Playing to Win

afraid.”
    And she’d hate to hurt as much as she had when she was a child. She’d been left and rejected once. She wasn’t sure she ever wanted to go through that again.
    Sometimes never taking a chance at all was a better option than taking one and facing that rejection.
    She was a strong woman in a lot of areas. In her career, she was fearless, going toe to toe with some of the biggest names in business and sports.
    But in matters of heart and emotion, she was a big ol’ sissy, afraid to step away from the shadows of the past.
    Maybe Liz was right, though. Maybe it was time to let that all go.
    How else was she going to have a bright future?
    “In time, I’ll be sure to do that. When I’m ready.”
    “But not with Cole?” Liz studied her with that probing gaze she used on her clients.
    “Not with Cole. It’s a conflict of interest. I just can’t risk everything I’ve built.”
    “Up to you, sweetie, but I say don’t pass up a golden opportunity. They don’t come around all that often, and you don’t know when you might have another chance.”
    Savannah smiled at her. “There are a lot of men out there.”
    “Yes. But has any other guy made you feel like Cole does?”
    She stared at her tea. “Never. Not yet, anyway.”
    Liz laughed. “Trust me, Savannah. There aren’t that many men in this entire world who can put that kind of look on a woman’s face.”
    She lifted her gaze. “What kind of look?”
    “That sexed-up, pink-cheeked, dreamy-eyed, oh-boy-was-it-good kind of look.”
    Savannah palmed her cheeks. “I do not have that kind of look.”
    “Of course you don’t. I’m making it up.”
    “Sometimes I hate you, Elizabeth Riley.”
    Liz grinned and lifted her glass, saluting Savannah. “Why, thank you, Miss Brooks. That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me all day.”



THIRTEEN

    SAVANNAH KNEW THAT WORKING WITH COLE ON SOME of the image makeover ideas she had wasn’t going to make him happy. He was resistant to thinking he was anything less than perfect.
    Then again, he was a man, and men didn’t like to be told they needed to make changes in their lives. Ego and testosterone and all.
    She understood that and she was trying to finesse this, but there were a few things that couldn’t be finessed, and he was just going to have to suck it up and take it.
    It had dawned a miserably hot day, and even at seven a.m. Savannah knew it was going to be the kind of brutal day that made you wish you could stay inside, hibernating in the air-conditioning.
    The site had no trees—at least not yet—so they’d have zero shade today. She fought back a grumble and sucked down her iced latte, determined to focus on Thomas and Selena Rogers, their three children, and the new house they were going to get.
    Selena was beyond excited and Thomas was grinning ear to ear.Savannah had worked with both of them on a couple other house builds as well as the start of their own. They were quiet and soft-spoken, generous with their time, and willing to do anything to help others. They were also still shocked and grateful to be so close to having their first home. They currently lived in a one-bedroom, which wasn’t at all comfortable for raising three children.
    But they were together. Selena worked a full-time job and was in night school. Thomas worked two jobs and yet Savannah had never once heard them complain. And their kids were an utter delight. So smart and happy, always with smiles on their faces no matter their circumstances. Seeing those kids filled Savannah with joy.
    Because they had love, hope, and most important, parents who loved them.
    That counted for so much.
    The crew was arriving, it was getting noisy, and as Savannah turned, she caught sight of Cole pulling his SUV onto the street. He greeted the foreman, who checked him off the list and got him set up with what he’d need for the day.
    Lord. He wore jeans, a sleeveless shirt, and a ball cap he’d turned backward. He also had on scuffed, dirty work boots. When he strapped on the tool belt and headed her way, Savannah’s knees weakened.
    She’d already resolved that their one night together was going to remain exactly that—one night. Her body apparently thought otherwise, because parts of her were tightening, throbbing, and jumping for joy.
    She was stronger than her libido. She was. She could contain herself and not go over there, leap on him, and take a long, slow lick of his neck.
    She took a deep breath and met him on