Vaughn turned more fully toward her, taking her shoulders in his hands so he could look into her eyes. “He might not come for his child, Abigail. But what if he knows you saw him fighting with Jason? What if you saw or heard something significant that day without realizing it?”
Fear sank deep inside her. She swayed slightly, and Vaughn reached to steady her. “But I didn’t hear anything specific. I don’t know what they were arguing about. I just recognized angry voices.”
“I believe you, honey. And I’m not trying to frighten you. But I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to be careful.” He smoothed a path down her shoulders to her upper arms. “Have Security walk you out to your car at night. Install an alarm system at home and make sure you use it. But most of all, we need to call the police and let them know you saw Rich and Jason fighting.”
Her mind whirled. Of course, he was right about all of those things. She wasn’t just protecting herself. She needed to make sure her child was safe. And for that reason, she would part with the extra money for an alarm system, even though it would put a bigger dent in that commission check.
“I will.” Nodding, she tried not to feel overwhelmed. But her plate had been full before with a baby on the way and a massive art project to complete. Now, installing a new system would take time. And how could she compare prices when she felt like she needed protection right now? “I can stop by the station tonight on the way home.”
She could cross that much off her list anyhow, even though she was bone-weary.
“It’s already late. You must be exhausted.” He studied her for a long moment.
She could tell he was thinking. And how funny that she’d known him for such a short time and already she understood things like that about him.
“It’s not a problem. If I had any idea that what I’d seen was significant, I would have reported it already.” Shoving her notepad and drawings in her purse, she prepared to leave the hospital. “I’d better get underway, though. I want to be here early tomorrow to put in a full day’s work.”
“May I make a suggestion?” He waited for her nod. “I don’t want to impose, but I’m happy to help.”
He drew a breath, ready to roll out some kind of plan, but she shook her head.
“No. You’ve already done so much to help me. Just giving me this commission in the first place—”
“I didn’t do that for you. That was your talent. You were the committee’s first choice.”
She wondered if that carefully worded answer meant that he hadn’t voted for her project. Not that it mattered. She’d gotten the job that meant everything to her. “Then you helped me by giving me access to your ranch and delivering all those tree limbs that will fuel my art for a long time to come.”
Sliding off the work platform she’d built around her sculpture, she hopped to her feet. Searched in her bag for her keys.
“My landscaper would have only created a burn pile with them otherwise. Giving them to you saves us the trouble.” He stood with her, stilling her hands before she could tug her keys from her purse. “Abigail, there are four empty bedrooms at my ranch. Sleep there tonight where you have Ruby and me to watch over you. Then, we can have a squad car come out tomorrow to talk to you there. You’ll get a good night’s rest and then can give a statement in the morning.”
Vaughn’s hands held hers. Their gazes locked. Her throat went dry.
“Sleep...at your place?” Her voice scratched over the words a little, the invitation making her think all the wrong things.
All the things she’d been trying not to picture happening between her and the most appealing man she’d ever met.
“Sleep,” he repeated, voice firm. “Trust me, I understand how the last guy you were with took advantage. I would never hurt you that way, swooping in to capitalize on a vulnerable moment.”
Oh. She nodded stiffly, thinking it was probably a very sound plan. A wise idea. Good, rational thinking to help a pregnant woman get her rest and keep her safe.
“Thank you. If you don’t mind, I will take you up on that.” She liked the idea of having Vaughn by her side when she gave her statement to the police. For his friendship. His support. And yes, the tender concern he’d showed her. She couldn’t deny that he was coming to mean a great deal to her.
“Good. I can drive you there.” He checked his watch. “I’ll have to be to work early in the morning, too, so we can ride in together.” He walked her out to her car, stopping there just long enough so she could get a few of her things and lock it up again for the night.
And then he was on the phone with the Royal police—a call to someone on the force he went to school with, apparently—and arranged for an officer to come out in the morning. It was all helpful and logical. Kind and thoughtful.
Yet, as she slid into the passenger seat of the sexy sports car he used for work, Abigail couldn’t help but wish that Vaughn didn’t feel the need to be quite so honorable where she was concerned. She wasn’t all that vulnerable, damn it.
If she wanted something more to happen between them, she was definitely in full command of her senses to make the decision. Not like that awful night back in February.
No one was taking advantage of her again.
A part of her wanted to plot
