noonday sun began its western descent.
His heart beat like a racing stallion. Sweat coated his body. He ached with the need for release. But this time had been for Deborah, not for him. She had needed the powerful fulfillment, and what Deborah needed was far more important to him than what he needed.
When Ashe had sent Buck Stansell a warning, declaring Deborah Vaughn his personal property, it had been a ruse. Now it was a fact. If he had to destroy Buck Stansell to keep Deborah safe, he'd do it. No one was going to harm his woman.
« ^ »
Deborah set up a temporary office in the library, moving in a computer and borrowing Annie Laurie for the first day. She would do whatever was necessary to protect her employees. That might mean staying away from Vaughn & Posey for a few weeks, but it also meant business as usual. Too many people depended upon the real estate firm for their livelihoods, including Deborah's family. She had no idea whether or not Whitney had any money left in her trust fund, but she doubted it. Not after nearly eleven years of marriage to George Jamison. That meant Whitney, too, depended upon revenue from Vaughn & Posey to keep her and her worthless husband from bankruptcy.
Ashe McLaughlin's return to Sheffield was a mixed blessing. He and Roarke guarded the family night and day. Anyone wanting to harm her or Allen or her mother would have to go through two highly trained professionals. But her personal relationship with Ashe had her confused and uncertain.
She could not deny that she was in love with him. Always had been. Always would be. But the lie about Allen stood between them as surely as Ashe's inability to make a commitment. If she knew Ashe loved her, if she knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, telling Ashe the truth about Allen would not be as difficult. But he hadn't said he loved her and certainly had made her no promises beyond defending her with his life.
'Where do these go?' Ashe stood in the doorway, a stack of file folders in his arms.
'What are those?' she asked.
'They're printouts of all your current files on your present listings.' Annie Laurie scurried past Ashe, dragging a swivel desk chair behind her.
Deborah smiled at Ashe; he returned her smile. She couldn't stop looking at him, couldn't stop remembering how it felt when they made love. She was as giddy and light-headed as a teenager in love for the first time. And the crazy thing was she honestly thought Ashe was acting the same way.
He looked incredible this afternoon, but then he always did. Tall, muscular and lean. Gray slacks. Navy blue jacket. Light blue shirt, worn unbuttoned and without a tie. She could see the top curls of dark hair above his open shirt.
They hadn't made love since yesterday and she ached to be with him.
Annie Laurie cleared her throat. 'We could take a break. It's after one and we haven't stopped for lunch.'
'Good idea.' Ashe laid the file folders to the left of the computer atop the antique mahogany desk. 'Why don't you two do whatever it is you need to do and I'll tell Mazie we're ready for some of her famous chili. I've been smelling the stuff for hours now.'
'Check on Mother, will you?' Deborah asked. 'She's been busy all morning working on that cross-stitch piece she wants to finish before she goes in the hospital'
'I'll see if she wants to join us for lunch or have something in her room,' Ashe said.
Deborah looked around the library and wondered if it would ever return to normal once she went back to Vaughn & Posey's downtown office. Together she and Annie Laurie had managed to keep everything fairly neat, but office clutter had certainly changed the charming old room's atmosphere.
Deborah fell into the huge, tufted leather chair behind the desk. Her father's desk. Her grandfather's desk.
'So, Neil finally came to his senses and asked you out.' Folding her arms behind her, Deborah placed her hands at the back of her head and stretched. 'You'll need to leave here early enough to go home and change and —'
'It really isn't a date, Deborah. We're just having dinner and Neil is going to help me study. If I can't pass the test, I'll never become a Realtor. There is no need for me to leave early. Neil's picking me up here after work.'
'Neil could have helped you study without taking you out for dinner,' Deborah said. 'My goodness, Annie Laurie, give the man a little encouragement. I think everyone, except Neil, knows how you feel about him.'
'I can hardly throw myself at Neil when he's in love with you.' Annie Laurie plopped herself down in the swivel chair she'd placed at the edge of the desk.
'Neil is not in love with me. It's just that he's had a sort of crush on me for years. I've made it perfectly clear that we can never be more than friends.'
'I guess none of us can help who we love, can we? I'm in love with Neil, he's in love with you and you're in love with Ashe.'
'I see you have this all figured out.' In Annie Laurie's version of their love lives, they were beginning to sound like a modern day Southern version of
'He couldn't have gotten to you without going through Ashe and Neil certainly would never try to confront Ashe.'
'I'm telling you that if you want Neil, you're going to have to let him know. And I mean in no uncertain terms. Seduce the man.'
Annie Laurie gasped. 'Why Deborah Luellen Vaughn, what sort of advice is that? Are you saying that if I sleep with Neil, he'll fall madly in love with me?'
'No. I'm saying he's already in love with you, but just doesn't know it. Besides, a man Neil's age isn't going to be seduced unless he wants to be. And I'm telling you, he's ready for you.'
'You and Ashe are having an affair, aren't you?' Annie Laurie kept her head bowed, but risked a quick glance in Deborah's direction. 'I know it's none of my business, but you've been a good friend to me and I don't want to see you get hurt.'
Deborah sighed, then smacked her lips lightly. 'Yes, Ashe and I are having an affair. And I know only too well that I could wind up getting hurt again. But I've been in love with him for as long as I can remember. I've never wanted anyone else.'
'I know exactly how you feel.'
'Then don't wait around. Go get what you want. Neil isn't going anywhere, and take my word for it, you're exactly what Neil needs and what he wants, whether he knows it or not.'
Ashe knocked on the doorpost, announcing his presence. 'Chili is served in the kitchen. Coffee? Tea? Cola?'
'Tea,' Deborah said.
'I'll go wash up and help Mazie get everything on the table.' Annie Laurie stood. 'Is Miss Carol joining us?'
'Yes, she said for me to come up and get her when we're ready to eat,' Ashe said.
'I'll bring her down after I help Mazie.' Annie Laurie rushed out of the library.
'What's wrong with her?' Ashe asked.
'I think my advice on her love life upset her.'
'What kind of advice did you give her?'
'I told her to seduce Neil.'
Ashe bellowed with laughter. 'Good God, woman! I'd say you're sending two virgins into uncharted waters. How the hell will they know what to do?'
'I think they'll figure it out.' When Ashe walked around the desk, Deborah slipped her arms around his neck.
'Annie Laurie and Neil? How long has this been going on? I thought the guy had a thing for you.' Ashe pulled her up against him.
