Loved.
She blinked into the glare of the morning sun. The morning after she'd spent the night in Vaughn's bed, his arms wrapped tight around her, her animals surrounding her, and when all had been right with the world. Because she was in love.
Love.
Oh, no. She was obviously a complete idiot, she thought. Because she'd gone and done it again. She'd fallen in love when she'd sworn she would keep her heart under lock and key. And she'd fallen in love with Brandon Vaughn of all people, the egocentric, football jock who couldn't see beyond his own self-importance.
Hah. She wished those words were true. If only the description she'd thought pegged Vaughn was accurate, her heart wouldn't be in jeopardy right now.
"Are you okay? You spaced out on me for a minute."
She pasted a sunny smile on her face. "My mind's already on the trip and everything I have to do once I get to New York," she lied.
"Then you should get going."
"I should."
But he didn't step aside, still blocking her access to the driver's seat.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Say goodbye, Vaughn," he said, his voice dropping a husky octave.
"Goodbye, Vaughn," she heard herself repeat, mesmerized by his voice. His compelling gaze. By him.
He leaned in closer. "Goodbye, Annabelle."
I'm going to miss you, she thought but didn't say so out loud.
And when his lips closed over hers, she thought he'd miss her, too.
AFTER GREENLAWN, New York City felt like another planet. Annabelle walked into Barney's to meet Lola and her sisters to shop for outfits for the party. What would normally be a near orgasmic experience for her, since she loved shopping in the extreme, felt like a chore because it didn't involve Vaughn. She knew she had it bad.
"Annabelle, darling!" Elizabeth, her personal shopper, met her before she'd reached the cosmetics counter not three feet from the door.
"Hi," Annabelle said, greeting her with a warm, brief hug.
"So good to see you! It's been way too long, so either you're cheating on me or you've repeated the outfits in your closet one too many times," Elizabeth chided.
Elizabeth had dressed Annabelle for events from black tie fund-raisers to afternoon picnics and lawn parties.
Annabelle laughed. "I'm not hitting other stores, I've just been busy."
"Well," she said, linking her arm through Annabelle's, "let me show you some of the special things I've pulled. I spent hours choosing just the right outfits for each one of you so Lola, you and your beautiful sisters will all stand out from the crowd."
"I'm sure I'll love everything," Annabelle murmured.
Elizabeth steered Annabelle toward the private back room. "While we're waiting for the others, tell me who you're working with now."
Annabelle forced a smile. Normally she loved indulging the other woman's taste for gossip about the athletes she worked with, though she never revealed anything Elizabeth couldn't find in the papers. But everything Annabelle felt for Vaughn was fresh and new. Most of all, her feelings and emotions were too private to share.
She hoped her sisters would get here soon and deflect interest off of her. Thankfully within minutes her wish was granted. Lola arrived, followed by Sophie who had a cell phone tucked against her ear and a pad and paper in hand, then Micki who predictably grumbled about having perfectly fine clothes in her closet and wasting her time shopping.
Elizabeth had her hands full getting Sophie's attention between phone calls, and Micki's fondness for pants drove the saleswoman insane. Then there was Lola who shocked Elizabeth by waving a dismissive hand at all of the conservative clothing the other woman had picked based on her past choices.
"Think Sophia Loren," Lola repeatedly said, sending Elizabeth back to peruse her inventory.
Micki shot Annabelle an amused look. "Thank God she didn't say Cher," Micki said, laughing.