Just sleep? She feared she was going to be too hot and bothered to even close her eyes.
Six
Vaughn wasn’t the only one excited to have a visitor.
Ruby greeted Abigail with the full-on joy of the dog’s off-duty personality. A happy, panting, tail-wagging, follow-Abigail-everywhere welcome. As grateful as Vaughn was for the service animal’s training, he liked seeing the golden retriever simply enjoy their guest while he helped her settle into a downstairs bedroom. Abigail, for her part, seemed equally charmed. She had laughed with delight to see one of Ruby’s unsung skills on display as the dog helped her “unpack.” Abigail had brought a gym bag that she’d retrieved from her own car, a duffel she kept with clean clothes, a towel and toiletries.
When Ruby sat at Abigail’s feet as she opened the bag, Vaughn mentioned Ruby’s unique gift. Only when Abigail clamored to see did he give Ruby the command to unpack, and the dog carefully gripped the toiletry bag in her teeth, carrying it to a drawer Vaughn had opened for her. One by one, Ruby transplanted all the items in the duffle.
“She’s amazing,” Abigail proclaimed while Vaughn rewarded her with a treat and released her to play.
Even then, Ruby didn’t venture far, wandering in and out of the suite while Vaughn double-checked that the room and attached bath had fresh towels and linens. Did the dog sense he needed a chaperone? He’d given Abigail his word that his offer for her to stay here was just to help her and keep her safe at a juncture in her life that had to be incredibly challenging. So, of course, Vaughn wasn’t going to let himself linger in this room with her for long. He would keep his word. But he wouldn’t court temptation, either.
The room he’d given her was spacious, with three walls painted in a soft tan, while the wall behind the dark wood headboard was lined with reclaimed planks, like an old barn. A giant pair of steer horns had been mounted above the bed.
“Can I get you anything else?” he asked after assuring himself she had clean towels. He stalked back into the bedroom, where she sat on the black painted chest at the end of the sleigh bed.
A stack of extra blankets rested beside her, not that she’d need them in July, but he’d wanted to make sure she was comfortable. She’d kicked off the pink tennis shoes she had worn with her gray floral skirt and T-shirt, the pink canvas a feminine touch in a room otherwise full of heavy, dark woods and Aztec-themed patterns in the rugs, pillows and prints on the wall.
“You’ve already been so generous.” Abigail stroked Ruby’s silky ears while the dog rested her head on the chest beside their guest.
“A bottle of water? A snack before bed?” He knew he should let her sleep, but he also wouldn’t deny a pregnant woman sustenance. “I didn’t have much time for dinner, so I’m going to make something for myself.”
Pulling her attention from his adoring dog, Abigail met his gaze slowly. There was something different in her expression. A determination, maybe. Or certainty.
“I’m hungry, too.” She tilted her chin up as she came to her feet. Her skirt settled around her knees in a swirl of cotton knit. “Just not that kind of hungry.”
He stilled. His heartbeat stuttered as his brain tried to take in the words and what they meant. Behind her, Ruby curled at the end of the chest. Content.
Clearly, his dog wasn’t worried about whatever was happening here. But Vaughn wasn’t so sure about himself.
“I brought you here to make life easier for you,” he reminded her, remembering what she’d been through with Rich Lowell. “I don’t want to take advantage of you on a day when you’ve had a scare. When the world is off-kilter.”
He wanted to place his hands on her as she stepped closer to him. Comfort and reassure her. But with the sultry look in her eyes, he didn’t fully trust himself. The heat that had been simmering between them threatened to bubble over at the least provocation.
“My world is not off-kilter.” She halted just inches away from him in the center of the room, under the ceiling fan that spun silently on a low setting, the air teasing through her dark curls. She lifted both hands to his chest and placed them there. “I wanted to be here tonight, not just to be safe from the past. But maybe to erase some of it, too.”
Her fingers stroked along his shirt, smoothing either side of the placket. The citrus-and-spice scent of her fragrance teased his nose. Memories of her taste threatened to level all his good intentions.
Heat rushed up his spine.
“Abigail.” He held her shoulders, needing to keep her still another moment while he wrapped his brain around this. “I like you. Too damn much. I would never want you to regret this.”
“The last time for me was so emotionally painful,” she confided, her dark eyes wide. Sincere. “I was vulnerable and weak. Now, I’m sure of myself. And I understand this isn’t necessarily going to lead to anything. I know you aren’t ready for a relationship. I just—” She shook her head, brow furrowed.
“What?” His voice was ragged with need, but he tipped his chin up to see her more clearly. Wanting to understand.
“I want a beautiful memory to replace an unhappy one.”
The certainty in her voice broke through his last restraint.
He wanted her more than he could remember ever wanting a woman before. She understood he couldn’t offer forever. But he could damn well give her this.
“Then I’m going to make that happen, Abigail.” He skimmed a touch around her waist, his hands aching
