A big shot when one on one with Annabelle, he shrunk when faced with the great Brandon Vaughn, she thought, not surprised.
"Thanks for saving me," she said.
"Something tells me you wouldn't take any crap from Roy." Vaughn had watched this strong, capable woman hold her own with the foreman.
"Probably not but it sure is nice to watch Roy be intimidated." Annabelle's eyes glittered beneath the midday sun as she amused herself at Roy's expense.
Vaughn laughed. "I hear you, but I can't fire a man for wanting to cheat on his wife."
"I understand." She placed a warm, soothing hand on his arm. The electrical jolt was instantaneous.
Unexpectedly he covered her hand with his, surprising even himself. "Besides Roy's got a wife and kid and I don't want to be responsible for laying him off."
"You're a nice man." She smiled, turning everything inside him to instant, unmanly mush. "If you did fire him, he probably wouldn't get another job," Annabelle said.
"Exactly." Once again he was struck not just by her beauty or incredible body, but by her intelligence and insight.
"The invites," he said, getting to the reason he'd sought her out.
"Walk with me," she said, starting toward a line of trees in the distance.
He sensed she'd talk eventually and decided to humor her. They strode across the lush green grass. The blue sky overhead held a few bright, fluffy clouds. He glanced over. A warm breeze blew her hair around her cheeks. Not a man to stop and smell the proverbial roses, he still marveled at the precious simplicity of the moment.
"I had a reason for inviting everyone, you know."
"I'm sure you did just as I'm sure it's brilliant."
She paused and tipped her head to one side. "Was that a compliment I just heard?" she asked, her tone teasing.
"Am I that hard on you?" he asked.
"Only when you're trying to be." She slid her hands into the back pockets of her skirt, which had the effect of thrusting her breasts tight against her lacy T.
He swallowed hard.
"So don't you want to know the methods behind my madness?"
"Goodwill toward the employees?"
She frowned. "Don't tell me Mara gave me away."
He laughed. "Not exactly. I figure you're hoping that if the person who's behind the tampering works for me, we'll see it in their attitude outside of work." Vaughn voiced the notion he'd been thinking about since he'd heard about Annabelle's invitations.
"Not bad," she said, obviously impressed.
"You sound surprised. You didn't think I could figure you out?"
She flashed him a flirtatious smile. "I'd like to see you try."
And man would he like to.
Without warning, she took off at a sprint, giggling as she went, and he followed, chasing her through the trees. He could catch her easily but what fun would that be?
He let her dodge around one tall tree and another. Only when she was winded, did he do an end run, ducking around the opposite way and meeting her head on, then tackling her to the ground.
Her cheeks were flushed pink and her smile wide and carefree. For a brief time she wasn't running from her demons and for now he was content to leave his behind as well.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. A bird chirped in the distance as his lips came down hard on hers. He kissed her hungrily, his lips devouring her mouth like he couldn't get enough. Which he couldn't and feared he never would.
She teased him back, running her tongue over the seam of his lips and daring him to part them and slip inside. How could he not when she ignited a flaming desire this overpowering? He thrust his tongue into her mouth in an imitation of the most intimate act itself and Annabelle moaned from deep in her chest. Vaughn shook in reaction to the erotic sexy sound.
As she slid her hands into his back jeans pockets and pulled his hips close, she arched her back and thrust upward at the same time. The teasing contact of body parts, made frustrating by the barrier of clothes, drove him insane. He twisted his lower body, grinding his hard erection into the vee of her legs and she bucked beneath him, seeking closer, impossible contact.
A sudden sound ripped through the silence around them and Mara's static-ridden voice carried through the walkie-talkie clasped on his right hip. The intrusion couldn't have been more unwelcome.
"Hey boss?" Mara called a second time.
Vaughn groaned and touched his forehead to Annabelle's, their breathing coming in rapid gulps. "I am not answering," he muttered.
Annabelle laughed. "I second that."
"Vaughn, the police are here to see you," Mara said this time, her tone more urgent. "Are you there?"
"You are definitely getting it," Annabelle said, changing her mind and reaching for the gadget on his belt.
"Yeah I guess I am." With more regret than he'd believed possible, he rolled off her, unhooked the walkie-talkie and pressed the talk button. I’m here," he said to Mara. "Tell them I'll be there in five."
"Will do, boss."
"Well that was fun," Annabelle said with a grin.
He shot her an apologetic glance.
"Hey, it's no big deal."
He stood and held a hand out for her to grab and then helped her to her feet. She brushed herself off and he did the same, the remnants of dirt and grass covering them no matter how hard they tried to clean up.
He picked a stray leaf from her hair and a twig from the back of her shirt and she merely chuckled. "You surprise me again," he said.
"Why's that?" she asked as she straightened her clothing.
His gaze roamed appreciatively over her. "I'd never have pegged you as an outdoor girl."
She shrugged. "What can I say? I adapt to any surroundings."
"Another thing to admire," he said out loud before he could stop himself.
She reached out and brushed his rear end with the palm of her hand. Once, twice, then she lingered, her fingertips squeezing his buttocks.
His groin hardened all over again, forcing him to grab her wrist. "If you don't stop now I'll never get back to the office."
She grinned. "Then it's a good thing you know where to find me tonight, isn't it?" she said in a sultry voice.
He swallowed hard. "I'm heading back to the lodge. Why don't you just take my car home? I'll get a ride"
"You sure?"
In reply, he reached into his pocket and handed her his keys.
She smiled. "Thanks."
He nodded. At least he'd have the walk back to the building to get his body back under control. Nothing else that Annabelle was doing to him would be that easily managed until she was gone from his house and his life. Of that, Vaughn was now certain.
ANXIOUS TO HEAR what the police had to say, Vaughn strode into the lodge office. The detective in charge of the investigation waited for him, drinking coffee courtesy of Mara and obviously flirting with her, though by her stiff posture and dismissive expression, she was definitely putting out signals that said don't mess with me. It looked like her interest in Nick was the real thing, Vaughn thought.
He walked up to the detective and extended his hand. "I didn't mean to keep you waiting," Vaughn said.
Detective Ross rose from his seat and grasped Vaughn's hand for a quick shake. "Not a problem. Your lovely assistant was keeping me company."
From behind his back, Mara rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue.
Vaughn bit back a laugh. "Mara, why don't you take a break?" he suggested.
She shot him a grateful glance. "See you later." Ignoring the detective, she swung her purse over her shoulder and strode out of the room.
Once they were alone, Vaughn turned to the officer. He stood scanning the pictures on the wall, which included some old newspaper clippings of Vaughn's playing days and photographs of him receiving various trophies.
"So what did you find out?" Vaughn asked, not in the mood for idle chitchat.
"We discovered that your parents don't approve of your successful career," Ross said, scratching his head.
Vaughn swallowed hard. "Tell me something I don't know."