I looked at Vaughn as he stooped to lower his back.
“Piggy back ride?”
“Hop on.”
I giggled as I jumped from the ground.
“Hang on.”
I secured my arms around his shoulders as he started to jog toward the inn. That was the moment I realized that beneath the confidence and the polished sexy exterior. Behind his smoldering bedroom eyes, Vaughn was fun.
***
I left messages for Lana at both numbers Meg texted to me. I also sent a follow up email. It didn’t make sense that she hadn’t responded to either of us.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going?” Vaughn asked. He sat on the bed with his laptop, watching me pace.
I fell onto the bed. “In the vaguest of terms I can tell you my client is trying to sue a high profile member of Congress and I still can’t find her.”
I stared at the ceiling. It sounded much worse when I said it out loud.
“Do you want to head back to the city?” he suggested.
“What?” I sat forward.
“I understand if you want to check on her. You might feel better if you’re back in D.C. It’s an important case. I assume an important client.”
“And just leave the winery?”
He closed the screen. “Are you going to be able to think about anything else while we’re here and you haven’t heard from her?” he asked.
I lowered my eyes, knowing the truth. I wanted to be the girl so wrapped up in her love life that nothing else mattered, but I cared too much about what happened with Lana Foley. I had invested countless hours in her case. Preparing for the deposition alone was the most time I had dedicated to impending litigation.
“No. I’m worried about her. The case. Meg is concerned,” I admitted. “I’m trying not to let myself think anything bad has happened. There has to be a logical explanation for it.”
I didn’t want to believe it was possible something went wrong when Lana told her husband about the affair and the baby. It made me sick to think about it. I also tried to push the nagging thought away that Senator Mitcherson had something to do with her silence. What if he found out she was preparing a case against him? What if he had interfered?
“All right. Then we’re headed back,” he announced.
He jumped from the bed and threw a shirt in his bag.
“But—” I felt the defeat in me change to elated surprise. He was sincere. Vaughn started canvassing the room, gathering our things. “You’re ok with this?” I questioned.
“Work happens. We have other weekends. You can’t take a chance like this.”
I stood from the bed and folded my sweater in half. “Thank you.”
He stopped packing and looked at me. “I’ll get you home.”
We shoved the rest of our things in our bags. I did a final sweep to make sure I didn’t leave anything in the shower before Vaughn collected the key to check out.
I looked up at the inn from the front seat. I could see our window. Something had happened between us here. Something magical and unbelievable. Something that had seeped into my soul, binding me to Vaughn in an unimaginable way.
“Ready to go?” He climbed behind the wheel.
“Not really, but I have to find my client. What if something bad has happened?”
“I can help you if you want.”