'I know.' Annabelle joined her sister on the couch and released Boris so he could jump into Micki's lap. 'And it looks like I'm going to owe you some more. I might have to go back to Vaughn's.'
'Annie,' Micki groaned, leaning back against the couch. 'Do you realize how many times I have to refill the watering can to feed these thirsty monsters?'
'Did you try talking to them? They're usually much more pleasant if you sing 'You Are My Sunshine' while you're pouring water and misting their little leaves.'
'Misting?' The color drained from Micki's cheeks. 'You never said anything about misting!'
'Joke,' Annabelle said, chuckling. She'd missed spending time with Micki while she was away. Nothing beat hanging out with her sisters. Unless
She thought about the fire at his lodge and she shivered.
'Whew.' Micki wiped a hand over her forehead. 'You're really in love, aren't you?'
What had they been talking about? Annabelle tried
'Impressive,' Micki muttered. 'But I was talking about Brandon Vaughn. The big, sexy guy in the tan chinos and black Polo shirt today. Remember him?'
'Vividly.' Annabelle sighed. From the moment she'd realized Vaughn had not only received more horrible news about the lodge, but that he'd chosen to leave for home without her, she'd been torn up inside.
On the one hand she told herself that by letting her handle her crisis while he took off to handle his, he'd done the only practical thing. On the other hand, he could have told her in person if for no other reason than he was paying her to handle public relations. And a damaging fire would desperately need PR. Yet he hadn't come to her.
And her gut told her that his reasons had nothing to do with business or with allowing her personal space. His avoiding her had everything to do with creating distance between them.
'Hello?' Micki tapped on Annabelle's head with her knuckles. 'Where did you go?'
Annabelle kicked her feet up on the table. 'No place pleasant.'
'Let's start at the beginning, shall we?' Micki suggested.
Annabelle nodded. 'Might as well.'
'You love him?'
She nodded, refusing to meet her sister's knowing gaze. 'And before you say a word, it's not the same as the other times.' She knew her sisters thought she gave her heart too easily and too fast, and maybe in the past, she had. This time was different.
'How do you know?'
'I could name a bunch of reasons,' Annabelle said.
'Like?' Micki scooted closer. 'I really want to know.'
Annabelle let her thoughts drift to Vaughn and how he made her feel. 'Like how when I'm with him I know I'm safe. I'm not so focused on the past and: what I don't have in my life. And it isn't all about sex.' Even though that was incredible. 'It's so much' more than that. But there's one more reason I know this is more real than ever before.'
'You've got me hooked.'
Annabelle forced herself to meet her sister's gaze. 'Because I care more about what he needs than what I want. How else would you explain the fact that when I should be in Greenlawn doing my job, I'm home debating with myself whether or not he wants me there?'
Micki nodded. 'Like I said, you're in love with him. So are you going to sit home and feel sorry for yourself or are you going to go after the one person who actually completes you in this damn lonely world?' Micki asked as she absently scratched Boris's scruffy head.
Annabelle rolled her eyes. 'Someone's been watching
'And a certain someone else seems to be too afraid of abandonment even to try and tell a certain sexy ex- football player how she feels.' Micki raised an eyebrow, subtly daring Annabelle to face her deepest fears.
Annabelle had risen to every obstacle life had thrown her way. Micki was right to challenge her now.
Annabelle scooped Boris out of her sister's arms and stood. 'We're going back upstate,' she told the squirming dog. 'And Micki's going to plant-sit while we're gone.'
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE MORNING AFTER the fire, the dank smell of smoke still permeated Vaughn's office just as it did in his dreams. The officials pinpointed the source of the fire as a lit cigarette and if not for the previous incidents of sabotage, this would merely be classified as an unfortunate accident. But it was anything but an accident.
Meanwhile nobody was admitting to smoking or seeing anyone light up on the premises. They didn't have to. Detective Ross had just turned to Vaughn and asked one question. Did Laura smoke?
She hadn't when Vaughn had met her. She'd started later on. The detective had immediately set out to find Laura's whereabouts last night and it turned out she didn't have an alibi. Agitated from the credit problems she was having, Laura said she'd taken a sleeping pill and crawled into bed. Alone. All night long. The police continued to follow up leads but Ross was convinced Laura was the culprit.
Vaughn couldn't buy into the theory. Divorce and ugly words were one thing. Outright destroying him was something else and Vaughn just felt sick.
'Earth to Vaughn.'
He turned to see Annabelle standing in the office doorway, a breath of fresh air in an otherwise sooty, smelly place. She wore her trademark miniskirt but, thanks to the combination of construction and fire damage, she'd traded her flimsy sneakers for bulky sheepskin boots. In pink to match her bright lipstick and skirt. Enjoying the combination, he let his gaze travel downward. Damn but she had sexy legs no matter what she wore.
And he vividly remembered those long limbs wrapped around him as he drove deep inside her body. He shivered at the memory and a sudden realization struck him. He'd never have enough of her.
Ever.
Though he recognized his obsession with Annabelle had taken him away from the lodge at a crucial time, he couldn't deny he was glad to see her now. So much so that even Laura's potential betrayal didn't affect his trust of or feelings for Annabelle.
'Hi there.' He welcomed her with a big grin.
'Mind if I come in?' She didn't smile in return.
He shook his head. 'Not at all.'
'Where is everyone?' she asked as she stepped inside and glanced around the otherwise empty office.
'Nick's with the insurance guy and Mara's home sick today.'
She placed her purse down on Mara's desk. 'I dropped Boris off at the house. I didn't want him inhaling the smoke.'
'Not a problem.'
She seated herself at the desk farthest from him and he suspected she was taking her cues from him. His biggest one being that he'd left her alone in New York City after promising he'd be there for her after her family meeting. He'd gone over that move in his mind and still wasn't sure whom he'd been protecting, but he suspected if he looked deeply enough he wouldn't like what he saw.
'Look, Annie-'
'What's the damage assessment and what do the police say?' she asked, briskly cutting him off.
He cleared his throat. Talking about the lodge hurt badly, the pain slicing through him each time he thought about it. It hurt almost as much as her cool demeanor did now. 'The bad news is that the north section is completely destroyed.'
'Oh, Vaughn.' She reacted instinctively, the sympathy and caring in her gaze and in her tone overwhelming. Touching. Comforting in a way he needed badly. She rose from her seat and he could almost feel her arms around
