“Hi, Mom,” Kip quipped when he drew back.
Savannah’s cheeks flamed. She was aware that her children were staring at her, Michael with uncertainty, Miranda with delight. And she was torn between strangling Kit for embarrassing her in front of her children and dragging him off to a private location where she could kiss him exactly the way she wanted to.
“Mom, look what Kit brought me,” Miranda said, rushing up to show off the tiny gold bracelet.
“That’s…lovely,” Savannah said, determinedly pushing memories of moonlight lovemaking aside. The bracelet really was a pretty little piece, not too big or flashy, just right for a thirteen-year-old girl.
“Check out this glove,” Michael said. The instantly recognizable scent of new leather preceded him as he approached to show off his own gift. “Cool, huh?”
“Very nice.” Savannah glanced from her son to Kit and back again. “I hope you both thanked Kit for the gifts.”
“They thanked me very nicely,” Kit assured her. “These kids could give lessons in good manners to a lot of the adults I deal with in L.A.”
Both Michael and Miranda looked pleased by the praise.
Savannah noted in approval that both her children were dressed to go out, as she’d instructed them to be when she got home. Miranda had on a black-andwhite gingham sundress, and Michael wore a bright, color-block shirt with navy chinos. A pair any mother could be proud of, she thought, admittedly biased.
“Where’s Grandma?” she asked. “Is she getting ready for dinner?”
The twins frowned. Kit’s smile dimmed.
“She’s not here,” Michael said. “She went over to Mrs. O’Leary’s for dinner.”
“She said she’d already made plans with Mrs. O’Leary and that she knew we wouldn’t mind if she didn’t go with us,” Miranda added.
Ernestine hadn’t said a word to Savannah about having other plans for this evening. Apparently, she’d come up with the excuse sometime after Savannah had left for work this morning.
Savannah was growing more frustrated all the time by her mother’s steadfast refusal to give Kit a chance. Savannah certainly had her own doubts about the wisdom of this relationship, but she wasn’t just rejecting it out of hand, as Ernestine had.
Turning to Kit, Savannah said, “I’m sorry. I thought she would be joining us.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Kit answered with a shrug. “I’ll just have to keep working on her.”
“Kit brought Grandma a really pretty pin,” Miranda piped up. “It even had a diamond in the middle of it.”
“I, er, hope she thanked you as nicely as the twins did,” Savannah said.
“She was very gracious,” Kit said, then added optimistically, “I think I’m getting to her.”
Ernestine had always had a weakness for baubles, Savannah thought in resignation. A pretty pin, combined with Kit’s winning charm—she imagined that Kit was, indeed, getting to Ernestine, despite Ernestine’s concern that Savannah would be hurt and humiliated again.
She managed to smile. “It’ll just be the four of us, then. Let me take a few minutes to freshen up and I’ll be ready to go. Kit, would you like something to drink while I change?”
“I’ll get you something, Kit,” Miranda offered eagerly. “We have soda or Kool-Aid. Or orange juice.”
Savannah was just about to offer a glass of rarelyserved wine as an alternative when Kit asked, “What flavor of Kool-Aid?”
“Raspberry,” Miranda replied.
“My favorite,” Kit assured her. “I’d love a glass.”
Miranda dashed off to get it
Savannah pointed a finger at Kit. “I’d better not see a red Kool-Aid mustache on you when I get back,” she warned teasingly. “I’ll send you straight to the bathroom to scrub it off before we go out.”
Michael laughed. “I’ve heard that order enough times.”
Kit scuffed a toe on the carpet “I’ll drink it carefully,” he promised, his dark eyes glinting with amusement.