The Game Changer, стр. 74

“I’m Aidan. And you are …not Sydney.”

Savanna shook her head, disconcerted. How did he know Sydney? “I’m not. I’m Savanna. Shepherd.”

Understanding dawned on him. “Aha! A third Shepherd sister!”

“Yes. How do you know my sisters?”

“We take our dog to Fancy Tails. And I’ve crossed paths with your sister picking up Caroline’s poodles before. And your other sister Skylar is my attorney. Not that I need a lawyer,” he interrupted himself. “Just, y’know, for things that come up. Nothing bad. Financial stuff. She’s great. They’re both great,” he finished awkwardly.

Savanna heard one thing in Aidan’s explanation, and it had nothing to do with him needing Skylar’s services—we. As in, “We” take our dog to Fancy Tails.

This ridiculously cute man was taken. Of course. How could he not be?

He said, “Your sisters must be happy to have you back.”

“I’m thrilled to be home. I haven’t seen Caroline yet, so I offered to deliver these two.” She gestured at the little dogs, now back on their leashes.

He nodded, stepping aside and holding the door open for her. “It was nice meeting you.” The deep timbre of his voice sent a pleasant little zing through her.

Aidan who? But Savanna’s mother had raised her with good manners. There was no polite way she could ask him to define who he was to Caroline. “Nice meeting you too, Aidan.” She took his offered hand, surprised at how warm his was. She let go, noting that he held on just a beat longer.

“Maybe I’ll see you around.” He turned and headed down the front steps.

Savanna stood in the doorway and watched his retreat. Okay, she’d have to sneak details out of Caroline. She was pretty sure he was married, but now she mentally kicked herself for not noticing if he wore a ring. And, on the heels of that, she kicked herself again for even wondering. After everything Rob had put her through, she’d sworn she was done with men—for a good while, anyway.

Savanna reached outside and rang the doorbell before closing the door and unclipping the poodles. She didn’t want to just walk in and startle an old woman. “Hello? Caroline?”

“Hello, dear. In here,” the familiar voice called.

Savanna peeked into each room as she made her way to the back of the enormous house, knowing she’d find Caroline in the parlor. The best room in the mansion, it spanned the entire west wing and had more windows than Sydney’s whole house. Sunset on Lake Michigan was breathtaking, just as Savanna remembered it. She stood for a moment in the doorway, basking in the orange and pink light spilling over Caroline’s wingback chair. If she lived here, she’d never want to leave this room.

Caroline rose, reaching for her cane as she spoke. “Now, Sydney, you must take this. You do such good work on my babies.” She turned toward Savanna with cash in hand, and then her face lit up.

“Not Sydney,” Savanna said for the second time today, smiling and wrapping Caroline in a warm hug.

“Oh, my! I’d heard whispers… I’m so glad to see you, Savanna!”

Caroline carried her age well. She had to have been ninety. She was still tall, though not quite as tall as she’d been when Savanna was a child. There was a regal air about her, in her mannerisms, her gait, the way she spoke. Savanna spied The New York Times on the table beside Caroline’s chair; she was obviously as sharp as ever.

“I’ve missed you so much!” Savanna said, giving her one extra little squeeze before letting go. “You look exactly the same. How can that be?”

The older woman chuckled. “You always were a good fibber.” She held Savanna at arm’s length and looked her up and down. “Lovely, my dear. You look wonderful. It seems leaving the city and that idiot man has been just what you needed.”

Savanna’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “Sydney told you?”

“Skylar told me. She’d like to find him and give him a piece of her mind, you know.”

Savanna laughed. “Oh, no.” She shook her head. Rob wouldn’t know what hit him. “Yeah, my sisters weren’t too happy when he broke off the engagement. Well, that’s not true. I think they actually are happy it’s over. They never liked him. They weren’t great at hiding it. But I’m okay.” She gave Caroline’s arm a little pat. “I promise.”

“Of course you are. I think”—she leaned in, curling one arm through the crook of Savanna’s elbow—“he did you a favor. You belong here, with your sisters. I’m glad you’re home. Now, how about a refresher? We’ve acquired some exquisite work since I last saw you. Let me show you, and you can tell me what you know from your fine art degree. And I want to hear all about Chicago.”

Caroline kept her arm linked through Savanna’s and they began in the library, Princess and Duke following closely. Dark cherry wood was everywhere Savanna looked, and stacks of books reached far over her head. An imperial staircase led up both sides of the room to a catwalk stretching across it. The whole presentation was breathtaking, even to Savanna, who’d grown up devouring the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys collections on these shelves. The railing along the catwalk above gleamed, and just below it, Savanna was stunned to see an actual Minkov hung on the wall. She gasped.

Caroline followed her gaze up to the painting.

“Is that a Sergei Minkov?” Savanna already knew the answer, but she had to ask. She’d only ever seen his work in books.

“It is. Everett fell in love instantly, the same as you. He had to have it.” She chuckled and lowered her voice in a poor imitation of her late husband. “‘I don’t care what it costs, Caroline. That piece belongs in our library.’”

“Wow,” Savanna breathed. “I’ve never actually seen one in person. May I take a closer look?”

“Of course.”

Savanna left Caroline to rest a moment at a reading table, a few books scattered across the top. She moved