CHAPTER TEN
Annabelle and Mara were talking alone in the business office of the lodge later that day. Nick was off inspecting the damage with the electrical engineer and getting a time frame on fixing the problems, and Vaughn was tied up in meetings. Annabelle decided to use the time to implement some PR ideas with Mara’s help.
Unfortunately, the other woman had other things she wanted to talk about first. “So, I hear you have unexpected company?”
Annabelle nodded. “My uncle. It seems he needs to get out of the city for a while.” Though why her uncle had to show up now, when she’d just put the moves on Vaughn, and successfully, she might add, boggled her mind.
Mara leaned back in her chair and studied Annabelle, a smile creeping onto her face. “Having family around must cramp your style, hmm?”
Startled, Annabelle merely blinked. “I don’t know what you mean.” Could Mara know about her and Vaughn? She shook her head. Impossible. After all, they’d only just been together last night and had shown no public displays of affection at all.
“Oh, come on! Indulge me in some girl talk here. I know you have a thing for him. And I can’t help but notice he stares at you constantly with those gorgeous brown eyes.
Annabelle was mortified. “I do not! And he does not! Stare or have a thing, I mean.”
“And I think the lady protests too much,” Mara said laughing. “Joanne at the coffee shop said you were asking lots of questions about Vaughn when you first got to town.”
Annabelle cringed. “Would you believe I was gauging the lay of the land in PR terms?”
Mara shook her head, laughing.
“There are no secrets, are there?” Annabelle asked on a sigh, already resigned to divulging her feelings.
“No secrets in this town,” Mara agreed. “So, can I take that as an admission?”
Annabelle glanced over her shoulder, making certain the office door was closed. “Okay, I admit Vaughn and I are temporarily involved.”
Mara nodded slowly. “It’s good you aren’t expecting anything long-term. The man just doesn’t know how to open up. Nick’s the same way.”
Annabelle decided not to discuss Vaughn’s inability to bond emotionally, especially since she felt she’d made progress. She would rather talk about Nick instead. She leaned forward in her seat. “Actually, Nick’s pretty transparent if you know what to look for.”
The other woman’s eyes shone bright with anticipation. “Go on.”
“Not until I know you’re serious about him.” Annabelle had come to like Nick and sympathize with his issues. After all, she thought wryly, everyone had insecurities whether they admitted them or not. She ought to know.
Mara grew thoughtful for a moment. “I’m in love with Nick. Head over heels in love with the man and he won’t give me the time of day.”
Relieved, Annabelle felt more comfortable discussing Nick. “He has his reasons for backing off and they really aren’t personal to you. So I suggest you take the initiative. Go all out in your campaign and show him he’s worth the risk.”
Mara swiveled back and forth in her chair and smiled. “I never would have pegged you as an advocate of women making the first move.”
Annabelle thought back to her silk teddy and bold knock on Vaughn’s door last night and grinned. “You’d be surprised,” she murmured.
“Now you’ve got me confused.” Mara crinkled her nose in thought. “Don’t most men want to be the aggressor?”
Annabelle had no desire to give away Nick’s secrets and merely said, “Let’s just say that in this case, Nick would appreciate knowing you want only him.”
Mara narrowed her gaze and groaned. “This is about Vaughn, isn’t it?”
“What makes you say that?”
“In this town, all paths lead back to Brandon Vaughn. Besides, Nick’s made comments that lead me to believe he thinks I’m still interested in Brandon. Of all the stupid things. I dumped him, and trust me, I have no regrets.”
“Why?” Annabelle asked, not just interested but curious why any woman would give Brandon Vaughn the boot.
She shrugged. “No chemistry. Now Nick—” She swiped her hand over her brow in an exaggerated gesture. “He really does it for me.”
Annabelle laughed. “Then make sure he knows that.”
Anticipation sparkled in Mara’s gaze. “I will.”
“Now can we get back to business?” Annabelle asked.
Mara swiveled around in her seat so she was facing her computer screen and keyboard. “What do you need? Because anyone who gives me the advice you just did deserves my help.”
“Not to mention your boss is paying us to work?” Annabelle asked wryly.
Mara chuckled. “That, too.”
“Okay, here’s the thing. I was thinking that we need to use Brandon Vaughn’s generosity to counter the bad publicity caused by the sabotage.”
“How?”
“By sending letters to all registered guests informing them that in exchange for not canceling their reservations during this time, they are receiving one free night’s stay as thanks.”
Mara nodded and began typing.
“If you do a regular mailing, maybe we can include a brochure with a reminder that it’s never too soon to book spring break?”
Mara jotted a note on a pad next to her mouse. “Got it.”
“Okay then.” Annabelle gathered her papers and stuffed them back into her briefcase, then swung her purse over her shoulder. “I have family back at Vaughn’s that I have to deal with.”
“I’ll handle this and, sometime today, I’ll deal with Nick.”
Annabelle rolled her eyes and headed for the door, her thoughts on her obstinate uncle. “At this point, I’m not sure whose job I envy more right now.”
* * *
Annabelle juggled her cell phone against her ear as she searched for money to pay the taxi she’d taken to Vaughn’s house. She slipped the bills to the driver and headed up the front walk.
“So I was thinking that if I tell Uncle Yank that Lola’s coming on to Spence Atkins, he’ll hightail it back to the city,” Annabelle said to Sophie, explaining the plan she’d concocted to send her uncle home where he belonged. As much as she loved him, she had limited time with Vaughn and she didn’t want to lose any of it.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t see that happening, Annie. You see—”
“Hang on,” Annabelle interrupted her sister and dug for Vaughn’s spare house key she’d dropped into her too-big bag. Key found, she let herself inside.
“Don’t be so analytical,” she told Sophie. “It doesn’t have to be true. I just need a gut reaction from Uncle Yank when it comes to—Lola!” Annabelle stopped short upon seeing the other woman standing in Vaughn’s front hall.
“Not analytical, just factual.” Sophie’s voice carried through the phone line. “I assume you just ran into Lola? I would have warned you if you weren’t always in such a rush.” Sophie sounded truly amused.
“You’ll pay,” Annabelle promised her.
“I already am. I’m working with Randy, the jerk,” her sister reminded her. “Say hello to Uncle Yank and Lola for me.” And with a sudden click, Sophie was gone.
Leaving Annabelle alone to deal with her uncle. And Lola. Who looked beautiful, ten years younger and like a handful of woman for her uncle to handle.
“So you’re both here,” Annabelle said into the silence.
“Your uncle needs me,” Lola explained. “And I missed you.” She gave Annabelle a big hug.
Annabelle hugged her back. As she inhaled, she took in an old, familiar scent. “I recognize that perfume.”
Lola smiled. “I want him to remember the old days.”
Annabelle’s mouth opened wide at Lola’s admission. So she was trying to seduce her uncle. But couldn’t she do it in the city so Annabelle could get back to seducing Vaughn?
“Did you come to take Uncle Yank home?” she asked hopefully.
“I can hear you,” Uncle Yank called out from his seat on the couch where Boris lay on his lap and Spike curled on the sofa cushion near his head. “So don’t be talking about me like I’m not in the room.”
Lola shook her head. “Then stop acting like you’re deaf, dumb and—”
“Don’t say it,” he growled. “And I thought I left you home to handle things for me.” He glanced at Annabelle, a smug look on his face as he said, “She always does what I ask.”
“Maybe she used to, but that was the old Lola,” the woman who’d raised Annabelle said. “This is the new and improved version.”
The other woman was right. Annabelle didn’t recognize her. Her usual long black skirt had been replaced by an above-the-knee number. Her sensible flats were now stilettos that Annabelle would be proud to own, in red no less. And her prim, buttoned-to-the-collar blouse was now a form-fitting, boat-necked sleeveless black shirt. With stainless-steel studs along the neckline.
Before Annabelle could reply, Vaughn strode in and let out a whistle of appreciation. Now the gathering was complete, Annabelle thought.
“Thanks, Brandon,” Lola said blushing.
He inclined his head. “The pleasure’s all mine.” He lifted his dark sunglasses off his nose and hooked them into his shirt.
Oh, he was good, Annabelle thought. The attitude perfectly matched the sexy body in tight jeans and a collarless tee. Her temperature spiked just looking at the man.
Vaughn glanced from Lola to Yank. “She doesn’t look loose to me.”
Annabelle nearly choked.
“Loose?” Lola strode over to Yank and slapped him on the side of the head. “Maybe I will accept Spencer Atkins’s invitation to dinner when I get back to town.”
Annabelle stifled a laugh. Lola was doing what Annabelle herself had already contemplated. Using Spencer to make her uncle jealous. Judging by the red flush on his face, it had worked.
“The hell you will,” her uncle bellowed. “He only asked you out because he thinks you’ve suddenly become easy.”
Lola straightened her shoulders and held her head high. “At least he asked me out, unlike one stubborn old man I know.”
“Old? Who are you calling old?”
“Oh, my God, what’s wrong with them?” Annabelle asked Vaughn in a low tone.
He cocked an eyebrow. “You really have to ask? It’s unrelieved sexual frustration,” he muttered.
“Oh, Lord,” she said, shooting a startled look the bickering couple’s way. The two interlopers didn’t seem to notice. “Think we ought to leave them alone?”
He nodded. “Might as well. It’s not like we can do anything to help them. Any chance this’ll blow over soon?” he asked her.
Annabelle shrugged. “I’ve never seen them like this. Uncle Yank’s always been dense, but Lola’s the unknown here. She’s completely different. It’s like she’s set her sights on a goal and he’s it.”
In fact, Annabelle thought, as Vaughn headed to the kitchen and she went to walk the dog, Lola and her uncle reminded Annabelle a bit of herself and Vaughn.
She only hoped Yank’s complete refusal to have anything to do with Lola wasn’t a bad omen for all of their futures.
* * *
Vaughn wondered how his life had gotten so out of control. At work he had someone looking to undermine his lodge, and at home he had the invasion of the relatives. Except they weren’t his relatives and he wasn’t used to so much company and noise around him. Strangely enough, he enjoyed the tumult. He was even beginning to like having the animals underfoot, not that he’d admit as much to Annabelle.
He would prefer a big dog to the Q-Tip, but since it was only temporary, he could handle the fairy mutt. He snagged a piece of white meat chicken from his plate and snuck it to the pooch hopping at his feet under the dinner table.
“Stop feeding the dog. You’ll spoil him,” Annabelle said, catching him in the act.
He shot her an amused glare. “And sleeping in your bed isn’t doing the same thing?”
She shrugged. “I like the company.”
He figured as much. The animals obviously filled a void in her life, but with such a rambunctious family, he wondered why she felt the emptiness in the first place. He, on the other hand, had his parents alive, well and disapproving as ever. They lived in the same town and he might as well be alone. No wonder he’d sought out Yank Morgan again.
He glanced at Lola and Yank, who were eating in unusual silence. “So, everyone enjoying the meal?” Vaughn asked. He’d driven into town where a new fast food place had opened up and brought home a full dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables and dinner rolls.
Everyone glanced at each other and remained silent.
“Boris likes it,” Annabelle finally said.
“It was delicious, Brandon. And I’m grateful for your hospitality.” Lola carried her plate to the sink, despite his protests, rinsed and placed it in the dishwasher. Then she returned for Yank’s, pulling the dish out from under him.
“Hey, I wasn’t finished yet,” he grumbled.
“Would you rather clean up yourself? Because I’m exhausted from the drive and I’m turning in early.”
Vaughn thought it best not to offer to clean for Yank and piss Lola off, and a smirking but quiet Annabelle obviously agreed.
“Fine, clear my plate,” Yank muttered.
“You could stand to lose a few pounds anyway.” Lola finished with his place setting.
“I’ll take care of the rest, Lola. Why don’t you go get some rest?” Annabelle said.
“Thanks, I think I will. Night all.” Her gaze encompassed both Vaughn and Annabelle, deliberately excluding Yank.
“Night, Lola,” they both murmured.
She headed for her guest room upstairs.
Vaughn had had his cleaning woman open up two of the upstairs rooms, dust and clean them out to give both Yank and Lola their privacy. From speaking with Lola, he knew Yank’s eyesight wasn’t a real issue yet and walking stairs posed no problem. Since Yank had wanted to feel like he’d gotten away from the world, Vaughn provided him an upstairs haven. The only drawback was that he had Lola close by, Vaughn thought wryly.
“Would you like dessert?” Annabelle asked her uncle once Lola had gone.
“Why not? Might as well give the dragon lady something else to yell at me about,” he said, referring to Lola’s behavior.
“Something tells me it’s time for you to turn in, too,” Annabelle suggested sweetly.
He frowned. “I thought Vaughn and I could talk some first.”
Annabelle waved a hand. “I’ll clean up in here. Maybe in the meantime, Vaughn can talk some sense into you as far as Lola’s concerned. And as far as your staying here, don’t you have a business that needs you in the city?”
Vaughn saw his cue and grabbed at it. “Yank’s welcome to stay here as long as he wants.” As a buffer between himself and Yank’s niece, a woman whose every facet he liked more and more.
Annabelle narrowed her gaze. “You surprise me.”
“Why? You thought I’d be an inhospitable pig?” he asked with a friendly grin on his face.
She shook her head. “I just thought you liked your privacy and needed your space.” And with that, she began stacking the remainder of the dishes and cleaning the table.
He mouthed a silent thank-you her way before turning to her uncle. “Yank, want to go have a drink in the family room?”
A long drink. Long enough for the women in the house to go to sleep and let the men be in peace.
* * *
Annabelle focused on the night ahead. While Uncle Yank and Vaughn shared a drink and talked, she took Boris for his last walk and cleaned Natasha’s cage. Spike, she assumed, was perched on either Vaughn’s or Yank’s lap. She was female, after all.
Alone in her room, Annabelle washed up and undressed for the evening. Since Uncle Yank or Lola could walk in or catch her in the hall sneaking to Vaughn’s room, the silk teddy was out. That left her with the jerseys she felt most comfortable in anyway. Once she was finished washing up and changing, she glanced over at her empty bed.
Loneliness seemed to emanate from the double mattress. She shook her head in frustration. Every night at home she slept alone, yet because she’d spent one night with Brandon Vaughn, one spectacular night, she craved his company. Not only had she gotten a tempting taste of sharing, and wanted more, but she knew her time with Vaughn was limited to this business trip. She’d be darned if she’d let an unexpected family visit ruin it for her.
At the reminder of family, Annabelle’s concern for her uncle rose. Something was up with him, she had no doubt. He wouldn’t travel all this way to Vaughn’s just to escape from Lola. Annabelle pursed her lips and thought hard, but came up blank. She obviously wouldn’t be finding out what Uncle Yank’s real problem was, at least not yet. So she turned her focus to her own issues.
Vaughn was shutting down. He was using her uncle’s visit as a means of putting up a wall between them. No shared meals, no joint cleanup, no long talks over dinner. Nothing. Annabelle had had every intention of correcting the situation. Though she was by no means certain she’d be welcome, as soon as she heard the door to Vaughn’s room close, Annabelle drew a deep breath for courage and headed down the hall.
Like last night she knocked on his door. Seconds passed that felt like forever. Finally, the door opened wide and Vaughn stood before her.
“Annabelle,” he said gruffly, his voice filled with longing and desire. But he didn’t invite her inside.
“Can we talk?” She swallowed hard.
He nodded, his big body blocking the doorway.
“Inside,” she prodded. “So we don’t have an audience.”
With a groan, he stepped aside and gestured for her to come in. “This is crazy,” he said as he shut the door behind them. “Your uncle’s upstairs.”
“I’m over twenty-one,” she reminded him. “Uncle Yank has no say. I respect him, but I won’t let you use that as an excuse to avoid me.”
“It’s not an excuse. I need to earn back your uncle’s respect,” Vaughn said.
She reached a hand out and stroked his cheek. “I’ll sneak out in the morning.”
His brown eyes dilated and darkened in hue, but his next words smothered her hope. “I’m not sleeping with you while your uncle’s under the same roof.”
She admired his chivalry and old-fashioned values. “All I want to do is share your bed.” She didn’t want to disrespect her family any more than he did, but she wanted to be with Vaughn. Just lying next to him would be enough.
Uh-oh.
Obviously, despite her self-made promises not to get attached, there was a definite emotional component to her need.
“You can stay,” he said, understanding in his expression.
She’d thought his mere presence would be enough, yet as she joined him in bed and Vaughn shut the light and rolled over to go to sleep, she realized it was definitely possible to be with someone and still feel alone.