Bound for Me (Be for Me #4)(67)

Jack pointed up to the massive building. “I just want to understand where I come from. That’s my right. I want to get to know my family.”

No. He didn’t. Because that was only going to lead to disappointment. “I’m afraid your new found family is totally dysfunctional.” Connor rubbed his hand over his face. “I spoke to him earlier.”

“Rex?” Jack’s eyes narrowed. “He said no to meeting with me.”

Maybe it wasn’t the first time Jack had tried to make contact. “He’s a difficult personality. You want to see him, you’re just gonna have to be persistent.” Connor advised.

But Connor couldn’t promise that their father would ever even say hello to Jack, just as he probably wouldn’t say hello to Savannah or her father.

Connor wanted to protect her from that. Wished he could protect this guy too. And yeah, maybe that was to make himself feel better.

“I’ll spend time with you,” Connor said. “Logan and Dani will too. You’re more than welcome to move into a room here at the Lodge and stay as long as you like.”

Jack was silent for a long while. “I’d like to talk. But I can stay where I am.”

“You know we own that hotel anyway.”

“And I’m going to keep paying my own bill.”

“I’m sure you will.” Connor sighed. “I have to go away for a couple days. You’ll still be here when I get back?”

“Sure.”



Connor went straight from meeting Jack, to the helipad. In minutes the helicopter was ascending. He hovered it for a moment, looking at the beauty of his home. On paper, he had it all. But in reality?

Right now he had nothing that mattered. Not even honor.

But he’d get that back.

His father was never going to care for him, no matter what he did. She cared though. She’d cared even on that first night, in the brisk-but-gentle touch as she’d stuck a Band-aid on his hand.

She’d challenged him in a way no one else ever had. She wasn’t afraid of him. Didn’t leap to do his beck and call. She wasn’t a ‘yes’ woman. She was brutally honest. Yet he knew those prickles protected a warm, soft heart. A brave heart.

But she’d run from him. That wasn’t her. Savannah Nash faced a fight head on. Proudly. Hell, she’d been poisoned, only to return to the scene of the crime the next night and own the place. So to run from him? Meant she was really hurt.

And to be hurt, meant she had to care.

And that was as far as he could think.

Because Connor Hughes, master of his mountain, had no f*cking idea what he was going to say to her.





Chapter Twenty-One





Savannah checked out of the hotel, walked through the lobby one last time and then stepped out onto the street. She adjusted her bag and turned left, heading towards the central bus station.

“Need a ride?”

She froze on the footpath then slowly swivelled to look at just who was driving the car that had pulled into the kerb.

Connor Hughes was at the wheel, looking at her through the wound down window. He had a half smile, stubble, and serious eyes. “You want to get in? Or you want me to get out and talk to you on the street?”

There was no point in a smart answer, he was too determined. And she’d lost the power of speech anyway. She opened the door and slid into the passenger seat.

He pulled out into the traffic, but said nothing. She watched his hands on the wheel. He was gripping it tightly but seemed damn sure of where he was going.

Her heart thudded and her stupid body was burning already. Had it only been a day since she’d last seen him?

It felt like forever.

“What are you doing here?” Finally she got her words together. Totally a lame opening, but it was a start.

“What do you think I’m doing here?”

Well that wasn’t fair—it was his question to answer. “You’re a long way from your mountain.”

“It’s not my mountain,” he shrugged, turning the car down a side street.

“Yes it is. You’ve worked all your life for it.”

“For what? Money? Pride? A sense of achievement?” He puffed out a sharp breath. “I need more than that.”

“You care about the mountain.”

“I do. A lot. But I care about other things too. Even more.”

She knew he’d turned his head to look at her when he’d said that. But she refused to meet his eyes, not wanting to end up mesmerized and brainless. Though right now she was fully over-thinking—on what he might mean, on why he was here and why she was so freaking hot and cold and nervous.

Hell, truth was she didn’t even want to blink in case he disappeared. Which was totally pathetic. And she refused to be that pathetic. “Why are you here?”

“Someone as smart as you needs to ask? There’s only one reason.” He pulled into a park and turned to face her, looking expectant.

Savannah looked out the windshield—why had he parked outside the drugstore? “Because you’re short of antacid?”

He laughed, and something melted inside her.

“You can do better than that,” he challenged.

“Why do you want me to say it?” She snapped her head towards him and glared. “It’s supposed to be your… moment.”