Imperfectly Perfect

Chapter 5

five

“We’ll see you next week,” Fallon said into the phone before hanging up. She immediately put the appointment into Athena’s calendar, nothing more than a simple follow-up with a client. What she was far more interested in was the fact that Savannah had been in that small conference room with Athena for nearly two hours.

They were close to the end of the allotted time Fallon had given them, and it had been obnoxiously quiet in the outer office. Just like the last time Savannah had been in there with Athena. Biting her lip, Fallon checked her email and then found the list of law journals that Athena had handed her hours ago.

She needed to find them and give them to Athena so she could properly do some research before the next time she met with Savannah. Except Fallon hadn’t had the heart to leave this room where she could see the door that enclosed the two of them together. The door she had barely managed to take her eyes off of.

What she would give to be in there taking notes, but Athena hadn’t asked her to join this time. They weren’t quite at that stage yet. Biting her lip, Fallon was just about to stand up to get the journals for Athena when the small conference room door opened.

Savannah came out first, a forever smile on her face, one that Fallon had learned was always there, even when Savannah wasn’t having the time of her life. If only Fallon had managed to be that kind of person. What doors would it have opened? Sitting fully into her chair, Fallon waited to see what Athena would need next.

They walked side by side toward Fallon’s desk, Athena’s heels clicking on the floor, dulled by the carpet. She kept a space between them just as Fallon would expect. Thus far, the only person allowed to break that space was Monti. Sucking in a sharp breath, Fallon dropped her gaze to the short, curvy client next to her boss.

“Fallon, would you make another appointment for Savannah? We’ll meet in about three or four weeks, whichever works best.” Athena tapped the top of the desk and left the outer office.

“Absolutely.” Fallon opened the computer as Athena walked away. “When would be a good day?”

Savannah pulled out her phone and stared at the screen, squinting. Did she need reading glasses? She’d probably look rather cute with those large, wire-framed ones resting on her nose. Fallon bit the inside of her cheek. Where had that thought come from?

“A month out, that Wednesday should work. I won’t have Brinley that week so it’d be easier.”

Fallon nodded and opened the day in Athena’s calendar. “Three in the afternoon.”

“Sure.” Savannah typed furiously on her phone, putting the date into her calendar.

Fallon did the same, trying to avoid looking at Savannah, but it was so damn hard. When she was done, she stared up into Savannah’s deep brown eyes and just waited. What she wanted to happen next, Fallon had no idea, but surely it would be something, right? Savannah wouldn’t leave without a pleasant word or a comment about what they should be doing together.

Was the other week a fluke?

Or had Savannah enjoyed herself as much as Fallon had?

Would there be a reprise?

“I brought you something,” Savannah said, sliding her phone into her oversized purse.

Fallon furrowed her brow and canted her head to the side. She locked her eyes on Savannah’s. “You brought me something?”

“Yeah, I saw it the other day and couldn’t stop thinking about you.” Reaching into that gray oversized purse, Savannah rummaged around until she pulled out a small round of cheese and set it on the desk right in front of Fallon. Her lips curled up sharply, and she looked so damn pleased with herself.

Couldn’t stop thinking about you…

The words echoed in Fallon’s mind. When she looked into Savannah’s eyes, Fallon had missed that gaze over the days in between. She’d only gotten a glimpse of that when they’d gone to the wine bar. It was a look of cocky confidence and self-satisfaction that she was doing something right.

“You brought me cheese?” Fallon raised her eyebrow at the round of cheese before flicking her gaze up to meet Savannah’s. “You can’t bring me gifts.”

“Why?” Savannah’s face fell slightly, but that happy look was right back in place. Was it only a mask? What would it take to find out if the real Savannah was just that damn happy or if it was a way she acted to please everyone around her?

“Because it can be seen as inappropriate or bribing.” Fallon lifted the cheese and looked at it. It was smoked, aged cheddar, one of her favorites. Savannah hadn’t forgotten their discussion while at the wine bar. How much had she thought about that night out in the last few weeks since they’d seen each other? Just as much as Fallon had? Or more?

“I didn’t… It’s not, though. I didn’t even think about that.” Savannah frowned, a moment of sadness descending on her entire body. How long would it stay there before Savannah pushed it to the side?

“I wouldn’t expect you to.” Fallon set the cheese back down. She would have to check with Athena about whether or not she could keep it. “Give me a minute.”

Fallon stood up immediately and walked directly into Athena’s office. Nerves swirled in her belly. She’d never done something like this before. She was always the professional—or at least she tried to be. But ever since Monti had sort of come back into her life and really come into Athena’s, the line between professional and personal had been blurred.

“Got a second?” Fallon asked as she knocked on the door.

“Sure.” Athena straightened her back and put her hands on the top of the desk, two open books in front of her already that she’d been reading.

Fallon bit the inside of her cheek and shut the door behind her. “I don’t know what to do about Savannah.”

Athena canted her head to the side, her brows furrowing. Fallon nearly growled at herself. She wasn’t explaining this well because she had no idea how to even begin. It wasn’t like she was interested in anything with Savannah. She had no desire to even be in a relationship with anyone.

“I think she wants to go out again.” Was it that or was it that Fallon wanted to?

“Are you considering dating her?” Athena was always someone who could cut straight to the point. Fallon appreciated that right now because she was floundering in trying to get this question out.

Shaking her head, Fallon crossed her arms. “No. But she brought me a gift, as another apology, and I didn’t want it to be a conflict—”

Athena put her hand up, stopping Fallon mid-sentence. “You’re allowed to have friends, Fallon. By no means do I want to control your life.”

“I know that. I just… with the case, I didn’t want to cause anything that might harm it.”

Athena’s lips pressed together hard, her gaze narrowing. She hollowed her cheeks and sucked in a sharp breath before shaking her head slightly. “I’m not sure we’ll be going to trial or even filing anything.”

“Oh.” Disappointment rang through Fallon’s tone. She’d just assumed since they were still having meetings that Athena had already agreed to take on the case. There must have been something else going on that she wasn’t aware of, something that would create a doubt that Athena could win or even make some sort of change overall.

“Savannah is the sister. What I really need is the wife.” Athena crossed her arms and leaned back in her office chair. “The case would be much stronger and perhaps relevant with that. Savannah can’t do much from her position.”

Fallon flexed her fingers, her chest tightening a bit. Did Savannah understand that? She hadn’t seemed worse for wear when she’d come out of the meeting with Athena. Or did Savannah simply have such a sunny disposition that even bad news like that wouldn’t taint that smile?

“If you want to go out with her, then you have my blessing, if that’s why you’re in here.”

Fallon focused on Athena’s blue eyes. She’d nearly forgotten that she’d come in here to answer that question, that Savannah was still waiting in the outer office for her to return and not act a complete fool.

Nodding, Fallon backed toward the door. “Thank you.”

She said nothing else as she walked into the main office, shutting Athena’s door as she preferred behind her. She was pretty sure that if Athena could lock that door any time she didn’t need anything, she would—well, perhaps at one point. But since Monti, Athena had lightened up a bit. They’d even strayed to working in the main office so often that Fallon couldn’t remember the last time she’d been at Athena’s home office except to grab a book or five out of the library—which she still needed to do.

“Well?” Savannah asked, her full lower lip pulled tight between her teeth.

Arousal coursed through Fallon’s body at the sight of that, at just the thought of Savannah doing that somewhere—anywhere—else.

“Thank you for the cheese.” Fallon ducked her chin, her cheeks heating. What the hell was going on with her? She wanted to reach over and pick up the cheese again, run her fingers over it as a distraction, but that would just be weird. Instead, she sat on the edge of her desk, right where Savannah was standing, putting them on a more even height.

“She said you can keep it?” Savannah’s eyes widened and cheeks tinged pink. It was adorable, honestly. Was she excited? Truly happy?

“Yes.” Athena had honestly said a whole lot more than that, but Fallon wasn’t going to bring it up. Savannah having a case with Athena was going to complicate matters between them, but Fallon wasn’t sure she wanted to avoid a friendship just because of that. She’d truly enjoyed the soft moments they’d had, connecting over a shared grief with someone willing to understand the pain that Fallon still held tightly within her when it seemed like everyone else had moved on.

“Oh good!” Savannah blew out a breath and moved her hand across her forehead like she was wiping sweat from it.

“Why is cheese that important?” The question was out of Fallon’s mouth before she could stop it. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for in an answer, but she wanted to know.

Savannah shook her head sharply. “It’s not.”

“Are you sure?”

“I just saw it and couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

There were those words again. Fallon was a forgettable person. Welcome to her life with her parents who frequently forgot she was in the same building as them, so Savannah saying something to the contrary was odd. Perhaps it was just that Savannah had found the same comfort in their conversation that Fallon had.

“It’s a nice gesture,” Fallon answered, keeping her gaze on Savannah as if to prove a point, but it was more to make sure that she didn’t miss any nuance that she might find in those big brown eyes. “I appreciate it.”

“Do you think…” Savannah rolled up on her toes and then back down again. The hesitation was clear. Fallon wished she could make Savannah move forward more quickly and get the words out, but these things took time. “Do you think we could go to that wine place again?”

“I thought you didn’t like wine.”

“But you do.”

Fallon narrowed her gaze. “Why would we go to MILF Wines again?”

Perhaps Fallon had learned a few lessons from Athena in the time she’d worked for her. That was an outrageously direct question, but she wanted it answered. Was Savannah trying to ask her on a date? Was this simply a way to get to know each other better? Or was she trying to fill the void of loneliness after a divorce and a death?

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” Savannah gave in far too easily.

Fallon really wished she hadn’t. But they didn’t know each other all that well yet. Perhaps Savannah would learn that Fallon wasn’t as hard on the inside as she presented on the outside. But in order for that to happen, they would have to spend more time together, outside of this office. Which brought her right back to that damnable question she’d asked Athena.

“Where would you like to go?” Fallon asked this time, hoping that Savannah would see through the question to the answer. She really did want to spend more time with Savannah. In fact, she wanted to go out tonight if there was time. Something about the way Savannah smiled brought a warmth to Fallon’s life that she hadn’t had in a long time.

“Where would I…?” Savannah looked perplexed.

Fallon held the silence, waiting for the thoughts and words to connect in Savannah’s brain. Just what would she say when she figured out what Fallon meant? Would Fallon be greeted with another one of those brilliant smiles?

“Oh.” Savannah blinked hard, her entire face lighting up. Her lips curled upward, her eyes scrunching at the corners, and she shook her head. “Are you asking me out to dinner or drinks?”

“Dinner,” Fallon answered succinctly. She flicked her gaze once toward Athena’s office, but the door was still shut. “You pick the place. My treat.”

Fallon reached over the side of her desk and grabbed a sticky note and a pen. She scribbled her cell phone number onto the small three by three square and ripped it off, handing it over to Savannah. Their fingers brushed. Savannah's skin was so warm. So soft. The burst of arousal was so strong that Fallon had to suck in a sharp breath. She would have to watch out for that for sure. She couldn’t be swooning over Savannah when nothing would ever happen between them.

Even if Savannah was willing—Fallon wouldn’t allow it.

She wouldn’t ever repeat her parent’s mistakes.

“Are you free tomorrow?” Fallon asked. She certainly was. It wasn’t like she had much of a life anyway. And now she knew that she needed an extra twenty-four hours to whip herself into shape before she could sit across a table from Savannah and keep herself in check.

“Y-yeah.” Savannah stared down at the phone number. “Do you want me to just text you?”

“Why else would I have given you my number?” Fallon’s lips twitched. She’d really thrown Savannah off her game, hadn’t she? “I’ll see you tomorrow, Savannah.”

Standing up, Fallon walked around her desk to her chair. Just putting that small amount of space between them was exactly what she needed. Her body cooled back down, her chest loosened a bit, and her mind was quieted—slightly.

“Then I’ll let you know.” Savannah’s lips were back into the patented smile she had. “See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

As Savannah walked for the door, Fallon snagged the round of cheese from her desk, sliding her fingers over the plastic. But her eyes were locked on Savannah. The way her wide hips moved from side to side, her short legs as they carried her, her blonde hair as it sat at her shoulders and swayed with her movement.

When Fallon turned back to her computer screen, she had a smile on her face, one that felt natural and right.

When was the last time she had done that?