Whisper's Edge (9 page)

It didn’t help Tristan’s resolve when the narrow sidewalk outside Whisper’s Edge forced him to fall into step side by side with Savannah when Ben and Kate took the lead. While he sure sucked at small talk, Savannah filled in that gap with ease. Her bubbly personality made it difficult to remain detached.

“The river looks so pretty tonight. There’s something soothing about the water, don’t you think?”

“Yeah,” Tristan agreed. “I’ve always enjoyed boating.”

“Do you have one?”

“I had a cabin cruiser for a while but my schedule was so busy that I finally sold it.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.”

Tristan shrugged. “Not really. I have friends with boats and it sure is a lot less hassle to be a passenger rather than the captain.”

“Never thought of it that way but I guess you’re right. But I do think it would be cool to own a boat.”

“Maybe you will someday.”

Savannah rolled her eyes. “Not likely, but I do get the chance to go out with some of the residents. Several of them
have boats and I like to drop a line in the water every now and then. We usually have a fishing tournament or two to raise money for charity.”

Tristan nodded. “That’s very commendable.”

“Yeah, I have a running list of local charities that need volunteers. Keeping active is important for the physical and mental health of the residents. So many people retire and think it’s going to be all rosy but they soon get bored.”

“Makes perfect sense.”

“I read somewhere that happy people are those who wake up with a sense of purpose.” She shrugged. “I try to have activities scheduled that make them want to put their feet on the floor in the morning and get the day started. And, of course, helping the community is always a good thing. Even though Cricket Creek is thriving, there are still plenty of people in need.”

“A win-win situation,” he commented lightly but he couldn’t help but be impressed. While he had a lot more formal education than Savannah did, she had a quiet confidence that must come from living and learning on her own terms.

“I know how it feels to be down and out,” Savannah stated simply, and then shrugged. “I’ve come a long way and I count my blessings every day.”

Tristan thought of her modest home and the pride she so obviously took in it and had the sudden urge to take her hand and kiss it. He had never had the urge to do such a thing…
ever
and it shook him up a little bit.

“I guess this small-town atmosphere is a far cry from city living.” She glanced up at him in question.

“Yes and no. The view from the condo I’m renting is similar to the one I lived in back in Cincinnati. My terrace overlooked the Ohio River and Great American Ballpark. The smaller city across the river in Covington in Kentucky actually reminds me a little bit of what I’ve seen of Cricket Creek. Old buildings, lots of shops and restaurants.”

“But Cincinnati was full of skyscrapers, right?”

“True. My office was located in a beautiful old building called the Carew Tower. It was built back in 1930 and is actually on the list of Historic Landmarks. The art deco architecture was used as a model for the Empire State Building.”

“Wow, that’s pretty darned cool.”

“Yeah, I was too young to remember but my mom said that back in the 1980s there was a giant inflatable gorilla hanging from the side of the Carew Tower.”

“Ah! I get it! King Kong! Somebody on city council had a sense of humor. Too funny.”

“The inside is pretty sweet too.”

“Wow, I bet.”

“Yeah, the cost to build it was over thirty million, which was a fortune back then. The metalwork and lights are old school and gorgeous, especially on the first three floors. It would have been even more amazing but the building was finished right before the stock market crash that led to the Great Depression…and I am probably boring you to tears.”

Savannah placed a hand on his arm. “Not at all. Did you forget that I want to travel and see the world? I’m sure the building is amazing and I’d love to see it.”

The thought flashed through his mind that he’d love to take her there.

“Of course, I’d probably walk around with my jaw hanging open wide enough to catch flies.”

Tristan laughed. “Well, I studied history as my prelaw major so I enjoy reading the background of just about anything. When you know the history of something I think it makes it all the more interesting.”

“We can learn from our past, for sure,” she said, but her smile faded a bit, making Tristan wonder what was going through her mind. He remembered asking her about where she was from and her answer had been cryptic. “If walls could talk, huh?”

“Wow…” he said and then immediately wished he hadn’t said that out loud.

“Wow…what?” She looked at him when they stopped at a curb. Ben and Kate were in deep discussion about the shade of brick pavers to use and didn’t turn around to save him from answering.

“Nothing, it’s just that I think about that a lot. When I’m in a historical building I always envision what it would have been like to have been there in the heyday.” Tristan didn’t think he had ever divulged that to anyone. “They have this thing in Cincinnati every so many years called Tall Stacks where the river is flooded with steamboats. Makes me wonder what it would have been like to have lived back then.” He chuckled, a little bit embarrassed at his admission. “I guess my view of the river makes my imagination run wild.”

“Hey, no, I understand completely. Books and magazines do that for me as well.” She reached out and touched his arm again. “They transport me to that place and time, even if it’s fiction. Books are my escape. They always have been.”

“So what do you like to read?” he asked as they started walking again. The small talk that he sucked at started coming easier.

“Oh, I read a bit of everything. I’m a regular at the local library and there’s a new and used local bookstore that recently reopened up in town.”

“And your favorite genre?”

She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, but then said, “Romance novels.”

Tristan raised his eyebrows. “The kind with those racy covers?”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” she warned and gave his side a gentle nudge with her elbow.

“Fair enough, so what do you like about romance novels?”

“That there is always hope,” she answered simply.

“Hope about what?” He knew he should be pulling back but Savannah was sucking him in with her sweetness.

Savannah looked away and at first he didn’t think she was going to answer. “Well, I suppose it’s the hope that against all odds, love will win in the end.” She gave him a jerky shrug. “I know. I’m silly.”

“No.” Tristan pulled up short, even though Kate and Ben kept walking. “There’s nothing silly about believing in something, Savannah.”

“So…” She looked up from the ground that she was staring at and he knew what was coming. “Do you believe?”

“In Santa?” He tried to joke but she shook her head.

“No, silly, in fairy-tale endings. You know, happily ever after.”

“I…” He had heard the saying about drowning in someone’s eyes and thought it was a bunch of bull but damned if he wasn’t feeling it right now. He swallowed. He knew that she was really asking if he believed in everlasting love. “Honestly, I’ve dated here and there but I’ve been too focused on my career to get involved in a serious relationship.”

“That’s not what I was asking, Mr. Lawyer. You sure are good at dodging questions.”

“Guilty.” Ah, she was on to his tactics. He started walking slowly, hoping she’d give it up. After his brief silence she did.

“Oh, listen to me goin’ on about fairy tales. You must think I’ve got my head stuck in the clouds.”

“Not at all. You’re way too short.”

“Ha-ha,” she said and wrinkled her nose at him.

“I’m joking. Truthfully, I think you’re very levelheaded.”

“You’re being too kind. Well, in any case, please forgive my curious nature. It tends to get me into trouble.” She started walking at a quicker pace.

Tristan fell into faster step beside her. They had almost caught up with Ben and Kate when she stopped in her tracks so fast that he was surprised there weren’t skid marks on the sidewalk.

“I wasn’t hitting on you or anything.”

Once again she had him at a loss for words. Nothing that came out of her mouth was expected. As a lawyer, Tristan was always careful about how he worded things. Her honestly and candor took him by surprise. “Okay…” He wasn’t quite sure how to respond.

“I’m just sayin’.”

“I didn’t think that you were hitting on me, Savannah.”

“Good. Since you’re my boss and everything.”

He didn’t quite know what the “everything” part meant but he simply nodded. “I understand.”

“I’ll just be quiet now,” she said and started walking again. Of course her resolve didn’t stay strong for very long. Not that he wanted it to. But this time instead of asking anything remotely personal she became his tour guide for Cricket Creek. “I didn’t grow up here but I’ve come to love Main Street. Over there is Grammar’s Bakery. Cheese Danish to die for. Oh, and the butter cookies. Rumor has it that they are Noah Falcon’s favorite and it was his first stop when he returned to Cricket Creek.”

“Yeah, he’s been the pride and joy of this town for a long time. Small-town boy makes it to the major leagues. I do remember that. And my mom watched him on some soap opera.”

“Yeah!” Savannah pointed across the street to a theater with an old-fashioned marquee. “Noah came back here after he was killed off on the soap opera and starred in a play written by Madison Robinson, daughter of Jessica, who owns Wine and Diner. He fell in love with his costar Olivia Lawson, a local English teacher.”

“Really?” Noah was a talented player that he’d admired as a kid. The summer Tristan had stayed here his grandfather bragged about Noah Falcon being from Cricket Creek.

Savannah leaned in as if she were telling a huge secret. “Olivia tutored him in high school! She had a crush on him way back then, and when he found out she’d never been asked to the prom the entire school re-created her prom
night for her, and Noah was her date. Is that not the most romantic thing ev-er?”

“Must have taken some doing.”

Savannah nodded. “The whole school and most of the town was in on the secret.” Savannah put her hand to her chest. “I saw the play they were in together. Well, the entire town did and I cried like a baby. So did Kate!” she called loud enough for Kate to hear.

Kate stopped and turned around. “What did I do?”

“Cried at
Just One Thing
, the play that Olivia and Noah starred in.”

“I did not!”

“I’m guessing it was allergies,” Ben wanted to know.

“Most likely,” Kate said with a lift of her chin.

“She did,” Savannah said in a stage whisper.

Tristan laughed. They caught up to Kate and Ben, who were looking in the window of a local hardware store.

“Is that the kind of leaf blower you were talking about?” Kate pointed inside the store.

“Yep.” Ben nodded. “I tried to repair the old one again but without any luck this time. I can rake, but it will take me a lot longer and since you pay me by the hour it makes sense to get a new blower, Kate.”

The conversation added another shot of guilt to Tristan’s mounting list. The finances given to him by Kate showed that she had been running Whisper’s Edge on a shoestring, robbing Peter to pay Paul and doing some creative shuffling around to keep the community from going under. No one, including Savannah, had received a raise in several years, and after an assistant had to be let go, Savannah had had to take on that position along with her other duties. “Was a leaf blower on the list of equipment you requested, Kate?”

“I’m afraid not,” she replied with a sigh.

“Well, add it.” The words came out of Tristan’s mouth even though he knew it was pointless to purchase equipment for property he planned to either sell or develop. He just couldn’t help himself.

“My wish list is already pretty long,” Kate reminded him.

“I understand, but Ben has a good point. It will pay for itself in a short time frame.”

“Thanks, Tristan,” Kate responded with a grateful smile.

“It’s no big deal.” “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” started playing in his head.

Damn. This was going to be a lot tougher than he ever imagined.

“W
HY DID THE BLONDE SPEND ALL DAY IN THE SHOWER?”
Kate asked when they stopped to wait for the traffic light to turn red.

“I don’t know,” Ben replied and tried not to smile. He was suddenly glad that he’d made the decision to come along.

“Savannah?”

“Hey, I’m a redhead.”

Kate arched an eyebrow at Tristan, who shrugged. “The shampoo bottle said ‘rinse, lather, repeat.’”

“Groan,” Savannah said but Tristan and Ben both chuckled.

“Okay, why did the blonde climb up on the roof?” Kate asked and waited. “Ben?”

He shook his head. “You got me.”

“She heard that drinks were on the house.”

Ben laughed hard at that one. “Are you sure these jokes are politically correct?”

“Do you seriously think it matters to me?” Kate asked.

“No.” Ben kept laughing. He couldn’t remember the last
time he had felt this good.
When Anna was alive
, slammed against his good mood. Ben braced himself for the hot pain of his loss, followed sharply by guilt for smiling, but before the feeling seeped into his bones, Kate nudged him.

“Okay, one more,” Kate announced with a grin.

Savannah moaned. “Will this light ev-
er
change?”

Kate ignored her. “Why was the blonde excited when she finished the jigsaw puzzle in four days?”

“Because the box said four to six years,” Savannah answered with a roll of her eyes, but Ben and Tristan laughed again. “You already told that one to me.”

“Well…” Kate pursed her lips. “How about this one, smarty-pants? What do you call a redhead with an attitude? Well, Savannah? Huh?”

“I don’t know.”

“Normal,” Kate said smugly just as the light changed.