“I—”
My office door swung open, and affection and gratitude rushed through me at the sight of Vaughn. His features were tight, his expression dark, and I knew that he knew.
“Dahlia called. I ran right over. What can I do?” He took my free hand in both of his and raised it to his lips to kiss my knuckles.
I leaned into him. “I—”
“Bailey, are you there?” Charlie asked in my ear.
“I’m on the phone with my brother,” I said to Vaughn.
“What can I do?”
“Nothing.” I squeezed his hand, giving him a sad smile. “But thank you for rushing over here.”
Vaughn frowned. “Surely, there’s something I can do.”
“Dad’s calling our lawyer and I’m just about to tell Charlie about it. He and Vanessa are closer. There’s a possibility he can talk her out of this.”
“Out of what?” Charlie was impatient.
“I have to—” I shook my phone at Vaughn. “Sorry. I’ll come right over and see you as soon as I know what’s going to happen.”
Not at all happy and unable to mask it, Vaughn gave me an abrupt nod, dropped my hand, and walked out. I sighed, knowing I’d have to deal with that later.
“Charlie?”
“I’m still here. You’re the one not talking,” he snapped. “What’s going on?”
After I told him, he had much the same response as our dad, except he directly insulted Vanessa. “I’m going to kill her!” he ended.
“Or you could talk to her. Make her see sense. Out of all of us she likes you best, Charlie.”
“Well I don’t like her very much right now.”
“Uh, yeah, no, me either, but that’s not going to help. Talk to her. Please.”
“I’ll try.” He sounded grim. “I’ll call you after I call her.”
Once we hung up I wandered, zombie-like, out into reception, where Dahlia and Mona still waited. Dahlia sat on the chesterfield with a grilled cheese sandwich Mona had obviously whipped up for her.
I blanched, wondering if any of my guests had overheard my argument with my sister.
It was as if Dahlia could read my thoughts. “There aren’t any guests around.”
“Thank God.” I flopped down beside her and took the plate of grilled cheese from her. She let me. But even its deliciousness did not ease my current pain so I handed it back to her instead of wasting it on me.
“Vaughn left here looking a little upset,” Dahlia said.
My chest tightened at the thought of being on the outs with Vaughn so soon into our relationship and so soon after our glorious night of risky sex. “He wanted to help. I didn’t let him.”
We were silent as I contemplated why I hadn’t let him. “I don’t know why I didn’t let him,” I murmured.
“Well,” Mona piped up. “If he’s any kind of man, that won’t stop him.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
Vaughn