His eyes took her in for a few seconds before he said. “Good morning”
“Good morning” Savannah replied.
“I’m sorry I won’t be able to have breakfast with you. I have to run out to go see that investor for a few hours.” He paused then added. “Would you like to come with me?”
Savannah shook her head. “Aren’t you kind of in a hurry?” she asked.
“Yes” he said, “Will you be all right alone?”
She nodded, relieved that she wouldn’t immediately have to face him. She needed time to regain her composure. Time to mentally reconstruct her defenses.
“Yes, of course. When will you be back?” she asked.
He checked his watch. “It’s almost eight now. I shouldn’t be later than noon. We can go to the mainland together and have lunch in a restaurant there and then maybe go for a walk later if you like.”
There wasn’t much she could say to that, or maybe she just didn’t know what to say, so she nodded. “Alright. I’ll see you at lunch.” She replied.
He lifted his hand in a wave and then walked away. For a moment she stared after him and then she closed the door, leaning against it.
Day one of attempting to forget the past and forge ahead.
“How’s that working out for you?” she muttered as she traipsed into the bathroom.
After drawing a tub full of steaming water, she sank up to her ears and sighed in complete bliss. She hadn’t made the water too hot, and she wouldn’t stay long. Then she’d go bake in the sun for a bit.
After twenty minutes, regretfully, she toed the lever for the drain and then hauled herself out of the tub.
Her stomach growled and she hurriedly went through the motions of dressing and putting on enough makeup to look presentable in public.
She ate the food in the kitchen. After downing an entire glass of juice, she smacked her lips in pleasure and went in search of a beach towel she could spread out on the sand.
After months of being on her feet for hours on end, working a thankless job for paltry wages, a day lounging on the beach sounded about as decadent as it got. She was going to enjoy every minute.
She didn’t bother with sandals since she wasn’t going far. The sand felt luxurious beneath her feet. So warm and soft. She sighed in contentment as she headed for one of the umbrellas.
The sound of the ocean filled her ears, beautiful and so peaceful. Here was a place where she could forget the pain of her past. It was a place made for being soothed. A vacation for the soul. It sounded ridiculous and a little corny but she liked it and quickly adopted it as her motto for this trip.
She spread the towel out over the sand, positioned the umbrella just so and then sank down, drawing her knees up as she stared over the rolling waves.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply and enjoyed the breeze dancing across her face. Her sleepless night quickly caught up to her as tight muscles relaxed and the tension she’d held for so long gradually fell away.
Soon it was hard to keep her eyes open, so she stretched out on the towel and turned on her side to face the ocean. The umbrella provided plenty of shade. A nap was too tempting to pass up. She’d simply wait for Matt here.
Shortly after noon, Matt let himself into the house and looked around for Savannah. He called out to her but got no answer. He checked the bedroom in case she was napping, but found that Rosa had already come through to make the beds.
He sighed and stepped out onto the patio and scanned the beach, looking for any sign of her. When he didn’t immediately spot her, he began walking toward the umbrellas that dotted the sand.
When he got to the third, he saw her lying on her side, eyes closed and looking so damn beautiful— and vulnerable—that it made his chest ache.
He watched the soft rise and fall of her chest. Her feet were bare and she looked so beautiful and peaceful. He eased down onto the towel beside her and stroked his hand through her silky blond hair. He slid his fingers down her arm, over the curve of her hip and then he shook her gently to wake her up.
She sighed in her sleep and shifted closer to his hand. The urge to pull her into his arms was so strong that he jerked his hand away so he wouldn’t do just that.
If only he could erase the past months and have things back the way they were. But he had to deal with her betrayal.
Reaching out, he shook her again , not wanting her to be exposed to the midday rays of sun, umbrella or not.
She came awake slowly and blinked sleepily at him. Her soft smile of pleasure warmed him to his toes.
“When did you get back?” she asked in a groggy, sleep filled voice.
“A few minutes ago,” he said, smiling at her. “Are you ready to go eat?”
She nodded and pushed herself up. He reached down to help her up, and she slid her fingers into his, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he guided her back to the suite, enjoying the few moments of intimacy afforded him.
While she showered and changed, he called Stefan to give him an update on the construction schedule at St Michael’s. The two men talked for a few minutes and Stefan didn’t mention Savannah once. Something Matt was glad for.
No matter that his friends and his family thought he was crazy, this was something he simply had to do. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Savannah since their relationship had ended. He might be the biggest fool in the world for doing this, but he was determined to figure this out between them. Even if it meant eventually going their separate ways.
When Savannah reemerged from her room, there was a lightness to her eyes that had been absent ever since he’d found her in the diner back home.