Page 142 of Legacy of Danger
"No more standing out here," he said, tugging her toward the house. "Let's get you inside. I need to explain some things to you, if you will give me a little time."
Eric held open the back door, with Ruth and Sara peering out from behind him.
Ruth sucked in a breath and in no time had Mariah seated at the table, salve applied and an ice pack pressed to the burned area on her neck. She wiped away the dried blood from under Vaughn's ears.
"How's Odie?" Ruth asked, her gaze flicking to the back door.
"Fine. Garrison and Kerr, too." Vaughn gave a thumbs up.
Sara rested a hand over her chest and leaned against the counter.
"Uh, guys. Some privacy?" Vaughn muttered.
The women filed out of the kitchen, but Kerr entered a few seconds later, his eyes glued to his cell phone. He glanced up. "If you're about to have a serious conversation or private canoodle-fest, know that Garrison and Odie are still in the barn and will be through any minute, breaking whatever magical reunion you might have planned. Just sayin'."
"Thanks." Vaughn rested his knuckles on the table, then pushed away and paced the kitchen.
Mariah mustered the energy to stuff her gloves in pockets and shrug out of her coat. He took it from her and hung it on the peg inside the back door.
"Do you want some water or something to eat?" His low voice melted her bones.
She shook her head.
Vaughn. Being helpful.
Emptiness sucked at her insides as she waited.
She had nothing left in the emotional tanks.
Sure enough, a minute later, an exhausted Garrison beelined through the kitchen toward the living room.
Odie, no less purposeful, entered and paused only to wink at her.
Happy voices rose and fell from the living room, and the tense set of Vaughn's shoulders relaxed.
Because everyone in his family was safe. Reunited with their loved ones.
His family.
Family. Where he belonged. Where he fit in.
She set the bag of ice down and rested her forehead on her palm.
It was a mistake, spending any more time here than she needed to.
She bit her lip and motioned to the kitchen. "I don't want to overstay my welcome here, but I have no way to get back to my house."
"Got it." His words hit her like sharp pinpricks of sleet. "I'll take you wherever you need to go."
Did she read a double entendre in there? A tease? Another mean twist of the proverbial knife in her chest.
She pushed back from the table.
He rested his warm palm on her hand. She went still.
"Wait." He took a big breath. "I meant what I said a few minutes ago. Mariah, I'm so sorry." Holding up a hand when she opened her mouth, he continued, "I thought saying that crap this morning, cutting you loose, would protect you. I couldn't have been more wrong." He rubbed his chin. "And I hurt you in the worst possible way. Have I mentioned that I'm sorry?"
"No need." The air caught in her throat and she had to clear it. "But there was truth in what you said. I get it. You have a life elsewhere. I understand why things wouldn't work out with us. There are things I need, too."
