“She’s uncomplicated,” Case said after swallowing a mouthful of burger. “She doesn’t play games.”
“Uncomplicated? Is that a good thing these days?” Hunter asked, scratching his jawline. “One of the things I love about Olivia is that she’s multi-faceted. She’s sweet but sassy at times. She was raised in the lap of luxury, yet she has such simple wants. She’s strong yet vulnerable.” Hunter shivered. “She’s my perfect match.”
Case shrugged. He hadn’t ever really thought about it. It wasn’t as if Meryl was his girlfriend or anything. “I don’t know. She’s simple. She’s pretty but not the most beautiful girl in the world. She dresses okay, but doesn’t walk around like a fashion model.”
“Sounds like she’s low maintenance,” Luke said with a shrug.
Jax shook his head and let out a groan. “If no one else is going to say it, I will.” He banged his palm down on the table. “It sounds to me that you’re not picking Meryl at all. You’re spending time with her because she’s the very opposite of Fancy. You’re rejecting Fancy. And that can only mean one thing.”
Case sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “And that is?”
“You’re still into her,” Hunter said with a grin. “You haven’t gotten over Fancy. Not by a long shot.”
Case scowled at his friends. He opened his mouth to say something, but he ended up closing his mouth and saving himself some embarrassment. Although he didn’t like to hear it verbalized, he knew Hunter and Jax were right. He wasn’t over Fancy. And he seriously doubted whether he ever would be.
**
Another day at Savannah House. Another day that brought them one step closer to opening the doors of their inn and launching the reboot of the historic bed and breakfast. Just the thought of it brought a smile to Fancy’s face. Every day she was feeling stronger about being back in Savannah. She knew without a doubt that it was due to two things: Savannah House and her friends. They were the only things that distracted her from her tangled past with Case.
Now if only things would go smoothly today with Case. She prayed that his mood was more civil than it had been the other day. There was no need to make everyone else feel uncomfortable being in their presence. People broke up every day. It didn’t have to be a colossal drama. Lines didn’t need to be drawn in the sand. And no one should feel forced to take sides! Increasingly, she was beginning to wonder if both Charlotte and Callie felt torn in two by the issue.
By the time Case walked into Savannah House, Fancy had already situated herself next to Hope and Morgan on the couch. It had been a deliberate action on her part. There couldn’t be anything more painful than to sit next to the man she loved yet not be able to touch him or talk to him. Today she was going to be sparing herself a world of hurt and torment.
Ouch! Not so fast! Suddenly, it felt as if someone had reached inside her chest and squeezed her heart.
Did he have to look so gorgeous today? Couldn’t he ever just look normal? Like your average, run-of-the-mill guy? Nope. Instead he resembled a movie star reporting to the set to shoot a scene. Did his white shirt have to look so crisp? His suit jacket so sharp and well-tailored? His face so jaw-droppingly handsome?
He swung his gaze toward her as if he felt her intense stare. Fancy felt like a deer caught in the head lights. For a moment the room stilled and hushed. Everyone seemed to feel the tension. Something urged her to look away, but she couldn’t. It felt like she was being pulled toward him by a magnet.
The sound of someone clearing their throat broke the connection. Case’s jaw hardened and he looked away. She felt Morgan’s hand squeezing her own in a gesture of solidarity. Fancy squeezed back, letting Morgan know without saying a word that she felt her support and appreciated it.
For the next hour they discussed the legalities of conducting wedding ceremonies at Savannah House, zoning issues, food license requirements and sales tax issues. Fancy’s eyes were beginning to glaze over. Frankly, she was more interested in the creative aspects of the hotel such as interior design, decorating, painting and the accommodations. So far she had worked hand in hand with the painters and a few furniture warehouse companies. Every last detail of Savannah House’s new aesthetic had been left to her judgment. Although they were still awaiting the bulk of the furniture deliveries, Fancy knew that the color palettes she had chosen for the walls was impeccable.
It felt gratifying to hear the other girls rave about her color choices and how beautifully updated the walls looked due to her hard work. Finally, she’d found something she was good at. Although everyone in New York had raved about her modeling abilities, it hadn’t been a career she’d felt proud of. In the beginning it had made her feel important, but all too soon she’d been jaded by the meaningless nature of it all.
Being part of Savannah House was giving her life a new focus. And suddenly, she felt extremely proud of her contributions to the resort.
“Does anyone remember where we put the boxes of brochures? The ones Miss Hattie used in the past?” Callie asked. “I think we could learn a lot by looking at them. Savannah House was very successful back in the day.”
“Fancy, didn’t you put those boxes in storage?” Charlotte asked.
“Yes, I put them back in the attic for safekeeping. I can go up and get them if you want. I know just where I placed them.” Fancy stood up. She was almost eager to get some breathing room away from Case’s close proximity. With his suit jacket and tie, he looked gorgeous. He was proving to be way too much of a distraction. Several times her gaze had strayed in his direction.
“Case, why don’t you help her out?” Callie asked. “Those boxes are heavy lifting.”
Fancy shot Callie a glare. What was she playing at? It would be awkward to go into the attic with Case. But if she balked at the idea, perhaps Case would figure out that she still had feelings for him. She couldn’t imagine anything more humiliating.
“No problem,” Case said with a nod. “After you,” he said, waving his hand in the air. Fancy moved toward the door, leading the way into the hallway and toward the grand spiral staircase. She felt self-conscious as she led the way up three stories toward the attic. Thankfully, she was dressed more casually today. Ballet flats and jeans were much more manageable when climbing steep stairs.
By the time they got to the attic Fancy’s breathing was a bit ragged. She could hear a little wheeze in her throat. More and more lately it was happening to her. She needed to get more exercise.
“You okay there? It sounds like you just ran a mile.” Fancy didn’t need to turn around to detect the sarcasm in Case’s voice.
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking,” she said briskly. Reminder to self. Join the YMCA. Take up kick boxing or Pilates. Despite her 5’10 height and model physique, she was out of shape. And it was slightly embarrassing that her former fiancé had noticed.
She pushed open the attic door, wrinkling her nose at the slightly musty smell. All in all, the attic was in great shape. A few skylights provided plentiful sunlight. The ceiling beams were antique wood that had withstood the test of time. A mahogany rocking chair sat in the corner under the eaves. A multitude of boxes sat in the far right corner. Fancy quickly made her way over toward the boxes. She could hear the tread of Case’s feet behind her.
The sound of the door closing, followed by a clicking sound drew both of their attention.
Case frowned. “Hey. What was that?”
“It sounded like the door shut,” Fancy said. “Maybe a draft.”
Case quickly moved toward the door and tugged on it. It wouldn’t budge. “That wasn’t a draft. Someone just locked us in here.”
“I highly doubt anyone did it on purpose,” Fancy said. “I mean…why would they?”
Case began banging on the door. “Believe what you want. But doors don’t just close and lock on their own.”
“T-they wouldn’t,” Fancy sputtered.
“Okay, guys. This isn’t funny,” Case said in an annoyed voice. He
banged on the wooden door.
Fancy came up behind him and kicked at the door. “Open up. This is so incredibly juvenile. Whose bright idea was this?” She yelled at the door. “Callie? Morgan? Heads are going to roll for this. That I can promise you.” She held her finger high in the air as if issuing a challenge. Realizing that no one but Case could see her, she placed her hands at her side and began breathing deeply in and out.
“This is ridiculous!” He threw his hands up in the air. “I can’t believe they would do this. It’s childish and immature and incredibly irresponsible.”
Fancy shook her head. “It’s pretty hardcore, I’ll admit.”
He clenched his jaw. “What do they think this is going to achieve? This isn’t some old school movie where we’re going to bond and reconcile because they locked us in here. That’s their agenda, isn’t it?”
“Why are you asking me? I’m in the same boat as you are. I have no clue what their mindset is.”
Case narrowed his gaze at her. “Are you sure about that?”
Fancy sputtered. “Of course I’m sure. Of all the colossal nerve. Do you actually think that I want to be trapped with you in here? A man who hates my guts? Who thinks I’m worse than the junk on the soles of his shoes?”
“I don’t hate you, Fancy. I could never hate you,” Case said, his features creased with emotion. “It’s not about hating you.”
She locked gazes with him. “It sort of seems like you do. Most times you can’t even look at me, and when you do, it’s like you’re staring straight through me. That hurts,” she said with a sob.
“I have to do that. Do you think I want to look at you and remember everything we meant to one another? Do you think I don’t hurt over our breakup? We should be married now, Fancy. Man and wife. Till death do us part. Instead of becoming my forever, you broke my heart.”
Fancy wiped away stray tears that were streaming down her face. “You broke my heart too, Case Duvall. That last day we had together I begged for your forgiveness so we could start a life together. I was willing to do anything to earn your forgiveness. You leaned down and kissed me. It was the most tender, soulful, meaningful kiss of my life. And then you looked down at me and told me it was going to be the last kiss that we ever shared.” Fancy let out a sob, then placed her hand over her mouth to stifle it. “I can’t even begin to imagine why you kissed me like that then walked away.”
Case winced and shook his head. “Don’t cry, Fancy. Please don’t.” He reached out and took her in his arms, pressing her against his chest as if he had every intention of protecting her from a world of hurt.
**
What had he done? Out of pure instinct he’d reached for Fancy and taken her into his arms. Truthfully, he hadn’t even thought about it. It had come as naturally to him as breathing.
Case had never been able to deal with the sight of Fancy crying. And it pained him that he’d hurt her so badly. But he’d been in pain also! She’d been running around with another man, leaning on his shoulder and confiding in him things about their relationship. About her unhappiness. It had been such a shock to realize that their lives weren’t going to end in a happily ever after. His soul had been crushed. His pride had been assaulted. As a man of faith, it had felt as if everything he’d ever believed about their love had been a lie.
He gently but firmly pushed her off his chest. Her eyes flashed with surprise. No doubt she was wondering about him pulling her close, then pushing her away.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt you. Not with that last kiss and not now.” He felt his jaw tremble. It was hard to go back into the past and relive these devastating memories. It still had the power to bring him to his knees. Fancy had been the love of his life, the woman he had joyfully proposed to and wanted to marry. Every time he’d looked at her Case had seen their future in her eyes. And then his world had exploded when he’d received the news about her relationship with Marc. At the time he hadn’t been sure whether or not he would survive it.
“It was my way of drawing a line in the sand. Of saying goodbye without all the back and forth drama. I tried to forgive you, but every time I looked at you I thought about him. And I wondered. I imagined the two of you alone together, sharing secrets, talking about us…and doing other things.”
Just the thought of Fancy kissing Marc had the power to enrage him. Even now, after all this time. He wasn’t proud of it, but there it was. His truth.
Fancy shook her head. Her long blonde hair tumbled around her shoulders. She frowned at him. “Other things? There were no other things, Case. And it hurts that you think there might have been.”
“Don’t you see, Fancy? That’s what happens when you lose faith and trust in someone. Nothing is crystal clear. I wanted to believe you, but I wasn’t sure.” He raked a hand through his hair. “And I couldn’t live like that.”
“I want to make it clear. Nothing could be further from the truth. I never kissed him. We shared a friendship, Case. That was all.” Fancy’s voice vibrated with intensity.“And I’ll admit that I wasn’t honest with you about it, but I was lonely and he filled a void. I didn’t realize that Marc was falling in love with me. While I viewed it as a friendship, his feelings were growing.”
“So you never once kissed him?” Case asked, his gaze narrowed. Just the thought of it made his blood boil. If he had learned one thing through this ordeal it was that he was a jealous man. When he loved…he loved hard, with all his heart and soul. The thought of another man laying his hands on Fancy had been enough to drive him over the edge. He wasn’t proud of it, but it was the unvarnished truth.
He knew jealousy was a vicious emotion, destined to cause strife. He knew it from the passage from Song of Solomon. Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
Case often wondered if his own jealousy had sealed the fate of his relationship with Fancy. Had he ever really believed her version of events? Hadn’t he chosen to believe the worst of her? Had he been unfair?
“One time he kissed me,” Fancy said, her tone passionate. “Once. And I pushed him away. That was the last time I ever saw him. And I knew that I never would again. At least not one on one. The very next day you confronted me. Even though I was scared to death, I told you the truth. I told you everything.”
Case ran his hand through his hair. “But would you have told me if I hadn’t confronted you? That’s the real question. I was working like a dog at Duvall trying to secure our future while you were confiding in Marc about our relationship and spending time alone with him.”
“I was unhappy about all the time you were spending out of town and working. It felt like I was planning the wedding alone. It seemed like you were slipping away from me.” She reached out and grabbed ahold of his arm. “I was scared.”
Case locked gazes with her. “Being scared is no excuse to go running to another man. It’s that simple.”
“I was reaching out to a friend,” Fancy said in a heated voice. “No matter how you try to twist it to fit what you want it to have been, it’s just not true.”
Case leaned in so that their faces were within inches of each other. “So tell me this. Downstairs in this very house you have five of the very best friends anyone could ever ask for. Why didn’t you reach out to them if it was all about friendship?”
It had been the question that kept him up in the middle of the night. What was it about Marc that had led Fancy to seek out his friendship? And why hadn’t she leaned on her five fabulous friends? It still made him angry that Marc had been privy to details about their private relationship.
Fancy’s mouth opened, then she snapped it shut. Moisture pooled in her sea blue eyes. “I-I can’t answer that. Honestly, I can’t. I just know that he was a friend. And every single day I kick myself for allowing the situation to come to a head like that. If I had the power to redo things, I’d go back in an instant and
do everything differently. But I can’t.”
All of a sudden the sound of the lock turning echoed in the small space. Clearly, someone from the other side had unlocked the door. For an instant they simply stared at one another, unwilling or unable to move away from this moment in time. Finally, he broke. “I need to get back to work.” He looked at his watch. “This stunt was a colossal waste of my time.”
He wrenched the door open and walked out, quickly making his way to the staircase. Although he could hear the patter of Fancy’s feet walking behind him, he didn’t turn around to check or to say a single word to her. At the moment, all he wanted to do was to get as far away from Savannah House and these six women as possible.
At the first floor landing, all five women stood huddled together. They all looked up as he came into view. “That stunt is going to cost you. I’m going to bill you guys double time for that,” Case growled. His footsteps echoed in the stillness of the house as he stomped down the stairs.
Charlotte stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at him with wide, startled eyes.
“Seriously?” he barked. “You’ve wasted my time. I’m late going back to the office.”
“W-we were just trying to allow you some time together,” Charlotte said, her voice quivering.
“What in the world ever possessed you to do something like that?” Fancy asked in a bewildered voice.
A sheepish expression was etched on Morgan’s face. “We thought it might force the two of you to talk and air things out.”
“For the record, it was not my idea,” Olivia said, folding her arms across her chest. She shook her head ruefully. “I have way better sense than that.”
“Next time, please keep your noses out of our business. If I’m to continue working in the best interests of Savannah House, I have to insist that these juvenile games stop. You have no idea how completely and utterly unprofessional this is.” Case really wanted to say more, but Charlotte looked as if she might have a breakdown. Something told him that she hadn’t been the mastermind of this plot. More times than not, Charlotte was the one who went along with the group and rarely spoke up in opposition.
The Last Kiss (Secrets of Savannah Book 3) Page 4
