The Eligible Suspect(84)
“Nonsense. Savanna has told us all about you.”
“I hope nothing too disparaging.”
How could it have been if her mother let him in?
“Being wanted by the law is disparaging, Mr. Maguire,” her mother said, “but we trust our daughter’s judgment.”
Savanna took each stair in a slow descent. When she saw Korbin, she stopped. He looked up and the simmering heat of his gaze struck her.
After a moment he snapped out of his trance. “Hello, Savanna.”
His deep, rich voice fanned her most sensitive nerves. Going rigid in defense, she stepped down the rest of the stairs much more briskly.
She stopped next to her mother, facing Korbin. “What brings you here?”
He cleared his throat. “I’m not sure I can answer that.”
“Police?”
Camille gave her daughter a sharp glance.
“No. They found out where I was staying, but...”
The way he looked into her eyes explained enough. He’d ignored her wishes and come anyway. The police hadn’t driven him here. He hadn’t come expecting to be offered a hiding place. He couldn’t stay away.
“Well.” Camille clapped her hands together. “It’s close to dinnertime. Let’s have a barbecue.”
“It’s the middle of winter,” Savanna said.
Camille waved her hand, more of a swat. “You know your dad.”
She led the way through the entry and then down another set of stairs to the basement. Korbin took notice of the house, but in an interested way, not an awed or greedy way. He came from money. Savanna found it so refreshing not to have to wonder if it was her money or name that had brought him here.
In the lower-level rec room, Camille asked a butler to bring everything they’d need for hamburgers. Her dad was sitting at the bar talking on the phone. The director must have left.
“Ah.” Jackson Ivy stood and kissed Savanna’s cheek. “This must mean the workday is over.” Next, he kissed his wife, who glowed with a smile and kissed him back. Jackson turned to Korbin and with all the kissing going on, didn’t lean in for one. “We’re not traditionally French, but kisses are sometimes our thing.”
“I’m not French, either.” Korbin shook his hand. He refused to kiss a man. “Maguire. Irish through and through.”
Jackson laughed and Korbin realized he’d only been teasing. Damn theatrical types.
“This is Korbin, Dad,” Savanna said.
The congenial greeting died out a bit and Jackson withdrew his hand. Not surprising. What father wouldn’t be protective of his daughters?
Korbin turned to Savanna. “Did you hear the news?”
Savanna perked up, full attention.
“We don’t watch a lot of television here,” Camille said.
“My stepdaughter gave me an alibi for the hit-and-run,” Korbin said.