Hot Stuff (Hot Zone 1)

"Oh my God, what's wrong with them?" Annabelle asked Vaughn in a low tone.

He cocked an eyebrow. "You really have to ask? It's unrelieved sexual frustration," he muttered.

"Oh Lord," she said, shooting a startled look the bickering couple's way. The two interlopers didn't seem to notice. "Think we ought to leave them alone?"

He nodded. "Might as well. It's not like we can do anything to help them. Any chance this'll blow over soon?" he asked her.

Annabelle shrugged. "I've never seen them like this. Uncle Yank's always been dense, but Lola's the unknown here. She's completely different. It's like she's set her sights on a goal and he's it."

In fact, Annabelle thought, as Vaughn headed to the kitchen and she went to walk the dog, Lola and her uncle reminded Annabelle a bit of herself and Vaughn.

She only hoped Yank's complete refusal to have anything to do with Lola wasn't a bad omen for all of their futures.

VAUGHN WONDERED how his life had gotten so out of control. At work he had someone looking to undermine his lodge and at home he had the invasion of the relatives. Except they weren't his relatives and he wasn't used to so much company and noise around him. Strangely enough, he enjoyed the tumult. He was even beginning to like having the animals underfoot, not that he'd admit as much to Annabelle.

He would prefer a big dog to the Q-Tip, but since it was only temporary, he could handle the fairy mutt. He snagged a piece of white meat chicken from his plate and snuck it to the pooch hopping at his feet under the dinner table.

"Stop feeding the dog. You'll spoil him," Annabelle said, catching him in the act.

He shot her an amused glare. "And sleeping in your bed isn't doing the same thing?"

She shrugged. "I like the company."

He figured as much. The animals obviously filled a void in her life, but with such a rambunctious family, he wondered why she felt the emptiness in the first place. He, on the other hand, had his parents alive, well and disapproving as ever. They lived in the same town and he might as well be alone. No wonder he'd sought out Yank Morgan again.

He glanced at Lola and Yank who were eating in unusual silence. "So everyone enjoying the meal?" Vaughn asked. He'd driven into town where a new Boston Market had opened up and brought home a full dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables and dinner rolls.

Everyone glanced at each other and remained silent.

"Boris likes it," Annabelle finally said.

"It was delicious, Brandon. And I'm grateful for your hospitality." Lola carried her plate to the sink, despite his protests, rinsed and placed it in the dishwasher. Then she returned for Yank's, pulling the dish out from under him.

"Hey I wasn't finished yet," he grumbled.

"Would you rather clean

up yourself? Because I'm exhausted from the drive and I'm turning in early."

Vaughn thought it best not to offer to clean for Yank and piss Lola off, and a smirking but quiet Annabelle obviously agreed.

"Fine, clear my plate," Yank muttered.

"You could stand to lose a few pounds anyway." Lola finished with his place setting.

"I'll take care of the rest, Lola. Why don't you go get some rest?" Annabelle said.

"Thanks, I think I will. Night all." Her gaze encompassed both Vaughn and Annabelle, deliberately excluding Yank.

"Night, Lola," they both murmured.

She headed for her guest room upstairs.

Vaughn had had his cleaning woman open up two of the upstairs rooms, dust and clean them out to give both Yank and Lola their privacy. From speaking with Lola, he knew Yank's eyesight wasn't a real issue yet and walking stairs posed no problem. Since Yank had wanted to feel like he'd gotten away from the world, Vaughn provided him an upstairs haven. The only drawback was that he had Lola close by, Vaughn thought wryly,

"Would you like dessert?" Annabelle asked her uncle once Lola had gone.

"Why not? Might as well give the dragon lady something else to yell at me about," he said, referring to Lola's behavior.