Heart 0f Mine (Secrets 0f Savannah Book 6) Read online

  “Can I take you away for little bit?” Hunter asked, his handsome features adding to the intense look on his face.

  Olivia bit her lip. “I have to man the desk for a while longer.”

  Hope waved her on. “Go! Go! I’ll take over for you. Go take a break and smooch it up.”

  Both Hunter and Olivia laughed and thanked her for stepping in. She let out a sigh as she watched them walk off, hand in hand. She was surrounded by love at Savannah House. Olivia and Hunter. Callie and Jax. Fancy and Case. Charlotte and Marc. And Morgan and Luke. She was definitely the odd woman out. Although she couldn’t help but believe in love everlasting when she saw her friends in such blissful relationships, Hope wanted to ask the Lord where her knight in shining armor was hiding.

  “He doesn’t even have to be a knight at this point,” she grumbled. “I’ll take a living, breathing man who has a gentle soul and a good relationship with his Mama and the Lord. Surely that’s not too much to ask?”

  “Am I interrupting something? You sound like you’re having a serious conversation with yourself.” Hope slowly swung her head up at the sound of the distinctive male voice. It had a rich quality that sounded very familiar to her ears.

  Grayson’s piercing blue-green eyes met her own. Her legs began to tremble at the sight of him. Although she tried to tell herself it was only because she hadn’t been expecting him to show up at Savannah House, her intuition told her something different. Grayson Holloway had an impact on her. It was as if every time she came face-to-face with him, she reacted strongly to his presence. He resonated with her, all the way down to her big toe.

  “Grayson! What are you doing here?”

  A sheepish expression appeared on his face. “I’m sorry to barge in like this, but after our lunch I couldn’t stop thinking about Savannah House. And my grandmother. I spoke to my lawyer. The suit has been dropped.”

  Hope clapped her hands together. “Hallelujah! That’s the best news I’ve had all week. All month, in fact.”

  “I knew you gals might not roll out the red carpet for me, but I wanted to come over here and deliver the news in person.” The corners of Grayson’s mouth began to twitch. He leaned his elbow on the counter and wiggled his eyebrows at her.

  “Something tells me you’re angling for a tour of the resort. Am I right?” Hope asked, feeling light and airy due to Grayson’s news. Now they could continue to run Savannah House without the threat of it being taken away from them.

  Just then one of the part-time college employees—Mary—walked up to the front desk. “Hi Hope.” She greeted her with a smile, then turned toward Grayson and gifted him with an even wider smile. “Hey there,” she said with a grin.

  “Hey there,” Grayson said, smiling back at her.

  “It’s my turn at the desk,” Mary said feebly, her eyes still trained on Grayson.

  Hope rolled her eyes. “It’s all yours, Mary. Grayson, why don’t you come with me? I can show you around.” She couldn’t explain why it annoyed her so much to see Mary all goo-goo eyed over Grayson. Mary was barely nineteen-years-old. For goodness sakes. She felt as if she was being attacked by the green-eyed monster.

  Grayson sidled up to her, standing way too close for Hope’s comfort. Mary was watching them closely, her eyes full of interest. Hope couldn’t help but cut her eyes at Mary, hoping she would take the hint and look away.

  “Why don’t I take you to the kitchen first? You can meet Morgan.”

  “Morgan Lucas.” He snapped his fingers. “Morgan Duvall now that she’s married to Callie’s brother, Luke. Chef extraordinaire. Her mother, Pearl Lucas, was a dear friend and assistant to my grandmother.”

  Hope’s jaw dropped. “I see you’ve been quite busy investigating us. Do you also know her social security number?”

  Grayson threw back his head and heartily laughed. His white straight teeth were on full display. “I consider myself to be very thorough.”

  She stopped in her tracks right before the entrance to the kitchen. “So what do you know about me?”

  “That you’re one of the most beautiful woman I’ve ever encountered.” Their gazes locked and Hope couldn’t seem to look away. The air was filled with electricity. It hummed and pulsed in the space around them. A loud coughing broke up the intense moment between them. Hope turned her head toward the kitchen. Morgan was standing by the stove starting at them, a bemused expression on her face.

  “Hello there,” Morgan called out. “Are you guys coming to see me?” she asked.

  Hope tore her gaze away from Grayson and stepped into the kitchen. Grayson trailed after her.

  “Morgan, I wanted to introduce you to Grayson Holloway,” Hope said. “Morgan, this is Grayson.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet such a talented chef,” Grayson said, looking around at the large, impressive kitchen. Morgan liked to say there was no kitchen like this in Savannah. It had all the amenities that allowed Morgan and her sous-chef to cook for a resort filled with guests who enjoyed culinary delights.

  “The Grayson Holloway!” Morgan’s eyes widened. “What brings you here?” she asked, with an emphasis on the word you. “Are you trying to check out the premises before you swoop down on our property?”

  Hope wanted to laugh out loud at the indignant look stamped on Morgan’s face. Although she was a sweetheart through and through, Morgan didn’t mince words. Like the other women of Savannah House, she was a fighter when it came down to the important things.

  “I don’t blame you for thinking that, but I have no interest in Savannah House. The lawsuit has been dropped.” He glanced over at Hope. “Our meeting this morning was very fruitful.”

  “Oh,” Morgan said, her face reddening. “I-I’m glad to hear that.”

  “Grayson simply wants to tour the place and get a sense of his family’s heritage. In exchange for our cooperation, he ditched the lawsuit. All things considered, I think it’s a good thing.”

  Morgan and Hope exchanged a loaded glance. They both knew that they had dodged a bullet. Allowing Grayson access to the resort and providing him with information regarding the Alexander family was a piece of cake compared to being tied up in endless litigation over the bed and breakfast.

  Morgan beamed. “It’s a great thing. Welcome to Savannah House, Grayson.” She beckoned Grayson over to her stove. “Don’t stand on ceremony in my kitchen, Grayson. I need someone to taste this chili. It may have come out a tad spicy, so if you don’t like heat, step aside.”

  Grayson walked over to the stove. “Bring it on,” he said. “It smells delicious.”

  Morgan turned back to the stove and used a ladle to dish out two small servings of chili. Hope gently blew on hers then placed a spoonful in her mouth. On a scale of one to ten the heat factor was a solid seven. “Mmm,” Hope said as the savory chili hit her taste buds. “This is amazing.”

  Morgan was looking at Grayson with an intense expression. Hope knew that look well. She was trying to gauge if Grayson was enjoying her dish.

  “This chili is fantastic. I would daresay it’s the best I’ve ever had,” Grayson said in an enthused voice. He continued to devour the chili until his bowl was bone dry. Morgan’s expression radiated extreme pleasure.

  “How about some cornbread? It’s just about to come out of the oven,” Morgan said, putting on oven mitts and opening the oven. She pulled the cornbread out and placed it on top of the stove, then closed the oven with her hip.

  Grayson patted his belly. “Don’t mind if I do.” Hope snickered. He was almost salivating.

  Although the cornbread smelled heavenly, Hope knew she didn’t have any room for it in her belly. She shook her head. “No thanks. We had lunch not too long ago. It smells scrumptious but the chili filled me up.”

  “We?” Morgan mouthed the word so only Hope could see. Hope shook her head at her friend. She’d slipped up by saying we. Although it wasn’t a crime by any means to have indulged in a meal with Grayson, she cringed at the thought of anyone thinking
she was romantically linked with him.

  Lunch had been a practical move! Nothing more. Nothing less. Just keep telling yourself that! A voice droned in her ear.

  She shook her head disapprovingly at Morgan who was grinning from ear to ear.

  “Why don’t we continue with the tour?” Hope suggested, wanting to get far away from Morgan before Grayson caught on to her suggestive winks. Hope didn’t need Grayson to think her friend was suggesting anything romantic between them.

  Grayson nodded to Morgan. With a mouth full of cornbread, he mumbled, “Thanks for the food.”

  Hope waved at Morgan who gave her a wink and a thumbs up. Hope rolled her eyes. Just because all of her best friends in the entire world had been struck by Cupid’s bow, it didn’t mean that she was next to fall in love. And even though Grayson looked like he could grace the cover of a romance novel, Hope didn’t harbor any illusions about him being her very own hero. Life had shown her that she had to be careful. She wasn’t a very good judge of character when it came to men. The heart wasn’t always a good gauge. Sometimes it led one astray. Hope had no intention of being led down the garden path. Not ever again.

  “Savannah House is more than just a resort. It’s a lasting legacy, a monument to the hopes and dreams of my parents. It’s withstood hurricanes, tornadoes, world wars, depression, death and despair. And still it endures.” Miss Hattie Alexander

  Chapter Six

  Grayson couldn’t remember a time when he’d been so awestruck by something. He considered himself a pretty laid-back guy, one who didn’t get overly excited about possessions or homes or fancy cars. In his mind there was nothing more impressive than the swirling waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Vast, majestic and powerful.

  At this moment he could say the very same thing for Savannah House. Hope was treating him to the full tour. She was showing him every nook and cranny of the resort, from the grand library to the parlor to the sweeping grounds to the guest suites. She showed him the areas of the bed and breakfast that had been recently renovated and the secret hiding places Miss Hattie had shown them when they were children.

  “Savannah House was built by Tuck Alexander in nineteen-fifteen. Tuck was Miss Hattie’s father. He was a self-made millionaire who was born dirt poor, yet he rose to the highest levels of the business world. Tuck fell in love with his wife, Patricia, and moved her to his hometown of Savannah. Together, they conceived the idea for a bed and breakfast, which they dubbed Savannah House. People traveled from all over the country to stay here. They actually had international guests on occasion.” Pride rang out in Hope’s voice as she detailed the history of the resort.

  “I can imagine it was paradise,” Grayson said. “Savannah Beach is footsteps away from the resort. It doesn’t get better than that.”

  “Savannah House even stuck it out during World War II and the great depression,” Hope said with a nod.

  “Impressive,” Grayson said. “Nowadays places fold if a slight wind comes.”

  “About five and a half years ago Miss Hattie shut down the resort. No one really knew what had happened, but the place fell into disrepair and she became a virtual shut-in.”

  “That’s a shame. Maybe it became too much for her to take care of with her advanced age.”

  “It’s possible.” Hope led him toward a room at the end of the hallway. She took a key out of her pocket and opened up the locked door. “This room was Miss Hattie’s bedroom. We don’t rent it out to anyone.”

  Grayson felt a chill sweep across him as Hope showed him Miss Hattie’s private bedroom suite. He let out a low whistle as the grandeur of the room swept over him. Tiffany lamps sat on two bedside tables surrounding the mahogany sleigh bed. Satin pillows sat atop a white fluffy comforter. A small rug sat atop gleaming hardwood floors. A large chaise longue sat in front of a large window. Grayson walked over and looked outside. He let out a sigh. It was a spectacular view of the ocean.

  “It’s lovely, isn’t it?” Hope asked. Her voice was full of tenderness.

  “It’s spectacular. Believe it or not I feel something…a presence, a vibe.” He raked his hand through his hair. “I probably sound silly, don’t I?”

  “No, of course you don’t. I feel the very same way. This room is infused with Miss Hattie’s essence.” Her voice softened. “Of course you feel it. Her blood flows in your veins. You’re her family.”

  Hope’s words nestled their way inside him. Suddenly he felt ten feet tall. “So you believe me? You believe I’m kin to Miss Hattie?”

  Hope nodded. “I do. Those documents you showed me have seals on them. They’re real. And you dropped the lawsuit which showed your sincerity. You didn’t come here for anything material. You came to Savannah seeking answers about your family ties. I can appreciate that.”

  “Thank you, Hope. Hearing that from you means a lot to me.”

  Grayson was standing so close to her that their arms were touching. He felt a wild impulse to kiss her—a tender, romantic kiss filled with gratitude and admiration and attraction. He stared at her red full lips. They were enticing. Beautiful. But he knew if he did he would scare her away. And he didn’t want that. Not by a long shot. A woman like Hope was a keeper. And if the day came when he decided to plant a kiss on her lovely lips, he wanted Hope to kiss him back with equal fervor. That time was coming, but it wasn’t today. Today was about exploration. It was about connecting with his heritage. Perhaps someday his father could appreciate this connection to the Alexander family.

  Hope reached out and picked up a framed photo from a vanity table. She held it out for Grayson to see. The black and white framed photo was of a dark-haired, handsome young man wearing a military uniform. All my love. Forever and always. Samuel.

  Samuel? “Is this…my grandfather?” he asked, a huge lump sitting in his throat.

  “Yes, this was the love of Miss Hattie’s life. Samuel Blythewood. They were head over heels in love. Their love affair was cut short with the advent of World War II. Samuel enlisted and he was tragically killed while in service. From everything I know, Samuel was a really good human being. Miss Hattie lived a long life but she never found anyone who could compare to him. That’s incredibly powerful.” Hope’s voice radiated amazement.

  Grayson held the framed photo in his hands. For several moments he just stared at it. He couldn’t believe he was looking at his grandfather, a man he had never met. The man gazing back at him was young. In his early twenties, Grayson figured. It was so incredibly tragic that he hadn’t made it back from the war. He’d died heroically in the service of his country, fighting against an evil he probably couldn’t even wrap his head around. A feeling of pride roared through him. Samuel was a part of him. He felt incredibly connected to him at this moment. This was the feeling he’d been looking for! Connection. Knowledge of being tied to something wondrous and powerful. This was life changing.

  “I don’t even have words to express how I feel,” Grayson said, as a tight feeling spread across his chest. “It’s almost as if a piece that’s been missing has been restored.”

  “We haven’t altered a single thing since she passed away. We figured it would be a great tribute to the woman who made this whole thing possible.” He saw Hope turn away as tears misted her eyes. She swiped at her eyes. Her shoulders shook.

  “It’s all right, Hope. You don’t have to hide your feelings. I understand how emotional it feels to lose someone you love,” he said.

  She turned back toward him. “It happens every time I come in here. This room was her haven. When I was a child she used to invite myself and the girls up here to look at her jewelry and keepsakes. And more times than not she would give us a trinket or two.” Tears flowed down her face. This time she didn’t bother to wipe them away.

  Instinctively, he reached out to her and pulled her against his chest. He could feel her body shaking. All he wanted to do was comfort her and make her sadness disappear.

  Lord, please let me know what to say and do to soothe Hope’
s soul. Let me be a source of comfort for her.

  “I’m sorry. It just hits me sometimes that she’s gone. I miss her. She was so good to us. Always.” Hope’s voice broke. “She transformed my whole life with this inheritance. And Ella’s as well.”

  “I wish I’d known her.” It gutted him that he hadn’t been given the chance. His father could have made it happen, but he hadn’t seized the opportunity to meet his birth mother. It still bothered Grayson that his father’s choices had affected him as well. Lately, he’d been praying to find a way to bridge the gap between himself and his father. But he didn’t have the slightest clue as to how to make it happen.

  Hope smiled at him, sending him into orbit. “Miss Hattie would have loved you, Grayson.”

  “You think so?” he asked, feeling flattered by Hope’s words.

  Hope smiled at him. “I know so. She would have loved your cheeky smile and your sense of humor. She liked the unexpected. That’s definitely you, Grayson Holloway.”

  “I hope that’s a good thing,” he said in a slightly flirty tone. He was curious to see if Hope’s opinion of him had vastly changed.

  Hope shrugged. “We don’t really know each other that well, so I can’t really answer that question.”

  “How about we change all that? Go out with me. We no longer have a conflict of interest.” One of the key aspects of his personality was persistence. He wanted to go out with Hope. He wasn’t going to give up on the feelings brewing between them. Grayson didn’t know why or how it had happened, but Hope now occupied a great percentage of his thoughts. He suspected there might be a real connection between them. Now he just had to convince Hope of that fact.

  “I don’t really date a lot,” Hope admitted. “Not since Ella was born. I’m a little rusty.” She was fidgeting with her necklace and not looking him squarely in the eye. Could it be that feisty Hope was nervous about dating him?