Silent Desires

Savannah Carson stared at her engagement ring for the millionth time and smiled, joy bubbling through her chest. She felt like she was a teenager all over again… In high school. Except this time, she would be dating the most popular, and most handsome guy in school.

But she wasn’t a teenager. She was twenty-six years old, and her life had taken a whole different turn when she met Matt Bradford five months ago.

Savannah Carson had never been in love. She had been in a few relationships, but never been in love.

You know, movie kind of love. The kind of love that steals your breath and zaps away your common sense. The kind that makes your toes tingle and your skin prickle and your body actually throb. The kind that includes a lot of slow deep kisses and long, lingering touches. The kind of love that Lionel Richie sang about. The kind makes you want to spend the rest of your life with someone.

Savannah had never felt that way about anyone —well, until Matt Bradford.

Five months wasn’t a really long time. She knew that. But what the hell did it matter? It doesn’t matter how long you have known someone, but how well you know them, right? And Savannah knew Matt Bradford.

He was a sensitive, caring loving man who would do anything for her. He wanted her happiness as much as he wanted his own and he never failed to tell her how much he loved her. During the five months they had been together, they had often talked of their desire to start a family…. They both wanted the same thing.

And so two days ago, Matt had popped the question, and Savannah had said yes immediately. She was going to marry the love of her life and they were going to live happily ever after…what more could she want?

They weren’t living together, although Savannah spent so much time in his place and she had some of her stuff there, it was like she was living with him. And that was something that Victoria, her roommate and best friend never stopped teasing her about.

She was at his house now. After she returned from work early, she had decided to make him dinner, which was something Matt really liked. He appreciated every little thing she did for him, and Savannah loved that too. She couldn’t wait for him to come home. She searched her memory for what he had going on at the office today. He didn’t have any important meetings and he was supposed to be in his office for the entirety of that afternoon. That meant he would be back early today.

She hugged herself in excitement, nearly dancing across the floor of his bedroom. They were both happy… They were engaged. They would be married soon…. Nothing could go wrong now.

A noise from the living room halted her. Then she smiled. Oh, this would be perfect. Matt was home. She hadn’t even called him to come home, but here he was. Today his timing was impeccable.

She started to call out to him when Lorenzo, his brother, appeared in the doorway to the bedroom.

She was momentarily speechless. While Enzo popped in frequently, he always did so when Matt was at home. He had to know Matt was working today.

“Enzo,” Savannah said. “What are you doing here? Matt is at work. I don’t know when he is going to be home…hopefully soon”

“I came to talk to you,” Enzo said.

She cocked her head to the side. She and Enzo didn’t really talk much, especially when she knew he and his mom weren’t really in support of her relationship with Matt. It had bothered her at first, but Matt had assured her that they would come around, as they were only looking out for him.

“Okay.” She said. “What’s up? Let’s go into the living room.”

He ignored her and took another step into the bedroom. Unease prickled down her spine. Something was definitely off with him. She could see it in his eyes and in his body language.

“How much would it take for you to walk away from Matt?” he asked.