Knight Nostalgia: A Knights of the Board Room Anthology(37)
Rachel headed up the stairs while Savannah drifted away to consider a clay sculpture. Okay, this one wouldn’t be for the nursery, since it was of two figures twined erotically together, but Ben wondered if she was considering it for her and Matt’s master bedroom. They had a long glass table along one wall, below the mounted flat screen. The only thing there right now was a blue pottery piece Rachel had given Savannah for her birthday, so it left room for the sculpture Savannah was studying.
When they’d come into the gallery, Ben had noted there was one other patron, a man in slacks and golf shirt. He’d disappeared into the back display rooms, but had now reappeared and was perusing the paintings. Or appearing to do so.
He might have come in with that intent, but when he started ambling in Savannah’s direction, Ben easily picked up that his purpose had changed. Or maybe this was a normal hunting ground for the guy.
Ben narrowed his eyes. Logically, he knew Savannah was more than capable of brushing off a come-on in a public place. Just as he knew Cass made more than enough money to buy a pair of pretty shoes. That wasn’t the point.
What particularly irritated him was he knew the guy could clearly see she was married. That three-carat diamond flanked by diamond-studded wedding and anniversary bands was kind of hard to miss. This guy wasn’t looking for a relationship. Just an afternoon hook-up, which meant he was probably married himself.
Shame they couldn’t fit a body in the trunk next to the women’s packages without the risk of getting blood on them. That might be the only thing that saved his life.
He’d gotten close enough to Savannah to speak to her in low tones. People who appreciated art always seemed to do that, talking in hushed voices. Savannah tilted her head his way. She wasn’t unfriendly, but she didn’t smile. She’d recognized the same thing Ben had, probably as soon as the guy had darkened the area beside her.
She responded to him, apparently discussing the artwork. Giving him a courteous nod, she started to move away. He put a hand on her arm, his expression amused, teasing, as if chastising her for running away from him.
Ben was already on his feet as the guy was reaching out, but Savannah glanced Ben’s way and shook her head, a subtle movement. Cutting her eyes back to the man, she said something. Whatever it was resulted in a dramatic change. He backed off, his demeanor far less charming. Though he made a pretense of looking at some other pieces, he exited the store within a minute. Savannah went back to her own interests, but she tossed Ben a look that told him she’d had it well in hand. She also mouthed Neanderthal, Dana’s favorite term for him and the other K&A men when they reacted so protectively.
He spread his hands out in a conciliatory way, but backed it up with an unrepentant look as he took his seat. Yeah, she was tough, but if Matt thought he’d let some asshole man-handle the mother of his child and the love of his life, the best outcome for Ben was looking for another job. The far more likely scenario was Matt having him buried beneath the K&A parking garage under a new layer of cement. For old times’ sake, he might make sure he was dead first. Maybe.
Savannah came to him when she was done with her looking. Since he was in the only chair in that corner, he started to rise, but she shook her head and amused him when she perched on his knee, accepting his hand at her waist to steady her. “Find something?” he asked.
“I’m going with the Blue Dog print, as well as that smaller one of Pete the Cat, sitting on the street sign at Jackson Square. That can go in Angelica’s playroom.”
“Good choices.” He lifted a brow. “What did you say to that guy? If his dignity would have allowed it, he would have sprinted out of here.”
Savannah adjusted on his knee. “I told him I knew his wife from garden club meetings, and she wouldn’t appreciate him hitting on another married woman.”
“You’re not in a garden club.”
“Of course not,” she said serenely. “But a man like that has no idea what his wife is doing with her day, except when it gives him a safety net to stray.”
He chuckled, squeezing her trim waist. “You were fairly light handed.”
“No need to use a bat when a smack with a ruler will do.” She frowned. “Men like that repulse me. And there are far too many of them out there.”
“Oh really?” He arched a brow. “You have that kind of trouble often?”
“Don’t even think about telling Matt I need a bodyguard on my job. I’ll kill you with my bare hands and get a new manicure afterward. Seriously, no different from what I handled before I was married. Which is actually quite sad.” She shook her head. “Some men think an attractive woman is always looking for company, no matter her marital status. I’ve changed my mind. Go beat him to a pulp.”
He started to get up and she laughed, clasping his shoulder to hold them both in place. “I’m kidding. No violence today.”
“Your backside has gotten softer since you had your baby,” he noted. “It was a great ass before then, but I like it even more now.”
“Only you would have the courage to frame that as a compliment.” She crossed her legs, the toe of her heeled shoe brushing his jeans leg. “That was nice of you, getting the painting for Cass. I think that will bring her comfort.”
“She doing okay these days? We all keep tabs on it through Lucas, but I know you’re her closest female friend.”