Every Little Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 2)

This all happened just before Vaughn appeared, Jessica and Cooper moving back to let him into our circle. I drank him in like a parched, parched woman.

In deference to the hot weather and the casual event Vaughn was wearing a polo shirt that showed off his great physique, and slim-leg light-colored chinos and boat shoes. Even casual he reeked of money. It had something to do with the quality of his clothes, his confident air, and the beautiful Rolex Submariner on his wrist.

The unfairness of his good looks made my heart pound fast and my stomach flutter.

Worse still was his complete lack of annoyance when Louis jumped up on him for attention. Vaughn just laughed and rubbed behind his ears, making me melt a little. Once Je

ss had pulled Louis back down, an awkward silence fell over the group.

“Enjoying the festival?” Vaughn eventually asked Cooper.

“Got a beautiful day for it. I was going to grab a beer. Do you want one?”

Vaughn’s eyes flickered to Emery and me. “Maybe later. Miss Saunders, Miss Hartwell.” He looked at Rex, and his expression blanked. “I don’t believe we’ve met.” He stuck out his hand. “Vaughn Tremaine.”

For a moment I thought Rex wasn’t going to accept the offer. I let go of the breath I was holding when he reached out to take Vaughn’s hand. Even I could see Rex’s grip was too tight, and mortification swept over me. “Rex McFarlane. I’m a friend of Bailey’s.”

That dark smirk crept over Vaughn’s lips, his gaze piercing. Whatever Rex was trying to do didn’t work and I saw a flicker of frustration on his face as he let go of Vaughn’s hand.

As for Vaughn he quirked an eyebrow at me as if to say, This guy? Really?

If looks could kill, mine would have sliced and diced him. “Getting involved, Tremaine?”

He shrugged, his stare too focused on me, too searing. “Just removing that stick from my ass.”

No one else got it but I did, and I couldn’t help the smile that played around my lips despite myself. “I think I still see a few splinters.”

Amusement danced in his eyes and it thrilled me. I didn’t want it to thrill me, obviously. But thrill me it did.

“Why Hartwell?”

We all looked at Rex upon his abrupt question. Directed at Vaughn.

“Excuse me?”

“Why choose Hartwell to settle down in? Don’t you own hotels all over the world?”

Vaughn nodded, his focus still on me. Holding my gaze, giving me that smoldering, I’ve seen you naked look again. “A self-made man can choose his view. I guess I just like the view here.”

I felt a familiar tingling between my legs, a tightening in my breasts, and my blood burned.

There was definitely subtext, right?

Oh, my God!

Stop, Bailey! Stop caring!

It was so much easier to tell myself that than to make myself stop caring. He was messing with my head. Warning Vanessa not to cause me trouble, looking at me like no man had ever looked at me before. There was this longing mixed in with that fiery, lusty storm in his pale gaze and, dear heaven, it tugged on all my mushy heartstrings, and teased all my erogenous zones.

A killer combination.

A throat cleared next to me.

Rex.

The sound broke through our staring contest and I looked around to see everyone shifting, not meeting my eyes, and definitely trying to hide their smiles.

My newest friend wasn’t impressed, however. “Self-made? Really? Isn’t your father wealthy?”