Every Little Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 2)

“What do you mean another one?” I was already annoyed that she’d interrupted our dinner. I didn’t want to argue with her.

“Well, him, whoever he is, and what is he, twelve?” She threw a hand in Rex’s direction. “And then that other guy. That would-be-sexy-if-he-didn’t-have-a-giant-stick-up-his-ass Vaughn guy.”

My heart started to thud a little faster in my chest. Of course my vapid little sister had made sure to meet the wealthiest man in town on her first day back. The thought of her anywhere near Vaughn made me want to rip that pretty hair out and then hide all her damn shoes so she’d never find them ever again. “What are you talking about?” I said through gritted teeth.

“That Vaughn guy. Ugh! We’re barely introduced and he jumps down my throat, warning me not to cause you any trouble. No man acts that territorial and exhausting about a woman unless he’s screwed her nine ways ’til Sunday. Which brings me to . . . what happened to Ted?”

Too many emotions rose up in me. I was discombobulated. It took me a minute to figure out what the hell she was saying. “Ted?”

“Your boyfriend. Duh?”

“Does she mean Tom?” Rex queried.

“Tom!” Vanessa clicked her fingers. “Right. Yeah, what happened to Tom?”

“She caught him fucking my girlfriend. Ex-girlfriend now,” Rex answered.

“Wow.” Vanessa looked surprised. “I didn’t know old Ted had it in him. Here I thought he was as boring as you, Bails.”

I ignored that. “Go back to Vaughn. What did you say to him?”

“Nothing. Just a comment about the inn needing my magic touch.”

Oh yeah, I was so sure. “Right.”

“God, that guy is uptight. But hot. I’m right, aren’t I? You slept with him.” She wandered over to the table and reached for a taco.

I could do nothing as she scooped some of my stir-fry into one and started to eat it. Honestly, in the mess of confusion she’d just caused, I was glad she was eating something with actual calories in it.

Plus, staring at her eating my dinner was easier than acknowledging Rex and his burning gaze. It didn’t take a genius to know that he wanted the answer to her question.

My anger over my sister’s sudden arrival in my life returned with a vengeance. “Stop talking.”

She huffed. “No bed. Now no talking. Fine. I’m hitting the hay anyway. You might want to leave, unless you want your boy here to get a look at my good stuff.”

“We’re eating dinner.”

“And you’re in my bedroom.”

I looked to Rex, exasperated.

“We can pack it up,” he offered. “Eat it at the inn?”

“My office.” I nodded, sighing. “I’ll get some Tupperware.”

As I passed my sister I shot her a filthy look.

She smirked. “I want you to wake me tomorrow morning so I can go to the inn with you.”

“Great.”

Vanessa bristled at my tone. “You are so lucky I met a hot guy tonight and I’m in a good mood.”

I stiffened. She better not be talking about Vaughn. “Hot guy?”

She laughed. “Don’t worry. Not your hot guy. Mine is more of the suited-up earthy type. Money and class, but he knows how to work with his hands, if you know what I mean. I met him in Germaine’s.”

Poor guy. He had no idea what he was in for. “Good for you.”