Page 40 of Legacy of Danger
Chapter 11
Think, asshole. Come up with something intelligent to say to this woman.
Hell, Vaughn had been salivating all day in the hopes of seeing her again. And now that he had his wish?
His mind went blank.
Why had he left Shelby's room to meet Kerr in the parking lot? Because Vaughn's power urged him to protect Mariah from something out there. Only there wasn't anything there except Izzy Brand. And her grumpy but harmless mother.
A lingering headache was all that remained of the power surge. He rubbed his chin but stopped when Mariah's gaze locked onto the movement. A slow spiral of interest worked its way down his belly. Maybe he could atone for his behavior. Start fresh, or at least backpedal enough to give him a chance later.
When she chewed her lip with those even, white teeth, the situation in his groin grew critical in a hurry.
Simmer down, there.
"So, uh, can I walk you to your car?" he managed to say. With luck, he could make up for his tactless comments earlier today. And yesterday. And the day before. Christ.
She pulled her chin back and frowned. "Excuse me?" Pointing a thumb at her head, she smirked. "Thought you weren't a fan."
Heat crawled across his chest. "Well, crap. Look, I meant it–I'm real sorry about being short with you. It's just that... it doesn't matter why. Please accept my apology for being a jerk at the restaurant."
"And?" Those arms stayed crossed over her chest.
Man, she was going to make him say it. "And for snapping at you about Shelby. I shouldn't have taken out my stress on you."
Rocking back on her heels, she peered at him until sweat prickled under his arms. This woman might be five-foot-nothing, but she drove spikes of terror into him. He toed the clinic carpeting.
And waited.
He couldn't stand it. "Truce?"
"We weren't arguing. Besides, not everything is a fight."
Huh. "I... yeah, good point. Anyway, I'm sorry." He stuck out a hand and tried not to flinch as a wave of his power fired up when her palm met his. Then he tried not to hang on longer as a second wave of pure interest flowed through his arm into his ribcage. What the hell? His power was now getting mixed with straight-up lust. And while on the subject of not making sense, would it be too much to ask for him to act normal?
With effort, he stepped back, their hands dropping to their sides. "So. Walk you out?" Because his power needed him to do so.
"Well. Sure. I guess. You don't have to, you know."
"It's late and dark out." A prickle came and went over his temple. "I'd feel better..."
Another squint, and she shrugged. "Sure. Come on back for a minute while I grab my things." Motioning for him to follow her through the door to the clinic hallway, she added, "Everyone's gone home. I was running late all day today."
"Okay."
Okay? All you have to say to her isokay?
He followed her quick, efficient steps into a small office.
Her office contained a desk with a typical rolling chair behind it and two vinyl-covered side chairs in front. A corkboard on one wall had a million documents thumbtacked over every spare inch of space, and then some, judging by papers peeking out from under each other. On one corner of the desk rested a stack of energy bars and an empty coffee cup.
One picture on her desk showed Mariah, same shoulder-length brown hair and green eyes, her arm thrown around a male with facial features similar to hers. In the picture, she had on a black and red graduation gown with a green velvet sash around her neck. The happiness in those two faces shone right through the picture to taunt Vaughn.
Had he taken any picture like this with his siblings? Not in years. Life kept intruding. First his mom dying, then Kerr's return from Afghanistan, Vaughn's colossal fuckup with Garrison's wife, Dad's stroke, and now Shelby's coma.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Her cool mountain-stream voice banished his dark thoughts.
"No pictures of your parents?" he blurted.
