Page 7 of Lahaina Noon (Modern Legends of Dragons & Shadows #1)

Chapter 7

B ridget was amazed and, frankly, dumbfounded. Here was a side to Vaughn she didn’t know existed. How in the world had she missed this? She’d gotten to know him, she thought, from the Chesapeake project, but now she had learned he also owned a gaming enterprise. She recalled him mentioning some holdings in other industries as well, but nothing about video games.

Not just any video game, the one her son and millions of others world-wide were absolutely addicted to. It was an online multiplayer role-playing game. It even had its own E-sports league that Vaughn sponsored. She sincerely hoped that Gabriel didn’t try to talk her into joining one of those, she already had a hard time watching him play football each fall.

She glanced around as the car came to a stop. She’d been so engrossed in learning more about Vaughn that she hadn’t paid attention to where they were. She recognized they were close to the area in downtown Dallas known as Deep Ellum. There was quite a nightlife lounge scene here, but she wasn’t sure it was the kind of place Vaughn had hinted at .

He gently grasped her hand and laid the smallest kiss on the back of it before rubbing small circles there with his thumb.

Her breath caught in her throat and warmth pooled low. Could this man get any sexier?

Vaughn seemed to understand the effect he was having on her and smiled a wolfish grin that made Bridget think Jorrie was right about his choice of dessert.

But surely, she was overanalyzing this situation. What could he possibly want from her? She was a widowed single mom from the suburbs who, oh yeah, was not only unemployed but had been fired most humiliatingly right in front of him.

“Hey,” he murmured, “Quit thinking so hard. It will ruin your appetite. You’re going to need it here.”

Liam opened her door. “Miss.” He held out a hand to assist her from the car.

Standing next to him, she realized Liam was exceptionally tall and quite handsome in his own right, with bright green eyes and reddish gold wavy hair that almost reached his shoulders. Not your typical chauffeur.

“Thank you, Liam,” she said with a small smile. “I appreciate your willingness to overlook my brashness earlier. I usually wait until a second date to let the swears fly.”

Liam looked startled at first, then laughed. “You are just as delightful as he said. You’ll be perfect!”

Vaughn snapped a quick, “Liam.” He walked around the car and joined them on the sidewalk .

The young man took a second to look admonished, then winked at her before getting back in the car and pulling away from the curb. No doubt, parking it somewhere until called.

Vaughn talked about her to Liam? She glanced curiously at him, about to inquire what Liam had done to irritate him when she saw a wavering in the shadows around the building. She stilled and looked hard at the corner, trying to see what was moving around. She couldn’t see any person or animal but had a distinct feeling something was there. Waiting. Watching. She wasn’t sure what it was waiting for, but it was decidedly evil, oozing menace. Her mind started shouting, ‘ DANGER WILL ROBINSON!’ Which she decided was fairly stupid and not at all helpful.

She was about to suggest they start walking when Vaughn leaned close and whispered, “You see it, don’t you?” He held up a hand when she started to protest. “Don’t deny it. I saw the way you tensed up, and I felt it staring at us. Come, you must be starving by now. I hope you don’t eat like a bird. I’ll be very disappointed, and it will break my heart if we don’t get dessert.” He took her by the elbow, which was a new, strangely thrilling sensation for her, leading her up the small set of stairs to the door.

She glanced around but didn’t see any signage indicating what this restaurant was. She looked at Vaughn and said, “Where are—” when the door opened, and an honest-to-goodness textbook image of a snooty ma?tre d’e stood there, looking them up and down.

“ Oui ?” he inquired, looking down his nose at them.

Wow, Bridget thought, I’ve read about that, but I’ve never actually seen it happen. Who knew ?

Vaughn looked amused. “Really Derrick? French this time?”

The man relaxed his haughty posture and laughed. “Hey, I was trying to impress the lady here.” His accent was more South Jersey than South France. He turned a smile on Bridget and opened the door wider, “Ma’am, welcome to Shandrick’s. My name is Derrick, and I would be happy to escort you to your table. I won’t even ask you the password since you’ve come with this riffraff. I swear, they let anyone in this joint.” The now personable host held out an arm to escort her inside.

Bridget smiled and took his arm, following him, her head on a swivel. She’d heard of Shandrick’s, but it was one of those exclusive places that you couldn’t just walk in off the street. Reservations were required months in advance, so the rumors said, and you had to know someone. She couldn’t believe it; her friends were going to be so jealous. She turned to Vaughn, intending to ask how he’d managed this, when she caught his expression.

He was looking at her again as if he wanted her as the main course. His eyes were flickering as if there were flames in them.

I had way too much Sauvignon Blanc earlier, she thought, swallowing to move her suddenly dry throat. It must be this weird shadow thing that has me imagining that. It’s a reflection of the candlelight. That’s it. There were sconces lining the dark wood paneling that surrounded the intimate seating area where a handful of diners, dressed to impress, were quietly having their meals. The décor was understated yet rich and comforting. It wasn’t overly gaudy like you expected a high-end restaurant to be .

At least, that’s what Bridget expected. She didn’t really eat at too many fancy places while raising a teenage bottomless pit. Gabe could regularly eat his own body weight and hers, yet still look for more snacks. She’d spend a month’s salary trying to feed him at a place like this. Or when she had a salary to speak of. Don’t think of that right now, she warned herself. It’s time to focus on figuring out what’s going on with the shadows around here.

She let Derrick pull out her chair and place her napkin, finally handing her the wine list and advising them who would be their server for the evening. Bridget sent him a quick smile of thanks and received a bigger grin in return. He certainly was friendly.

“I see you’ve charmed the incorrigible Derrick,” Vaughn chuckled.

“Incorrigible?” she asked. “Who says incorrigible these days? Anyway, enough talk about Derrick. What did you mean about what I could see? Tell me what is going on here!”

Before Vaughn could open his mouth, a young woman with a sleek bob of bright auburn hair glided up to their table, introducing herself as their server. Bridget admired her hair, so straight and shiny. She was absolutely going to ask her how she managed it if she privately got the chance.

The server quietly welcomed them to Shandrick’s, advising them of a delicious-sounding salmon special and offering them a cocktail or glass of wine to start their evening.

Bridget took a brief glance at the wine list before handing it over to Vaughn. “You pick,” she told him, “I’m sure you would know better than I would what’s best. ”

He smiled and handed the wine list off. “How about we start with water, and then let’s have a bottle of eighty-seven, please.”

Bridget was glad to see that he didn’t mind. The woman walked away to retrieve their wine, and Bridget asked him, “So, eighty-seven. Was that your college basketball number or something? What so special about that one?”

He reached across the table and took her hand in his, “My dear Bridget, I didn’t play basketball in college. Number eighty-seven is just my personal favorite, a very robust and spicy Malbec that I think you will enjoy. It reminds me of you.”

She stared at him, unsure of what to say next. She had fully intended to ask about the shadows, but her mouth betrayed her. “Why me?” she blurted out. So not where I was going with that, she cringed internally. Oh well, I already stuck one foot in my mouth; I might as well see if the other foot fits.

“I mean, we’ve been working together for six months, and just boom, out of nowhere, on the second worst day of my life, you ask me out despite everything that happened today. I mean, I’m me, and you are you. I mean, when you are so incredibly handsome and smart and funny and wow, I’m going to shut up now and let you talk.”

She took her hand back and picked up her water, gulping half of it down in an unlady like fashion. She did not give one damn about that either. She was burning up with embarrassment. “I’m usually a lot better at words even though Jorrie thinks my puns are terrible, and oh my god. I’m still talking, aren’t I?” She mimicked zipping her mouth shut and leaned back in her chair, gesturing for him to go ahead .

Vaughn stared at her open-mouthed for a second and leaned back in his chair, laughing so hard others in the room stared at him.

She didn’t blame them; his laugh was mesmerizing.

He leaned back towards her. “Bridget,” he started, “You gorgeous woman. Do you have any idea how truly incredible you are? No, I can see you don’t, and I’m very sorry for that.” He lifted her hand again, kissing the back of it.

“I think that’s part of your charm. Let me see if I can answer all of that coherently for you. First, why you? Why not you? You are smart, witty, as I said charming, you are a natural leader and fierce when you need to be. You have the love of your family, which tells me you are a good person, and you love them just as much, which tells me you have a good heart. It doesn’t hurt that you are incredibly beautiful as well. As far as why now, well, that is a bit of a longer story. Mostly, let’s just leave it that the project was closing. I thought I could make a move without it seeming like I was trying to get your attention to better my prospects of closing the deal. I wanted the brilliance of the work to be focused on your actions, your talent and not give anyone a reason to suspect there was anything, shall we say untoward with it?”

She leaned further back, stunned, her heart pounding and her breath quickening.

“Bridget.” he rumbled, the sound coming from deep in his chest. “Do you have any idea of how amazing and delicious you look tonight? You are stunning. And those shoes, well, I’m glad you never wore those to the office, or I wouldn’t have been able to get any work done. I had a hard enough time keeping my hands to myself when you were around. ”

She swallowed heavily, her desire for him building even higher. She crossed her legs tightly to contain the throbbing feeling there.

He smiled and continued, “As for the rest, for the record, I think your puns are wonderful and an example of what a sharp wit you have. I think that about covers it. Unless you want me to answer whether or not you were still talking?” He finished with a smolder on his face that threatened to light her on fire.

Bridget was overwhelmed, unsure of what to say. He really thought that? He was as attracted to her as she was to him. She didn’t know how to feel, but she knew she wanted him badly. Things with Brian weren’t drastically romantic, although they were very passionate. High school sweethearts, he was comfortable, just a gentle falling in love with each other and knowing they were a great team. Even after all these years, thinking of him brought a sad smile to her face. He had been so kind and sweet. A little goofy like her, he loved their son, their life, and their home. The accident that had taken him from their lives was something she’d never forget.

“And now I’ve made you sad somehow,” Vaughn murmured gently.

Bridget looked up into the eyes of this man who could burn her alive and smiled, shaking her head, “No. Not sad, just remembering.”

He looked deep into her eyes and said softly, “The first worst day of your life?”

She nodded, wondering how he knew.

He seemed to understand because he offered, “Jack shared some of the details with me one night. Your husband sounded like an amazing man and a fantastic father. I’m sorry for your loss, Bridget; please know I’m not trying to take away from that. But I understand it has been a while now, and you are not a woman who should remain unappreciated. I’ve been intrigued by you from the day we met. I hope you’ll let me try.” He smiled gently at her.

Warmth flooded her body at his kind words. She nodded and cleared her throat. “So, what’s good here?”