“Ah, yes. I was thinking we should play twenty questions to get to know one another better.”
She shrugged. “Okay. But, what if there’s a topic I’m not ready to share?”
I lifted my brows in question. “Interesting. I definitely want to find one of those questions.” I grinned.
She laughed, and already we were back to the easygoing nature of sharing space. In my past experience, women could hold on to an issue and drag it out for hours, days, and even weeks depending on the issue. Here, Savannah had taken a toilet break and came back completely ready to start over.
It was unbelievably refreshing.
“How about we each get three passes. But no matter what we ask, we either have to answer it truthfully or use one of our passes. When we’re out of passes, there is no safe out.”
“You drive a hard bargain, but I think I can handle those rules. Who goes first?”
“Ladies first.” I dipped my head and sipped at my glass so I could watch her as she ate and thought about what she wanted to know about me.
“Do you have any pets?”
I blinked stupidly, not at all prepared for such a random question. “You’re really digging deep into the heart of me there,” I taunted.
She tossed a piece of bread at me and laughed. “Hey! I thought I’d be nice and start with something easy. Not all questions have to be, ‘What’s your deepest, darkest secret?’”
“True. And that question has two answers.”
She pursed her lips together and squinted. “I’m waiting.”
“I do not have a traditional pet such as a dog or a cat. However, my parents live on one side of my primary dwelling and I on the other half. It’s a huge home with enough land to house a small city. The two sides of the home share a central common area where we usually host parties and have family gatherings. My parents have two pets. Sometimes their cats wander onto my side of the property, and I let them. They know where their owners are and who provides the food, but I enjoy their visits as much as they seem to enjoy pestering me.”
“That’s really cool. But that also means… You live with your parents!” She giggled openly. “A man who paid eight million dollars for a wife lives with his folks!” She laughed heartily.
I loved watching her laugh. She was ethereal in her joy.
“I admit, I’ve no need to live elsewhere, but I do have many homes around the globe that are mine and mine alone. I just prefer to be with family when possible.”
She nodded. “I can see that. When I had breaks from school, I always went straight home. Even if it was only for four days over Thanksgiving, I still scraped enough money together to come home and see Jar…I mean my family.”
This was the second time she’d nearly spoken of someone she didn’t want me to know about. I wanted to urge her to tell me about the mysterious person, but I didn’t want to push her away. She was finally laughing and sharing herself with me. Eventually, I’d get her outside of her comfort zone until the only comfort she needed was from me…within my arms.
“Your turn.” She plopped another berry into her mouth, distracting me completely .
“Keeping it simple. What’s your favorite animal?”
“Easy. Horses,” she answered instantly.
“Out of any animal, exotic or otherwise, you choose a horse?” I asked, surprise coating my tone.
She nodded.
“Why?”
“Because when you look into a horse’s eyes, you can see its soul. There’s nothing more beautiful than looking into a being’s eyes and seeing who or what they truly are.”
Awe, pure and evergreen, swept over me as I stared into her brilliant blue gaze, desperately trying to see straight through to her soul and find out if there was room enough for me.
“I couldn’t agree with you more.”
And for a split second our gazes connected, and I knew I’d do whatever it took to earn a place by her side.
Episode 30
When Evil Strikes
FAITH
Anticipation and anxiety skittered along my nerve endings in equal amounts as I twisted my fingers together.
Joel and I were sitting in the back of a shiny limo when he reached across the seat and took my hand. “Stop fidgeting. Everything is under control. We will get Eden, say farewell to your father, and then board my jet.”
I nodded but squeezed his hand as much for support as to calm myself down. Nothing had been easy for me since the day I’d met my ex. He’d taken a lonely, scraggly eighteen-year-old waitress with mommy issues and given me the world. At least that’s what I’d thought. He’d dressed me in the finest clothing, sparkling from head to toe. I was his queen, and he was king of Las Vegas. He paraded me around his people and hotels as though I were royalty.