Seduction, Westmoreland Style - Brenda Jackson [33]
“If you think so, but I believe otherwise. Whenever the two of you are together, it’s like spontaneous combustion just waiting to happen. And I don’t think you fully understand just how explosive that can be.”
Umm, after two kisses, which she had no desire to discuss at the moment, she did know how explosive passion could be. “Okay, I’ll be the first to admit I’m extremely attracted to McKinnon. What woman wouldn’t be? But an attraction is as far as things go. He has chosen the life of a bachelor and right now I’m trying to figure out what I want to do with my own life. So much of it has been filled with nothing but lies.”
She chuckled harshly. “Do you know I was so wrapped up in all that fairy-tale stuff my mother used to feed me about her and my father that I wanted that same type of love for myself to the point that I’m still a virgin?”
Casey sighed deeply. There was no turning back now—she’d revealed her secret. In a way she was glad to get it out. She’d never had a sister and her brothers were the last people she could talk about something like that.
“I think it’s wonderful that you’re still a virgin,” Savannah said, shifting to more comfortable position in her chair. “I wished I had saved myself for Durango. My one and only guy before him was a selfish bastard and I regret the day I ever met him, let alone sleep with him.”
She glanced over at Casey before she continued. “But then I had no reason to believe in tales of romance and love. My father was the biggest bastard of them all. Trust me when I say he didn’t set a good example.”
“Yes, but at least you hadn’t been fed lies your whole life,” Casey said softly.
“No, but I still think you have a lot to be thankful for. Your mother took very good care of you and your brothers. That couldn’t have been easy for a single woman, and it seems you were all raised with good values. Not all kids can claim that, Casey. And before she died, your mom wanted all of you to know the truth when she could have carried the information to the grave. Although you missed not having a father around while growing up, you did finally get to meet him and look what a wonderful man he is. I’ll trade Jeff Claiborne for Corey Westmoreland any day.”
Silence engulfed the room for several seconds before Savannah spoke. “There might be something else you’re overlooking.”
“What?”
“Why your mother fabricated the story that she did. That could have been her way of coping with life, of dealing with the realization that the one man she loved more than life itself had a heart that belonged to another. That had to have been hard on her.”
Casey gazed at Savannah, thinking she’d never thought of it that way. For the past two years she had been so angry at what her mother had done that she never given thought to the pain her mother must have endured knowing that no matter how much she loved Corey, he hadn’t loved her back.
“I want you to promise me something, Casey.”
Casey lifted a brow. “What?”
“If you ever do come to realize you care for McKinnon, don’t give up on him and walk away, no matter what. I’m not a psychic by any means, but I feel something. Even when he appears happy I can detect his sadness and I don’t know why. It’s like there’s something private eating at him but I have no idea what it could be. I’ve caught him looking at me and Durango during some of our play times with a pensive look in his eyes. And although he claims he doesn’t ever want to marry and have children, I think that deep down he really does. I’ve tried talking to Durango about it but he refuses to discuss certain things about McKinnon with me. But then I have to respect that the two of them share this special bond.”
Casey nodded. She knew of the bond the two men shared.
“Well, I’ve said enough,” Savannah said, getting up from the table. “Just promise me that if the time comes, you’ll remember what I said.”
Casey sighed and met Savannah’s gaze. “I promise.”
Chapter 8
In the comfort of his office McKinnon tossed a report on his desk. The white stallion