I laugh. “Yeah, I remember that. Your little nose would scrunch up.”
She laughs. “Would not.”
“You have a cute nose.”
She turns her face from me with a laugh. “Stop staring at it.”
“I like staring at you.” The air sizzles between us, and my breath catches on my last word, hoping she turns around so I can see her.
She does, and bats her long lashes at me. “You do?”
“I do.”
“What else do you like doing to me?”
This girl is trying to kill me. Fuck. “I like kissing you, Pea.”
“You do?”
I reach my hand out to cradle her face, because if I don’t touch her right now I might just die. “Yes, I do.” I move in closer, wanting to claim her lips again.
Fifteen
Paisley
* * *
My mind is spinning and drunk off Vaughn’s closeness. Like I just can’t get enough of it. And the way he’s staring at me right now, I know he wants to kiss me. And god, I want to kiss him too. So badly.
But I’m stronger than that. I’m stronger than letting Vaughn kiss me and then have it all end tomorrow when he realizes I’m just his best friend's baby sister. We grew up together. His attraction is because of that. Because I’m familiar.
Vaughn blinks, debating and I hold my breath. “Pea, I want nothing more than to kiss you right now. Like I really want to fucking kiss you.”
“Then do it.”
He debates a second longer before staring out at the sunset. “If I start I won’t be able to stop. We need to slam the brakes here.”
I try to suck in all the air, but the air is so thin up here. “Right, ok.” I fidget around, wondering if I should stand and walk back to the truck.
He’s once again rejected me, and my anger builds the longer I sit here.
“Don’t leave.” He grabs my arm. “I won’t let you leave me like this.”
I’m upset, and I know he knows I am. “I’m fine,” I lie.
He wraps his arms around me. “Pea.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m getting used to you rejecting me.”
His eyes bore into mine. “You think that’s what this is?” He shovels a hand through his jet-black hair. “You think I’m rejecting you.”
I stand, unable to be close to him any longer. I make my way back to his truck. When I reach it, I turn, crossing my arms over my chest. “Open the door.”
“No.” He shoves his keys into his pocket.
“Vaughn, open the door.”
“Not until you talk to me.” He crosses his arms over his chest. So sexy. “Do you think I’m rejecting you?”
I shrug, not answering.
“Pea, answer me.”
I raise my chin further into the air. “Yes. But, it’s ok. We shouldn’t be kissing anyway.”
“Pea,” he grabs my arms, lowering his head to where we’re eye level. “I’m not the guy you think I am.”
I’m rendered speechless.
“You’re right. You’re not the man I thought you were.” I try to open the truck door again, even though I know it’s locked.
Vaughn grabs his keys from his pocket.
Before he unlocks the door, my phone trills in my back pocket. I dig for it and glance at the screen, blocked number, and I wonder if it can possibly be a client.
I hold up a finger. “Let me just take this.” I swipe the phone. “Hello.” There’s no answer and I say, “Hello.” into the phone again.
I’m about to hang up before a garbled voice says, “You’re a slut.”
“Excuse me?”
“Slut. Slut. Slut,” the caller says.
“Hello.”
The line disconnects.
“Who was that?” Vaughn asks, complete worry written all over his handsome face.
“I don’t know.” There’s a shake to my voice as I glance at the screen again.
Vaughn takes a step closer. “What did they say?”
I recall the phone conversation for Vaughn, and when I’m finished he’s pacing the small area of the overlook.
“I don’t like this, Pea.”
“Should I call the cops?”
He shakes his head. “Well, there’s really nothing they can do. You’re staying with me again.”
“That’s really sweet of you, but I can’t stay with you for the rest of my life.”
He crosses his arms over his broad chest. “Why not?”
“Vaughn.”
“Ok, maybe not for the rest of your life, but at least until this sick fuck has been taken care of.”
I know he’s right. He is. I can’t let anything bad happen to my parents. If this crazy person thinks I’m at their house, then who knows what he’ll do. And I won’t put my family in danger. I just can’t.
“Ok. What should we do about my car?”
“We’ll pick up your car and then I can follow you home. I have a guarded parking area at my building.”
“Thank you, Vaughn. I really mean it.”
He wraps me into a hug. “Of course. I’ll always take care of you. Always.”
A few hours later, my car is parked at his building and we ride the elevator up to his condo. I was able to convince him to let me run home to pack a few things, and now once again, I’m nervous about staying here with him.