The Eligible Suspect(16)

                “He’s an actor?”

                Savanna started laughing. “No. He’s a movie producer. Did you see The Last Planet?”

                “No, but I’ve heard of it. That’s your dad?”

                She laughed again, softer now. “Yes.”

                “Your parents live in a mansion in California. I caught a documentary about that once.” He stared at her as though she were an alien now.

                “Changes the dynamics, doesn’t it?” Although she joked, she was actually quite serious. All of her brothers and sisters dealt with this in one way or another.

                He only continued to stare at her.

                Savanna began to feel uncomfortable. What was he thinking? That he’d struck gold? If he owned two homes he had to have money. She didn’t know what computer engineers made but it must be decent.

                “My dad founded Maguire Mercantile,” he finally said.

                Stunned, Savanna stared back at him while the significance of that sank in. Maguire Mercantile was a Fortune 500 company, a well-known leader in ranch and farm supplies, but their Maguire outerwear was popular with anyone. Mountaineers. Skiers. School kids. You name it. They were experts at keeping people warm and dry.

                “Wow,” Savanna breathed. “Your dad might be richer than mine.”

                His deep laughter made her laugh with him, and then she became aware of other things. His big body relaxed in her white chair, legs open, broad shoulders and strong arms. A giant package of yum right here in her living room.

                “Were you dreading telling me who your dad was?” he asked.

                “Yes.” She was still smiling.

                “I always dread telling women who mine is.”

                She related to him on a level that sent her guard up. She felt as though she were sliding down a slippery slope with nothing to grab a hold of.

                “Growing up, I felt like Richie Rich. I love my parents and they’re good, loving people, but they’re a couple of rich snobs.”

                “You watched the documentary on my parents’ mansion,” Savanna said. “Mine are, too.”

                “Yeah, but your mother seemed so down to earth. That’s why I remembered it.”

                “She is all about the family. But she isn’t innocent of showing off her wealth. Her parties are embarrassing sometimes.”

                He chuckled. “I stopped going to the ones my parents held after I turned eighteen and left for college. I couldn’t stomach seeing them act different than when we were at home together.”

                The camaraderie they shared was amazing and began to make her uneasy. “Do you see them often?”

                There was that hesitation again. “Not as often as I should.”

                Why not? She decided not to ask.

                “You?”

                She supposed it was only fair that she answer that question. “One of my mother’s favorite pastimes is surprising her children with visits. She usually gathers up as many of the other family members as she can before arriving unannounced with food and beverages. It’s either that or we all meet at the family home in Evergreen. It’s a more central location than the mansion in California.”