up. I don’t like it but I can kind of understand it. From his viewpoint I was still a child and what he did was in my best interests. But the way he chose to do it… It was so underhanded. I’d rather he’d simply forbidden me to see you. At least that would have been upfront.”
Harlan didn’t think Randall Taylor had an upfront bone in his body. But he wouldn’t say that to Savannah.
“He won’t even admit to what he did,” she continued.
“Did you expect him to?”
“I don’t know,” she said wearily. Her gaze met his. Her eyes were more gray than blue right now, and loaded with misery. “I never imagined him doing something so awful. How can I have known him all my life and never realized how far he’d go to get what he wanted?”
“Because he’s your father and you love him. It’s natural you would want to think the best of him and not the worst.”
Savannah sat on the couch and put her face in her hands. “I don’t know what to do,” she said, her voice muffled.
He sat beside her and put his arm around her, giving her a comforting hug. “Why do you have to do anything? Just let it alone until you’ve had time to figure out your feelings.”
She raised her head and looked at him. “I don’t need time to know how I feel. I’m furious.”
“I know. I was mad as hell for a long time. You need time to take it in, deal with it.”
“You’ve had fourteen years to deal with it. I’ve only had a few hours. It’s going to take me longer than that to process it.”
Harlan didn’t say anything, just kept his arm around her in what he hoped was a supportive hug. But like the morning after the ball, being so close to Savannah was very tempting. He didn’t want to just hug her; he wanted to kiss her. Hell, he wanted to make love to her. It was way too soon for that. Besides, something told him she wasn’t in the mood for romance.
“Harlan?” He looked at her. “How did you deal with it? How did you get over your anger?”
“I didn’t get over it so much as I let it go. It’s the past. A long time in the past. Do I still get mad when I think about it? Sure. But your father can’t do anything to hurt me or my family anymore. He’s not important now.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t ignore him. He won’t leave me alone. I guarantee you he’ll continue to harass me about you. Unless I quit, of course. And no, I’m not planning to quit.”
“Good.” He’d been sure she wouldn’t but it was still nice to hear her say it. “So, what are you going to do?”
She turned to face him and reached up to touch her fingers to his cheek. “I know what he did. I can’t force him to admit it, but I know. I had no control—I didn’t even know what he did when I was younger. But I’m a grown woman, in control of my own life now. If he doesn’t respect me and my decisions, I’ll cut him out of my life.”
“Would you really do that?”
She nodded. “If he forces the issue. But I hope he doesn’t.”
“I don’t want to be the cause of a rift in your relationship with your father.” Harlan thought he was a son of a bitch, but Savannah loved him.
“You can relax. If there is a rift, it will be his fault, not yours.” She moved away and he dropped his arm, letting her go. “I need to go home. It’s bound to be twelve-thirty at least.”
Harlan looked at the clock on his DVR. “One-thirty. You can stay here.” He laughed at the quizzical glance she shot him. “I have another bedroom.”
“Thanks, but I’m not sure either of us would sleep well knowing the other was in the next room.”
“You have a point. I’ll walk you down. Where did you park?”
Her lips curved up. “In front of the bank.”
He laughed. “I’d pay to see your father’s face if you left your car overnight.”
“It’s a tempting thought,” she agreed.
The square was deserted. There were streetlights on three corners of the square and at the entrance to the park. It was cold, but not bitterly so. Even with the lights he could see the stars in the clear, dark night.
Savannah unlocked her car and he opened the door for her. “Harlan?” she said before getting in. “Where do we go from here?”
He took her in his arms and smiled down at her. Bent his head and captured her lips, kissing her slowly, thoroughly, with just enough heat to let her know what he really wanted, but knew wouldn’t happen until she was ready. “Does that answer your question?” he asked, letting her go.
Savannah slid into the driver’s seat. “Yes. I just wanted to be sure we’re on the same page.”
I sure as hell hope we are, he thought, watching her drive off.