Then again, maybe he hadn’t. She was cold and precise and doing her job, no matter what she told him about being invited to the wedding.
She might look beautiful in a black dress that showed off her curves and her amazing legs, but she’d come here tonight for one reason and one reason only—to keep an eye on him, to monitor his behavior and report to the team.
She was his worst goddamn nightmare, and just as bad as the media stalking him.
A tap on his shoulder made him turn away from Savannah’s retreating form.
It was Elizabeth, dancing with Gavin.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, replacing his sour expression with a grin. “And you look nice, too, Liz.”
Gavin snorted. “You can have my bride for a few since you’re standing in the middle of the dance floor with no partner. I need to talk to the photographer.”
“Glad to.” He took Elizabeth in his arms and swept her around the floor.
Liz laughed. “Lose your dance partner?”
“She needed to…uh…take a break.”
“Uh-huh.”
He twirled her around, hoping they weren’t going to discuss Savannah.
Liz’s arched a brow. “Aren’t you smooth.”
“All football players are, honey.”
“Yeah, yeah. That’s what they all tell me. So how’s it going with Savannah? I saw the two of you dancing.”
“It’s going just great.”
“From the tight set of your jaw I’m thinking you’re lying to me.”
He met her curious gaze. “It’s your wedding day. Let’s not get into this.”
“Oh, let’s do. Tell me what’s going on.”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “Look, I’ll put up with her invading my work life, but she had no business being here tonight. I don’t like her butting into my personal life.”
She laughed. “Your ego never fails to amaze me. She’s here tonight because I invited her. Yes, she’s someone I recommend to players, but she’s also a good friend to me and has been for years.”
“Huh.”
Liz rolled her eyes. “You are such a dumbass. You thought, what? That she was stalking you or something?”
“Or something.”
“I don’t think you’re that important to her. You’re just a job, Cole. Quit acting like such a douchebag. And believe me when I tell you this, because you’re family now. Otherwise I wouldn’t bother because you’re already a pain in my ass.”
He looked down at her, caught the sparkle and grin, and laughed. “Yeah. Okay. I’ll fix this.”
“You do that. I’m going to go find my sexy husband. Oh, god. I have a husband now. Maybe I need a shot of tequila first.” She lifted up, kissed his cheek, and wandered off.
Yeah, so he was an asshole. And overly sensitive like Savannah had told him. He grabbed a beer and found Savannah at her table nursing a glass of wine. He pulled up a chair.
“Okay, so I was wrong. Again.”
She smiled at him, obviously not hurt or upset. “I’m amazed you didn’t choke getting those words out.”
“Hey, I know how to apologize when I’m wrong.”
“Then we’re taking a step in the right direction, aren’t we?”
“We as in you and me, or me as in my…image?”
She lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip. “I thought we already established that I wasn’t here to work tonight.”
He leaned back in the chair and took a long swallow of beer. “So you’re here solo tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Dating anyone?”
“Not at the moment.”
“I imagine someone as beautiful as you has a pretty active social life.”
She frowned. “Cole, you’re not by any chance hitting on me, are you?”
He smiled at her. “Nope. Just trying to get to know you. If we’re going to work together, this should be a two-way street. I figure I should find out a little more about you, too.”
“I don’t think that includes discovering anything about my dating life.”
“Why not? You get to know all about mine.”
“You don’t have one.”
It irked him that she seemed so confident in that statement. “I could have a girlfriend.”
“But you don’t.”
He cocked a brow. “How do you know?”
“That’s part of my job.”
He leaned forward. “You know all about me, but I don’t know nearly enough about you. I’ll be more comfortable working with you if I get to know you.”
She swirled her drink around the glass. “Nice try.”
“So you have secrets.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Everyone does, Savannah.”
“I have nothing to hide. I just don’t think my personal life is any of your business.”
He enjoyed this sassy side of her, but he wasn’t sure if she really wanted him to mind his own business, or if this was her way of coy flirting. Only one way to find out. “Now see, when you say that it makes you mysterious, like you have juicy skeletons in your closet.”
Especially when she gave him that cold Southern stare.
“Maybe an ex-husband, or some scandal?”
She covered it up with a salty smile. “Remember, Cole, this is all about you. Not me.” She stood and grabbed her bag.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Party’s not over.”
“It is for me.”
“So you’re a coward.”