Every Little Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 2)

The group seemed to inhale simultaneously at the passive-aggressive comment.

But Vaughn didn’t even flinch. “Yes.” That was it. He didn’t take time to explain himself to Rex, how he did everything off his own back, and not through his father’s success.

Just like always.

Because Vaughn never explained himself to someone he didn’t feel deserved an explanation. I realized then that I admired that quality in him. I respected that he couldn’t give a shit what some stranger thought of him.

But at the same time . . . he never explained himself to me, either. And that was what hurt about his rejection, because I didn’t want to be some stranger to him. I wanted him to think I was important enough to be owed an explanation.

He looked from Rex to me, and whatever he saw in my expression made him frown and glance away. “I should get going.”

“No, stay,” Jess tried to insist.

“Yeah.” Joey surprised me. “I’m trying to talk Mom and Uncle Coop into taking me to the fun park. The lines won’t be nearly so long as usual because everyone is here.”

“I thought you were playing today,” I said.

“Yeah, later. I want to go to the fun park first.” He looked at Vaughn. “You should come.”

Vaughn looked just as stunned by the invitation and also uncomfortable. “Oh, I’m not sure about that. I should probably stay here.”

And that’s when the little imp in me just couldn’t hold her tongue. “Why? Don’t you like the fun park?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“You’ve never been to the fun park?”

Vaughn sighed and it was an irritated sound. “No, I have not.”

“You’ve never been?” Joey repeated my question. “You should so totally come with us.”

“Yeah, Vaughn. I think I’m starting to see a quarter inch of stick growing back out of your ass,” I teased.

He glowered at me but I could see his heart wasn’t really in it.

This was fun, I realized. Teasing him was fun. And I should stop. But I couldn’t seem to help myself.

“Fine. Only if Miss Hartwell joins us.”

Oh, shit.

Well I walked into that one.

“Please, Bailey, please,” Joey begged. “If you say yes, Mom will say yes.”

I looked at Cat and saw the evil glint in her eyes. “Yeah, if you say yes, Mom will say yes.”

They were all against me.

I looked up at Rex, who was the only one not amused by my predicament. “How would you like to go to the fun park?”

“That’s fine, I guess.” He shrugged.

Clearly it was not fine.

Sighing, I avoided Vaughn’s smug gaze and looked at Joey.

Why did the kid have to be so damn cute?