Second Chance Seduction Read online

  “And whether or not the relationship with you can be preserved...kind of like the arrangement that I suggested in the beginning.”

  “Can’t be preserved,” Edward said.

  “Then once she files, we have a short deadline to object to the move,” Jack said. “I’ll get the paperwork started as soon as I return to my office so we’ll be ready.”

  “You’re a lifesaver, man.” Edward smiled. Exhaled.

  “We’ll have to contend with a court hearing. Maybe even a trial, if it goes that far.” Jack sipped on his ice water. “Are you up for that?”

  “What choice do I have?” Edward said. “I’m up for it if she is. She started this whole thing.”

  “I’m just asking, because I know it’s been a long, hard road for you and Savannah in the past. I was just wondering if you’re willing to go down that road again.”

  “I don’t want to fight with Savannah again. It was a painful time.”

  “I remember. I was right there with you.”

  “Yes, you were. You’ve been a great friend.”

  “I just hate to see you go through that again. And you two have finally gotten this co-parenting thing down.”

  “Right. We have.”

  “You’ve made it through some tough times. Not to mention that whole bogus engagement thing Savannah had with her corny boss.” Jack grinned. “If you can make it through that, you can make it through anything.”

  “Don’t remind me of that fool.”

  Jack laughed. “You were so jealous.”

  “I wasn’t jealous!”

  “You were beyond jealous. I knew then that you were still in love with that woman.”

  “What?” Edward denied Jack’s claims. “I’m not in love with her. I do love her in a family sort of way...kind of like I love my sisters.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think you love Savannah like you love your sisters.” Jack laughed. “But if that’s your story...”

  “That’s my story.” Edward laughed, too. “And I’m sticking with it.”

  “Maybe you should just move to London, too,” Jack said.

  “Go to hell!” said Edward.

  “I’m only kidding, bro. I know this is a serious situation for you.” Jack wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin. “Let me see what we can work out. Perhaps we won’t have to go to court at all.”

  “That would be great.”

  Savannah had surprised him with the divorce. She’d claimed that she needed to get away and had gone to Georgia for a lengthy visit with her father. After several long weeks, instead of returning to their home in Florida as Edward had anticipated, Savannah had decided to stay in Georgia with her father. Soon she’d had Edward served and completely caught him off guard. And if divorcing him wasn’t enough, she asked for alimony and child support. She wanted the family home and asked that he continue to pay the mortgage until she was gainfully employed. He wouldn’t be blindsided by her again.

  In fact, when he was done reading Savannah her rights, she wouldn’t know what hit her.

  Chapter 2

  Savannah was young when she married Edward. Her pregnancy had been difficult, and Edward had insisted that she stay home with Chloe for her first two years.

  “I’ll take care of us,” he’d said.

  “What about my career? My goals?” she’d argued. “I have dreams, too.”

  “Give me time. When I’m mayor, you can go back to work.”

  It was too much for Savannah. She’d become invisible to him. He’d stopped coming home at a decent hour. She was alone more times than not, and she’d become lonely. She’d even suspected that Edward and his campaign manager, Quinn, were more than friends. She’d cried too many tears. Begged Edward for a reprieve.

  “I can’t focus when you’re on my back all the time,” he’d complained.

  Finally, her father convinced her to come to Georgia for a visit. “You and the baby,” he’d said. “That way you can figure things out.”

  Savannah, Georgia, had been her home for most of her life. She was named after the city with cobblestone streets and Spanish moss hanging from ancient trees. Her father, a decorated officer in the military, had retired there—it was his home. He’d met Savannah’s mother while stationed in Germany. Nyle Carrington had taken the train from London to Germany for a weekend getaway with girlfriends, and returned to her home in London engaged to a US soldier. They dated for a short time, and soon, Frank Carrington’s wife-to-be was pregnant with their new bundle of joy. When Savannah was two, her father’s tour of duty was over, and the couple moved to his home in Georgia. Nyle found life difficult in the States, and soon returned to London, leaving Frank behind to raise their toddler alone. She sent cards and gifts for birthdays and Christmas, and occasionally she returned for short visits. Each visit, she’d promise to stay. She’d fill Savannah’s head with stories of her home in London and promises that the next time she came, she’d take Savannah back to London with her. Instead, Savannah would awaken the next morning or return from school, only to find her mother gone again. By the time Savannah reached puberty, she’d given up any hope of having a normal relationship with her mother. She’d resolved that Nyle would never be a part of her life. And once she was an adult, she’d cut off all communication with her.

  Until now.

  Nyle was aging and needed Savannah in her life. She was remorseful and admitted that she hadn’t been the best mother. She wanted to meet her only grandchild and realized the importance of having Savannah and Chloe in her life now. Savannah by all rights could’ve turned her back on the woman who’d abandoned her, but the truth was, she needed Nyle, too. Her life had been incomplete for so long, and she was ready to be a whole person. She wanted Chloe to know her grandmother and to learn about the history and her family in London. She needed to give their relationship a chance.

  Conversations with her mother had become more frequent. They talked every day the way mothers and daughters were supposed to. They experienced moments that Savannah had only dreamed of in the past. They talked about Savannah and Chloe coming for a long visit—maybe even permanently. With Savannah’s company downsizing, it seemed like the opportune time.

  Nyle invited her to share her flat until she found her own place. Savannah would leave Chloe in Florida with Edward until the school year ended. She’d go there and get settled before coming back for her daughter. She was an experienced designer and already had an interview lined up with a prominent company. Her plans seemed perfect, flawless. And the anticipation of reuniting with her mother was all that mattered now. It was important to her, and she couldn’t see why Edward didn’t understand. He knew the history of her relationship with Nyle. They’d had plenty of conversations about it. She’d cried on his shoulder more times than she cared to remember, and he’d comforted her, given her encouragement. Loved her all the more. She expected him to be the one person who understood this burning desire. But instead, he was the one giving her grief.

  “Have you had lunch?” Jarrod walked into her office as he often did, without knocking, and plopped his medium frame down in the chair opposite her desk. He studied her with those light brown eyes and gave her that bright smile that she loved so much. He was nicely built with dark curly hair and a strong physique that he worked for at the gym too many times a week, in her opinion. He was always sharply dressed.

  “No time,” she said.

  “You have to eat,” said Jarrod. “Why don’t we go grab a bite?”

  “I can’t. I have a ton of work to finish up here.”

  “I’m giving you permission to take a lunch break.” Jarrod laughed. “I’m the boss. And frankly, you’re a workaholic.”

  “I have a meeting with a buyer this afternoon, and I want to be prepared.”

  “I appreciate your commitment to this company, Savan
nah. Even in the wake of my selling it.”

  “I love my job.”

  “And you’re damn good at it.” He smiled. “Which reminds me. I just got off the phone with an old colleague of mine, Herman Mason. His company specializes in women’s fashion. One of the largest in England. I got you an interview.”

  “Are you kidding? Herman Mason?”

  “I told him you were my best fashion designer, and he’s very interested in meeting with you when you arrive in London,” he said.

  “Jarrod! I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say that you won’t embarrass me. Show him what you got.” He smiled. “It’s the least I can do, considering I can’t keep you around here.”

  “I appreciate it. More than you know.”

  Jarrod became more comfortable in his seat. “I heard the commotion that went on...earlier...with your ex. Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine.”

  “You need me to rough him up a little bit? Teach him a lesson?” Jarrod grinned at his own joke.

  Savannah laughed inside. She knew that Jarrod could never stand up to Edward. Not physically. Not otherwise. The two were very different. When she met Jarrod, she wanted something so different from Edward that she’d gone to the other extreme. Jarrod was doting, gave her all the attention she wanted and needed—and sometimes more than she wanted. He wasn’t afraid to share his feelings. Edward was a man’s man. He would never admit to anything, and was hardly ever available to her. The two were like night and day. Both were gentlemen and loving, but Edward would rough Jarrod up if given half a chance.

  “That won’t be necessary. Edward’s harmless.”

  “I know you still have a thing...for him...”

  “Don’t start, Jarrod. Please.”

  “It’s why we didn’t work out, isn’t it?”

  “We didn’t work out because we just weren’t meant to be.” Savannah kept the conversation light. She knew that the tone had the potential to change—fast. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. You’re a great friend.”

  Jarrod stood, headed toward the door. A slight smile danced in the corner of his mouth. “So I’ve been placed back into the friend bucket.”

  Savannah laughed. “Yes.”

  “Anything for you and Chloe.”

  Jarrod disappeared before Savannah could say another word. She did appreciate him, in spite of the fact that their whirlwind fling hadn’t lasted. He was the first man she’d dated after the divorce. He’d romanced her and given her all the attention that a woman desired from a man—the attention that she’d desired from Edward. He’d even fallen in love with Chloe, and would’ve made a wonderful stepfather. When he’d asked Savannah for her hand in marriage, it seemed the only logical next step—except for the fact that she didn’t love him. She thought he was a nice catch, a successful man any woman would be happy to have. But she didn’t feel for him the things that he felt for her. He didn’t care if she didn’t love him—he wanted her anyway. She would grow to love him, he’d told her.

  “Love is overrated anyway,” he’d insisted. “People put too much emphasis on it. Successful marriages aren’t built on love, they’re built on commitment.”

  That way of thinking didn’t sit well with Savannah. She needed love, and she wouldn’t settle for anything less. He was devastated when she broke off the engagement, but it didn’t stop him from trying to change her mind every chance he got.

  Jarrod knew fashion inside and out. He’d been in the business a long time and had taught Savannah much of what she knew. His company had taken the industry by storm. But suddenly it was on a downward slope. Sales had fallen and the business was suffering. He needed to downsize, and as much as he wanted to retain Savannah, he couldn’t afford to keep her. Soon Jarrod’s Fashions would be owned by someone else.

  Savannah shut the door to her office to avoid any other interruptions. She took a seat at her drafting table, her sketches scattered about. She thought of Edward. Wanted to call and smooth things over with him. Her decision to go to London hadn’t been meant to hurt him. She wanted him to understand her need to connect with her mother. They’d come a long way since the divorce. They’d become more than just co-parents—they were friends. And she didn’t want to jeopardize their friendship. But it was her time. He’d always come first in their marriage—his career, his feelings, his everything. It was the thing that had torn them apart. She’d taken a backseat for long enough. Now it was her time to do the things that made her happy.

  She’d already anticipated that Edward might not be amenable to her idea of relocating with Chloe. Her income wasn’t as adequate as Edward’s and she didn’t have attorney friends to assist her. She’d already done her research and learned that there were forms that needed to be filed whether Edward agreed or disagreed with the move. So she’d already downloaded the necessary forms for both scenarios. She’d hoped that they could come to an agreement and that the decision would be consensual. However, Edward had been all but tolerable. The news was sudden, and he needed time to absorb it. Soon, he would see that he’d overreacted. But if not, she would take him to court.

  Chapter 3

  Edward sat sunk back in the leather seat of his car and watched as youngsters hopped into their parents’ vehicles. The petals of a plumeria flower rested against the leather seat, right next to a plastic bag filled with Laffy Taffy, Nerds, Milk Duds and Skittles. He watched for Chloe. Expected her to rush to his car as she had every single Friday afternoon—her thick ponytails would be flying in different directions, the plaid skirt that she wore would be twisted in the back, and she’d offer him the biggest snaggletoothed smile that he loved so much.

  Surely she remembered it was Friday. And not just any Friday, but the one on which her favorite movie came out at the theaters. They would smuggle the bag of candy into the auditorium in her backpack. They would order a large bucket of popcorn and a large Coke to share, and they would sit in the middle of the theater. Not too close to the screen, but not too far in the back. Right in the center.

  Miss Jennings marched out of the school, a row of kindergartners following close behind. Edward sat straight up in his seat. He didn’t want to be caught slouching as he scanned the row of children in search of his daughter. When he saw her, he smiled. Her ponytails flew in opposite directions, just as he’d suspected. She rushed to the car when she spotted him, Miss Jennings following close behind. Chloe pulled on the door handle and hopped inside. Miss Jennings stuck her head inside.

  “Hello, Mr. Talbot.” She gave him that same flirty smile that she always gave him.

  The first time he saw the smile, he thought he was mistaken. Thought it was innocent until the time she gave him a raise of the eyebrows followed by a slip of her phone number during a parent-teacher conference. He never called. Feared that it would be a conflict of interest, dating his daughter’s teacher. Not to mention, she wasn’t his type.

  He’d dated a few women after the divorce. Freda was the attractive psychologist that he’d met at a conference. She was the total package—beautiful, smart, independent. A nice catch, but she was too bossy. She wanted to dress him and mold him into what she wanted him to be, and he wasn’t that type of man. He had his own agenda. Miranda was conservative and laid-back, accommodating. Too accommodating for his taste. She was the total package, too—beautiful, smart, independent—but there was no mystery. He’d managed to find something wrong with every woman he dated.

  “Hello, Miss Jennings.” Edward was cordial.

  “Her homework is in her backpack,” she said.

  “Thanks.”

  “Have a great weekend, Chloe. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  “Bye, Miss Jennings!” Chloe exclaimed before shutting her door. “Hi, Daddy!”

  “Hello, Princess.” He tapped the side of his face until she lean
ed over and kissed it.

  “How was school?”

  “Awesome!”

  “For you, madam.” He handed her the single yellow flower.

  She smelled it and then stuck it into her hair. “It’s pretty, Daddy. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “You got the goods.” She grinned wickedly as she peeked into the plastic bag filled with candy. She fastened her seat belt.

  He knew that he shouldn’t let her ride in the front seat. She was supposed to be buckled up in her car seat in the back, but some days he made an exception. And this was one of them.

  “I got the goods.” Edward smiled as he pulled out of the school’s parking lot.

  Chloe stuffed the bag of candy into her backpack. “What time does the movie start?”

  “Four o’clock,” he said. “If we hurry, we can make it before the previews are over.”

  “Cool.” She toyed with his stereo until she found her favorite satellite radio station. She sang along with Katy Perry.

  * * *

  The theater was crowded. It seemed that every child in America had shown up for the premiere of the movie. Edward purchased tickets and then the two made a beeline for the concession stand. He held on to Chloe’s hand.

  “How’s your mommy doing?” he asked as they stood in line.

  “She’s fine,” said Chloe. “She misses you.”

  “Really? How do you know?”

  “She talks about you all the time.”

  “Really,” he asked, and tried to seem unfazed by her remarks. But he couldn’t help prying. “Like what?”

  “I don’t know, Daddy. Just saying stuff like ‘your daddy and I used to listen to this type of music’ or ‘your daddy really likes this kind of food.’”

  “I see,” said Edward.

  “Do you still love her?”

  “I will always love your mom. And you. We’re always going to be family.”

  “Even when we move to London?”

  “Your mom talked to you about London?”