Hot Stuff

'Yeah well, I'd never felt about anyone the way I felt about Lola.''

Vaughn nodded, understanding completely. 'And it scared you,' he guessed, mainly because he was in that same sorry state himself.

'Hell yes. Lola was a bright, beautiful woman who deserved a hell of a lot better than a man like me.

'Don't you think that was her decision to make?' Vaughn asked of Lola.

Ball forgotten, Yank leaned back against the wall. 'Well, this is all hindsight, you know? All I knew then was, I was suddenly a guardian of three girls who wore panties with bows on their butts and had big, sad eyes. That scared me spitless. Add a woman ready to make us a family-' He shook his head. 'I couldn't handle it back then.'

'And now?'

'I'm not about to saddle her with an old man whose going to lose his eyesight,' he muttered, then rose from his chair.

'Isn't that her choice?' he asked again.

'This discussion is over. We can move on to my niece.'

Vaughn stiffened in his seat. For all his careful planning, he'd blown it now but good. 'Look, Yank-'

'My Annabelle's got a tendency to pick losers.' As Yank paced the floor and muttered, Vaughn furrowed his brows and shut his mouth. He was clueless as to where this discussion was going, so he might as well find out before he created trouble he might not be in.

'Annabelle needs a good man,' Yank continued. 'All three of my girls need a good man.'

Vaughn swiveled around fast.

'Can't argue that point, can you?' Yank asked Vaughn.

'Uh, no I can't.' He had no doubt what Yank's point was. His niece deserved the best and Vaughn, with his sorry excuse for a family, dyslexic background and the way he'd betrayed Yank years ago, wasn't it.

Yank walked over and slapped Vaughn on the back. 'Glad to hear it. I knew we'd understand each other.'

'We do.' Vaughn swallowed hard. He was damn glad he had Yank Morgan back in his life and he'd already known to steer clear of his niece. Now he had confirmation. He understood Yank's unspoken words.

After this business deal, when Annabelle left for New York, anything they shared while she was here was over.

BY MIDDAY, Vaughn arrived at the lodge. As Mara had informed him, Annabelle had called Nick for a ride and had gotten there first. He was way past being jealous of Nick. After all, he was the one who had

Annabelle in his bed. He did a quick tour of the construction area before returning to the office where Mara sat at her desk stuffing and stamping envelopes.

'Hey there,' he said, treating her to a wink.

'Hey yourself.' She pushed a too-tall pile aside before it toppled over. 'I think offering a free night to all your registrants is a great idea.'

'At least it's a start. Finding out who wants this lodge not to succeed would be even more helpful.'

She nodded. 'What do the police say?'

'That they're following up leads, whatever that means.'

'Hey, at least you know you've got the best working for you here,' Mara said.

Vaughn rolled his eyes at the blatant pat on her own back. 'I just gave you a raise when we started this project,' he reminded her. Before the lodge's inception, Mara had been his personal assistant. Now she ran things here, too.

'Are all men this thick or is it just you?' Mara asked, laughing. 'I'm talking about Annabelle, not me.' She stuffed another envelope, licked, sealed, stamped and began another pile.

'Oh.' She had a point. Annabelle was the best. 'Where is she, anyway?'

'When she arrived, she asked to use the computer and printer, worked for an hour and then headed to gather the employees.'

'Uh-oh. What's she up to now? Anything I need to be forewarned about?'

'It's pretty basic. And nice, too. She's inviting all high-level employees, including construction foremen, to a big party her firm is throwing in Manhattan.'

He raised an eyebrow. 'That's a long drive from here.'

Mara tried to lick an envelope, then grimaced. 'I've got no spit left.' She wrinkled her nose in disgust. 'I doubt anybody minds the trip.'

'And she's doing this…'

'For you, blockhead…' Mara rose and smacked him on the side of the head.

He rubbed the sore spot and laughed. 'I haven't been called that since-'

'I broke up with you,' she said, grinning.

'You're too pleased with yourself,' he muttered.

She shrugged. 'Yeah well it's not a distinction too many women share, so you'll have to forgive me for gloating.'

'So how're things going with Nick?'

She frowned. 'Not real well. He's frustratingly withdrawn.'

'So when have you ever let that stop you?' He ribbed Mara. They had a close friendship that had withstood both a fling and a breakup. She'd take his jokes in the helpful spirit in which they were intended.

'You sound like Annabelle,' Mara said.

'Do I? What's Annabelle been saying?' he asked, leaning closer.

'That I should let Nick know I'm interested in him, for one thing.'

'And for another?'

Mara bit down on her lower lip, probably wondering whether or not to confide in him. Finally she said, 'Annabelle suggested that I not approach Nick unless I'm seriously interested.'

Considering her eyes lit up at the mere mention of Nick's name, Vaughn doubted lack of interest was an issue. How serious Mara was about his friend or how Nick would react, Vaughn didn't know.

He had no idea what Nick wanted out of life, he realized. Did his friend want an affair or something long-term with the right woman? Vaughn had given up thinking the perfect woman existed, or at least the perfect woman for him, and he'd shoved that view down his best friend's throat so many times Nick probably wouldn't bother expressing his feelings on the subject if they differed from Vaughn's own. And they might.

Look at Yank and Lola. Vaughn had encouraged Yank to give her a chance. Vaughn had gone as far as to insist the choice to opt in or out of a relationship with Yank ought to be Lola's to make. But he didn't think the same rules applied to Annabelle.

And when Yank had said Annabelle needed a good man, Vaughn knew the other man was politely insinuating Vaughn wasn't him. Because despite all he'd overcome in life, he was still the kid who couldn't succeed and the man Laura had left behind because he was lacking. In the years since they'd been close, Yank obviously had come to believe that, too. Vaughn might help Annabelle ease her insecurities at night because it was what she needed, but long-term he owed it to her to make the best decision for them both.

Nick, on the other hand, didn't have the same hang-ups or insecurities. He glanced at Mara who, used to his long silences, merely waited until he was ready to talk.

'I think Annabelle's right. You should go for it,' he told Mara at last.

She jumped up and gave Vaughn a big kiss on the cheek, just as Nick walked in, catching them.

Vaughn shook his head in frustration and shot an apologetic look Mara's way. 'I'm outta here, kids,' he said to his partner and assistant.

Nick clenched and unclenched his fists, his expression hard and unyielding. Mara definitely had an uphill battle ahead of her, Vaughn thought.

Good thing she was woman enough for the job.

He strode out of the office and headed to find Annabelle. She had a heart of gold and knew how to reach people on a gut level. She was bringing to the job the same skills Vaughn lacked to help his lodge. If he wasn't trying so hard to convince himself otherwise, he'd say they made a great team.

NICK WATCHED AS VAUGHN left the room after being caught with his arms around Mara, then he exhaled slowly. How many times in his damn life would he have to come in second or back off from something he wanted because of Vaughn-a man he had the utmost respect for