Every Little Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 2)

“What does ‘okay’ mean? Are you going to look into this?”

“There’s not a lot to look into.”

She glowered at him. “Don’t play cool with me, Vaughn. Neither of us wants Devlin bothering Bailey.”

Sullen, he wondered how the hell the good doctor had worked out he had feelings for Bailey Hartwell. He guarded his emotions like they were precious stones. Yet somehow, somewhere he’d given himself away in front of Jessica Huntington.

He didn’t like it.

“Am I to take your intimidating silence to mean you’ll look out for her?”

“You don’t trust Cooper to?”

“Cooper wouldn’t let anything happen to Bailey. But he also doesn’t have the money, power, or influence to squash a bug like Devlin.”

“Devlin hasn’t done anything wrong yet. If he crosses the line, let me know.”

Huffing, Jessica stood up to leave. She seemed to think better of it and glanced back at him. “You don’t know how perfect you two are for each other. One ice, one fire, but both stubborn as hell.”

He didn’t respond to her rather poetic barb.

In answer she narrowed her eyes on him. “I also came here to say that Cooper and I want to get married at the end of the summer. On the boardwalk. You have the only establishment big enough to host a wedding reception.”

“At the end of the summer? The conference center is almost booked out for the summer, and even if it wasn’t, it’s not enough time to prepare for a wedding reception.”

She shrugged. “We don’t want to drag our engagement out. I’m sure you could consider it a favor to Cooper.” She smirked. “We both know you wouldn’t do anything to harm that little bromance.”

He rolled his eyes. Save him from these devious Hartwell women. “Good-bye, Dr. Huntington,” he bit out.

“I’ll take that as a yes. I’ll speak to Ailsa about setting up a meeting with your events coordinator.”

He watched her leave, an unwilling smile tugging at his lips.

Vaughn sat in silence for a while, knowing he should return to worrying about Grant’s management skills. Instead he sat stewing over the idea of anyone trying to cause trouble for Bailey.

He knew of the rumors that Devlin used illegal means to further his success, but so far that’s all they were. Rumors.

Vaughn had given Devlin space because there was no point in using his influence to bring down someone who wasn’t causing any real trouble.

However . . . if Ian dared to go after Bailey and her inn, Vaughn would castrate him.

Metaphorically speaking . . .

Anger burned in his gut at the thought of Bailey losing what she loved, or worse, getting hurt in the crossfire of Devlin’s single-minded aspirations.

Maybe physically, too.

EIGHT

Bailey

Watch over Jay Thursday because it’s his first cover for Mona.

Remember to buy Twinings English Breakfast tea to put in the Yellow Room for the Goldmans’ arrival on Friday.

Go to the bank to pay the electric bill. Joy.

Call Mom and tell her no way in hell am I going on a date with a guy whose Facebook cover photo is of two women mud wrestling.