Vaughn looked around the Books & Bakery café. He and Benita had grown up in this town, alongside a lot of friends and neighbors who were still here. Their past was well known. He hadn’t realized their present had been equally well observed.
“We’ve broken up for good this time.” Vaughn returned to his soup.
“Sorry to hear that.” Darius didn’t sound as though he believed Vaughn.
“So am I.”
He wasn’t going to explain to his childhood friend his reasons for breaking up with Benita. He could trust Darius to keep his confidence. He just wasn’t comfortable telling the other man that he was tired of being Benita’s sexual toy; he wanted more.
Darius finished off his soup. “You made a great team in high school.”
“This isn’t high school.” Volunteering on high school plays and musicals is what sparked their relationship. “How anxious would you be to work with an ex-girlfriend?”
“I’d hate it. But we aren’t talking about me. Producing this musical has been your dream.”
“I’ll find someone else to help me.”
“Our usual go-to people are tapped out. Peyton’s carrying an extra course load. Doreen’s planning her wedding and has her mayoral duties. Megan has extra work with the café. Ramona’s in Philadelphia.”
A pulse beat in Vaughn’s temple as Darius counted off all the people who couldn’t help him. “What about you?”
Darius gave Vaughn a dubious look. “I’m not your usual go-to person. Jackson’s back at the paper and still remodeling the cabins, and Ean’s useless.”
Darius had a point. Still . . . “Benita and I can’t work together, not so soon after breaking up.”
“It’ll be awkward at first. But by opening night, you’ll either be over her or engaged.”
Vaughn doubted he’d ever get over Benita Hawkins. Working with her on his musical wasn’t a matter of a few awkward moments. It was about losing his heart again and again every minute he was with her. Was his dream worth that kind of torture?
CHAPTER 6
The knock on his open door at the end of Tuesday asked for Vaughn’s attention. He lifted his head and found Dr. Olivia Stark framed in his threshold. He stood.
The biology professor crossed hesitantly into his office. “Am I interrupting?”
“No, come in.” Vaughn gestured toward his laptop. “I’m just wrapping up for the day.”
Olivia was neat and professional in her dark blue coatdress. The professor’s appearance was the opposite of Benita in almost every way. She was tall and lithe. Benita was petite with slender curves. Olivia’s brown hair was a sleek, bone-straight bob. Benita’s hair was a thick chestnut mass that fell in unruly waves to her shoulders. Olivia’s voice was as clear as a church bell. Benita’s smoky tones shared naughty secrets.
“How was your day?” Olivia drifted onto one of the blue guest chairs in front of his desk.
Vaughn cut off thoughts of Benita and sat. “My classes went well. Thanks. How were yours?”
They’d spent hours together this past winter working on the community center’s fund-raising committee. He’d thought their shared experiences had gotten them past the nice-weather-we’re-having conversations. What had caused them to suddenly regress?
“They were fun.” Olivia’s face lit up with her smile.
“That’s great.” He’d never considered that biology classes could be fun.
“I was wondering . . .” Olivia paused. Her gaze slid away.
“What is it?” Vaughn grew uneasy. What was on her mind?
Olivia crossed her long legs and folded her hands on her lap. “I enjoyed working with you on the fund-raising committee. It was work. But with you, it was fun work. Do you kn
ow what I mean?”
Why is she so nervous? Vaughn offered her what he hoped was a calming smile. “I’m glad one of us knew what we were supposed to do. If it wasn’t for you, we never would’ve been able to pull it off.”