Page 52

“Vaughn,” Natalie said. “Oh, Vaughn I’ve dreamt of this.”

Vaughn nibbled her neck, came back up to her ear and whispered, “For how long?”

“For a while now,” she said, running her hands along the strong planes of her back. “I’ve thought of you for a while now.”

Vaughn positioned her firm thigh between Natalie’s legs. “Yeah?”

“Oh, yes.”

“I’ve been fighting it,” she said. “For a while now.”

Natalie sighed, clawing at her back as the pressure from her thigh rubbed against her throbbing center. “Oh, Vaughn. Don’t fight it. Don’t fight me.”

Vaughn paused and hovered above her. She stared deep into her eyes. She looked as though she was willing to confess her soul to Natalie, to confess all her deepest feelings, but a short knock came from the door and a split second later it opened and June walked in beneath an umbrella, staring at a sheet of paper as she moved.

“Natalie, I’ve been looking over this interview schedule and I’m not sure if Vaughn will have the time tomorrow—” She froze as she finally looked up and spotted them on the couch. Vaughn jumped up and tried to straighten her clothes. Natalie sat up and absently touched her lips.

“I’m sorry,” June said, truly surprised. She turned away from them as if to give them some privacy. “I’ll come back later.”

But Vaughn beat her to the door, scooping up her hat along the way. “No, you stay,” she said, placing her hat on her head to pull open the door. “I need to get back to the horse.”

June seemed as frazzled as Natalie felt.

“But—”

“It’s fine,” Vaughn said. “You and Natalie talk business.” She looked to Natalie and gave a little wave. An awkward wave. One that said, I have no idea what to do. “I’ll see you later.”

Natalie said the only thing she could say. “Okay.” And Vaughn was out the door as thunder clapped again loudly overhead, followed by a bright flash of lightning, illuminating the empty doorframe.

Chapter Twenty-one

June watched as Vaughn disappeared into the dark, rainy night. She blinked, as if she had rain in her eyes, and lowered her umbrella, unsure she’d seen what she thought she’d seen. Slowly, she turned and faced Natalie, who was sitting looking as shell-shocked as June felt. She knew then, that what she’d seen was real.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as Natalie caressed her own lips, as if they still stung.

Natalie swallowed and shook her head. “It’s okay.”

“No it’s not. I shouldn’t have barged in like that.”

“June. It’s fine.”

June leaned her umbrella against the wall next to the door and walked in to set the piece of paper on the coffee table. “I just wanted to go over this darn schedule and I guess I got carried away. I just really had no notion that Vaughn would be here.” She rubbed her forehead. “Lord, I’ve been so stupid. Here I’ve been trying to get the two of you together and you two were already well on your way.”

Natalie rubbed her hands on her denim-clad thighs. “No, June, not exactly.” She laughed a little, her nerves showing. “That was—impromptu.”

“You mean that was the first time you two…”

Natalie chewed her lip and nodded.

“Oh, lord. I really am sorry. I ruined it, didn’t I?”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Natalie said.

June eased down next to her on the couch. “I’m afraid you don’t understand. Vaughn…she’ll be scared away now. She…well, for one she’s embarrassed. She’s a very private person. And for another, it’s very difficult for her to confess her feelings. Or to show them for that matter. Since Jeanie that is. So, I’m worried she won’t…come back to you.”

“Ever?” Natalie said, incredulous.

“I don’t know, child. I don’t know. She hasn’t, to my knowledge, been with anyone since Jeanie. So, your guess is as good as mine.”