by Violet Paige
“How is work going?” I always felt like I pried when I asked about his job, but there was a new connection between us.
His eyes were set on the red barn in front of us. “You know my work isn’t very interesting.”
“I don’t know that. You don’t talk about it much. You must like something about it.”
“It’s numbers. Investors. Lots of travel. There isn’t much to discuss. Very dry business.”
“Do you know of any trips coming up?”
“I don’t usually know until I have to fly out. It’s one of the drawbacks.”
“Do you think you’ll stay in the field? In investments?” I wanted to know what challenges he liked. What inspired him. Was it numbers, or was it the job he used to have? The one he never revealed.
“Let’s not talk about work. We’re on vacation, aren’t we?”
“But I—”
He slid the sunglasses from his eyes. His damn gorgeous eyes got me every time. I decided not to press him anymore.
“Do you want to go get day drunk with me or not?”
I smiled. “I do. Very much so.”
“Then let’s go.” He led me into the barn.
I didn’t expect to see so many people inside. The inn was almost empty, but the wine tasting was packed. I looked up at two crystal chandeliers suspended from sturdy beams running overhead.
Vaughn and I started at one end of the barn and listened while the sommelier explained the pairings.
We moved on to the second station when I felt my phone buzz.
“Hold on just a second.” I winced. “I’m sorry it’s work.” I stepped outside, aggravated Meg had called.
“Hi,” I answered.
“I’m so sorry to call you on your weekend away, but I thought you needed to know about this.”
“What is it?” I rushed her. I wanted to get back inside.
“Lana Foley hasn’t returned any of my calls.”
“She hasn’t confirmed the Monday deposition?”
“No,” Meg answered. “I’ve left messages on her cell. I emailed her personal accounts and I haven’t heard back for the past three days.”
I exhaled. “Maybe she isn’t somewhere where she can respond.” She was supposed to tell her husband about the baby and the senator before the deposition.
If she hadn’t talked to him yet it made sense she wouldn’t answer Meg’s calls.
“For three days? I think you need to try and see if you can reach her. Maybe she’ll answer if it’s you instead of me.”
“It shouldn’t make a difference. This is her case. If she wants to sue him, she has to show up.” I lectured as if Meg was responsible.
“But what if it’s something else?”
I could see Vaughn through the sliding farm doors of the barn. He was listening intently to the lesson on the next wine. He stood out in the small gathering. I would have noticed him in any crowded room. The way he held his frame. His strong arms. His eyes.
“It’s Saturday, Meg. Saturday.” It almost came out as a whine.
“Have I ever called you on Saturday before?” she prodded.
“No.”
“I’ll text you her number. Can you at least call? Please?”
I shook my head. Lana Foley’s case was chipping away at my time with Vaughn.
“All right. Send it over and I’ll try to call her.”
“Thank you, Emily. I just hope she’s ok.”
“Why wouldn’t she be ok?” I stopped before I let myself finish the thought. “I’ll call you right back.”
I hung up and waited for the text.
Vaughn strolled out of the barn, carrying a tiny cup. “You missed the pear apricot one.” He dropped the sexy smile. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“It’s a client. She’s not responding to us and we have a huge deposition with her Monday. I need to try to make a few calls. I’m sorry.” I looked at him with regret. I knew I was letting the outside world into our bubble.
“I’ll walk you back to the room. You can make all the calls you need to.”
“Are you sure?” I hated it. I hated work. Right now I had some not-so-nice things to say about Lana Foley.
“Of course. I’ll do some work too. I brought my laptop in case.” He tossed the cup into a bin.
“We shouldn’t be working. I’m sorry. Really sorry.”
“No apologies. Come on. I’ll get you back to the room. Hop on.”
I looked at Vaughn as he stooped to lower his back.
“Piggy back ride?”
“Hop on.”
I giggled as I jumped from the ground.
“Hang on.”
I secured my arms around his shoulders as he started to jog toward the inn. That was the moment I realized that beneath the confidence and the polished sexy exterior. Behind his smoldering bedroom eyes, Vaughn was fun.
I left messages for Lana at both numbers Meg texted to me. I also sent a follow up email. It didn’t make sense that she hadn’t responded to either of us.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going?” Vaughn asked. He sat on the bed with his laptop, watching me pace.
I fell onto the bed. “In the vaguest of terms I can tell you my client is trying to sue a high profile member of Congress and I still can’t find her.”
I stared at the ceiling. It sounded much worse when I said it out loud.
“Do you want to head back to the city?” he suggested.
“What?” I sat forward.
“I understand if you want to check on her. You might feel better if you’re back in D.C. It’s an important case. I assume an important client.”
“And just leave the winery?”
He closed the screen. “Are you going to be able to think about anything else while we’re here and you haven’t heard from her?” he asked.
I lowered my eyes, knowing the truth. I wanted to be the girl so wrapped up in her love life that nothing else mattered, but I cared too much about what happened with Lana Foley. I had invested countless hours in her case. Preparing for the deposition alone was the most time I had dedicated to impending litigation.
“No. I’m worried about her. The case. Meg is concerned,” I admitted. “I’m trying not to let myself think anything bad has happened. There has to be a logical explanation for it.”
I didn’t want to believe it was possible something went wrong when Lana told her husband about the affair and the baby. It made me sick to think about it. I also tried to push the nagging thought away that Senator Mitcherson had something to do with her silence. What if he found out she was preparing a case against him? What if he had interfered?
“All right. Then we’re headed back,” he announced.
He jumped from the bed and threw a shirt in his bag.
“But—” I felt the defeat in me change to elated surprise. He was sincere. Vaughn started canvassing the room, gathering our things. “You’re ok with this?” I questioned.
“Work happens. We have other weekends. You can’t take a chance like this.”
I stood from the bed and folded my sweater in half. “Thank you.”
He stopped packing and looked at me. “I’ll get you home.”
We shoved the rest of our things in our bags. I did a final sweep to make sure I didn’t leave anything in the shower before Vaughn collected the key to check out.
I looked up at the inn from the front seat. I could see our window. Something had happened between us here. Something magical and unbelievable. Something that had seeped into my soul, binding me to Vaughn in an unimaginable way.
“Ready to go?” He climbed behind the wheel.
“Not really, but I have to find my client. What if something bad has happened?”
“I can help you if you want.”
He pulled away from the vineyard and we turned onto the highway after meandering through country roads.
“Help me find her? You’re serious?” I looked at him.
He pressed his sun
glasses to the bridge of his nose. The aviators had a different level of sex appeal on his structured face.
“Yes. By the time we get back it will be late afternoon. We’ll track her down and we can still finish off our weekend on a high note.” He grinned. “I have selfish motivations.”
“Really, you don’t have to do that. It’s my mess.”
All I could think about was how eerily reminiscent this was of Garrett. The familiar tightening in my chest returned. How many times had I searched for him? How many times had I called his friends desperate for answers?
He squeezed my knee. “Em, I’m going to help you.”
“All right.” I wasn’t used to it. Accepting help. Even the offer was foreign. I was the one who always solved the crisis. I was the foot soldier. “If you’re sure.”
“I am. I want to do this.” I knew he wasn’t flirting anymore. He was genuine.
The rest of the drive we listened to music while I reminded myself Lana Foley and my brother had nothing in common. Their only connection was not returning my calls. The commonality stopped there. It had to.
Two hours later Vaughn pulled up in front of my apartment.
“Is your roommate here this weekend?” he asked.
“No. She texted and said she was staying with her boyfriend. I think she had to work most of the weekend anyway.”
“Think I’ll ever meet her?”
“I’d like that. She’s fun, but also a workaholic.”
He chuckled. “You do realize you’re the one working on a Saturday.”
“Touche’.”
“Where do we start to look for your client?”
I pulled on the handle. “I need to go upstairs and get my office keys. I have her paperwork at my office. Do you want to wait here while I get them?”
“I’ll keep the car running.”
I slammed the door and took the steps as quickly as I could.
14
We parked in a deck not far from the clinic. It was easier to maneuver the campus roads on the weekend. Vaughn walked beside me as I guided him to my office.
I turned the lights on as we walked through the halls.
“So this is where the magic happens?” He stood in the doorway while I searched for Lana’s file.
I laughed. “You make it sound more glamorous than it is.”
I opened the filing cabinet and flipped to the F stack. I pulled Lana’s file from the folders. There was a standard contact form we attached to all files. I took a picture of the address listed. It had always been a part of the process. I never imagined I would need the information to locate a missing client.
“Ok. I have her address. We can start there.”
“And if she’s not there?”
“I have no idea. I only have one option.” I closed everything I had opened.
Vaughn examined Addie’s desk. “Is this the infamous office mate’s space?” He shifted the phone and moved a stack of sticky notes.
“Yes. Don’t touch her stuff,” I scolded.
“You think she’ll notice if I do this?” He opened the top drawer a fraction of an inch.
“Vaughn! She’s super picky about her stuff.”
He chuckled. “Let me know if she notices.”
I tugged on the door. “Oh, she’ll notice.”
We walked to the car and plugged the address I had for Lana in my phone. She lived twenty minutes away.
“Thank you for doing all of this.” I looked at him as he drove us to the house.
“Sweetheart, it’s no big deal.”
Maybe it wasn’t a big deal to him, but to me it was an enormous display of just how much Vaughn was willing to do for me.
“Turn here and it’s on the right.” I pointed to the one-story ranch.
The sun had just started to set. There were long shadows across the driveway. I hadn’t pictured where Lana lived. She was young and newly married. She was also a woman who had an affair with her boss. This neighborhood looked like the kind of place people moved to raise families. Not the kind of place that was home to scandal and home-wrecking.
“I think I should go by myself,” I explained. “It’s a very sensitive case.”
“I get it. Confidentiality. I won’t ask any questions, but if you need me I’m right here.”
I appreciated that Vaughn understood my job. He didn’t urge me to reveal Lana’s name or why her deposition on Monday was so important. I yanked the door handle and walked to the front of the house. There were geraniums in pots on the front steps along with a few pumpkins. I pressed the doorbell. The chimes echoed like church bells. I waited for Lana to answer.
I heard footsteps on the other side. The door opened.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was hushed and urgent.
Lana quickly joined me on the porch and closed the door behind her. Her strong brow was pinched together nervously.
“Why haven’t you returned any of the calls from the clinic?” I asked. I tried not to sound accusatory. But I was pissed I was here. From where I stood, Lana looked safe and healthy.
“Shh.” She pressed her finger to her lips.
My eyes widened. “Does he not know?” I whispered.
She shook her head. “Please leave, Emily. I don’t want Simon to see you here. It’s too much to have to explain.”
“You have to tell him,” I urged. “If this turns into a news story he could find out in a headline instead of from his wife.”
Her eyes widened. “Is there a leak? Does someone know? Have you been contacted?”
Under the porch light I wasn’t sure she hadn’t turned pale.
“No. No. Nothing like that.”
I tried to put myself in her shoes. Imagine what was ahead of her. The uncertainty. The fear. Yet she was strong and certain Senator Mitcherson had to take responsibility.
“Anything else?”
“No.” I folded my arms. “I’ll go, but will you be there Monday morning?”
She nodded. “Yes, but I still have to talk to Simon.”
I moved for the first step. “Could that change things?” I wanted to know. “Is there a chance you won’t show up?”
“No. I’m going forward with it, but I haven’t told him yet. I’m waiting for the right time.” She looked over her shoulder.
“There is no right time for something like this. I’m sorry.” She had to know that by now. It had been weeks since we first met. Every time she came to the office she reported she was about to break the news to her husband before the deposition.
“I’ll do it before Monday.”
“I’m just glad you’re ok, Lana. I was worried when you didn’t call or email.”
“Thank you, but other than this god-awful morning sickness I’m fine. I couldn’t find a time to respond.”
I smiled sympathetically. “I’ll see you Monday?”
She nodded. “I’ll be there.”
“Good luck with the conversation.”
“Thanks.” She smiled wryly.
I walked to the car where Vaughn was waiting.
“Is that her?” He saw Lana watching us from the porch.
“Yes.” I snapped the seatbelt in place.
“She looks fine to me.” He started the car.
I sighed. “She is.” I was annoyed our weekend was ruined for nothing. That I had pulled Vaughn into this when Lana was perfectly ok.
“You don’t seem happy about it.” He steered us back toward the city and out of Lana’s corner of the suburbs.
“I am. I’m glad there was nothing wrong. I’m frustrated we had to change our plans. I liked the winery. I’d rather be there than here.”
“We can do the winery again. Let’s go back to your place and order some dinner. No roommate, right?”
“Right. Just you and me.” I smiled. I wanted the irritation to evaporate.
He grinned. “Ever thought about getting a four-poster bed?”
I laughed. “No.”
“Maybe we should
change that.”
My heart raced. My pulse quickened. Vaughn only had to suggest it and I was ready to do it. I’d shop for new furniture tomorrow if it meant more nights like last night.
“Maybe.” My voice was soft with promise.
“That’s my girl.” He turned the radio up and I grinned.
Exactly. I was his girl.
15
“Are you really going to steal the last donut?” I teased, poking Vaughn in the side.
We were stretched out on the chaise lounge on the deck. I had a blanket wrapped around me. I don’t know how the cold didn’t bother him. He was wearing jeans and no shirt. We read our tablets, scanning the Sunday morning headlines.
This was our third weekend like this since our trip to the winery. Our bodies fit together as if this piece of furniture was designed for only us.
He lifted the lid on the cardboard box and dangled the pastry in front of my face. “I’ll make a deal with you.”
“What’s that?” I put my tablet down to hear his proposal.
“I’ll split the donut with you.”
I looked at him. “In return for?”
He winked.
“Don’t you think that deserves the entire donut?” I knew exactly what he wanted. My pulse raced. I moved to straddle him.
My hands landed on his button and I yanked the zipper down.
He grinned, folding his hands behind his head while I stroked his hard shaft through the denim. I almost groaned. I loved his body. Every part of it. He was cut and sculpted to perfection. His skin was always warm. He smelled like heaven, and I loved tasting him. His lips. His body. And his powerful dick.
I looked at him, my eyes heavy with lust. I pulled the blanket around my back so I could shimmy down between his legs and shield myself.
“I was kidding. But, yes, the entire donut. You get the whole thing.” His lips turned from a playful smile to something that looked like a smoldering sex grin when he realized I was going to go through with it.
I reached inside his jeans. He wasn’t wearing underwear. My hand wrapped around his silky skin, pumping his shaft to free it. I bent down to taste him, when I heard the front door slam.
I popped forward. Vaughn whispered. “What in the hell is that?”