Cold Hearted Bachelor

“The Vanderbitch must be loosening the leash.”

“Vander who?”

“Rhonda Vanderweir.”

I’ve heard of the building tycoon Vanderweir, he pretty much owns this town. But I don’t know Rhonda. “Who?”

Colby leans himself back against my desk. “Chuck’s wife is a Vanderweir. Hugh Vanderweir’s daughter. She’s major high maintenance and they fight all the time.”

Hugh Vanderweir is big time. He’s the kind of guy who can put up a skyscraper overnight.

I stare off in the direction of Chuck’s office. “I’ve never seen her here before.”

Colby leans forward, holding his hand up to his mouth like he’s trying to shield the words from eavesdropping ears, even though no one is around. “If she’s here when you’re here, run.” He laughs at his own joke.

“Why doesn’t he just leave her?”

Colby shrugs. “Who knows? I’m guessing he likes being whipped at night by her.”

We both laugh, and my mind conjures up images of a woman in black leather and a whip. I laugh a little harder.

“Listen, I have to get this contract printed out and over to the buyer in like thirty minutes.” Colby steps away from my desk and rushes to his own little cubicle. “Drinks tonight?”

“Absolutely.” I fire up my computer, glancing at the time so I won’t be late to meet up with Vaughn. It’s still so unreal how I’ll be spending more time with him.

It’s been ten years. I shouldn’t be affected by silly things like the way he smells. Or how his blue eyes feel like they stare right through me. No, I should definitely not be affected by that.

I click on the Multiple Listing Service, MLS, browsing for properties I think Jackie will be interested in. After a few minutes of searching, I click over to my emails, checking them before I leave for the day.

There’s an email from an address I don’t recognize, the subject line is blank, and I click it open. The message reads simply, ‘Everyone loves you.’

I let out a little laugh. Is this a joke?

I glance around the office, wondering if anyone sent this to me. Chuck’s busy talking to another agent, Michael, in his office. Another woman, Debra, taps away busily on her computer and I don’t think she and I have ever even said more than two words to each other in the years I’ve worked here.

I study the email address, and click on it, copying it to paste it into the Google bar. Nothing comes up on a search, so I delete the email. It’s obviously spam.

After work, I raced home to get ready for my not-a-date with Vaughn.

He convinced me to let him help pick out a few things for the kitchen. He’ll be here any minute for our countertop excursion, so I do a double check of my cream-colored sweater that hangs slightly off one shoulder and skinny jeans paired with brown boots.

I text Gwen, telling her my game plan for the day and see if she wants to meet up later for drinks with Colby, and then head downstairs.

“Is that Vaughn here to pick you up?” my mother asks, staring out the front window.

“Yeah, he’s taking me to pick out some things for the kitchen.”

My mother smiles. “Ok. Give him our best.”

“Will do,” I call from the door, and hustle toward Vaughn’s truck.

In jeans and a black hoodie, he looks even better than yesterday, as he stands by the open passenger door. “Ready?” he asks.

I nod and slide in, trying my best not to get sucked into his warm smile and gorgeous blue eyes.

I have to breathe in a deep breath since he’s gone and taken it away. His jet black hair is all tousled and messy, like he’s had a long day of running his fingers through it.

“You look tired,” I say, when he gets behind the wheel.

He smiles, putting the truck in gear. “Rough morning.”

I want to ask so many questions, but at the same time I don’t want to seem too eager for the information. “Hope everything is ok.” There. That is a nice general answer.

Ten minutes later, he pulls into the Harry’s Home parking lot, and I follow him inside. “Did you want to look at cabinets and hardware while we’re here?”

I nod. “Ok.”

We amble through the department, and I take my time, looking over each cabinet and how I envision my future kitchen.

“We can look at lighting. And tile, the world is your oyster.” He goes on to mention a plethora of things.

I bite my lower lip. “Right, ok.” Can I admit something here? I almost feel like Vaughn wanted to come here with me because he didn’t want me to be here with Colby. Is that all in my head?

Vaughn steps beside me. “Overwhelming, huh?”

“Very.” I glance over at more samples. “I’ve been thinking it over and I know what I want. I just need to find it.”