“I’ve never seen Mildred so worked up,” Berkley says as I take her bag from her and then grab her hand.
“Normally old ladies like me, but it’s hard to charm them when I can’t talk.”
“Funny, because it’s usually your mouth that gets you into trouble,” she chides, and without thinking I swat her playfully on the ass as we exit the library.
She squeals as I pull her to me and I see our security there out of the corner of my eye. There’s not a moment we can have without the threat looming over us, now more than ever.
I just need a little longer and then we’ll both be safe.
Chapter Four
Berkley
Vaughn drops things in the cart as we move down the aisle. When he’s not looking I grab some items and put them back. We aren't on the island anymore and he isn't feeding a small army of people like he’s used to. Though as I watch his giant form move about the small grocery store I’m sure it takes a lot of food to keep him built as he is.
I can’t help but notice the women who openly stare at him. I know it’s because he’s not only hard to miss with his size but he’s way too good-looking not to. I know the feeling all too well because it’s hard to keep my own eyes on my textbooks with him sitting across from me. Somehow I pulled it off and I’m closing in on my studies. I can see the finish line, but it’s too bad I don’t know what I’m going to do after I cross it.
I thought Vaughn was going to be a distraction when he first showed up but he’s actually putting me at ease. I don’t feel so tense and the worry about a mystery person after me fades to the back of my mind. That feeling of being followed is gone with Vaughn so close and I know no one is going to get near me unless he lets them.
“You know my kitchen is small,” I remind him when he goes to drop four steaks into the cart. “And it’s only you and me.” He looks down at the steaks and puts one back.
“Green beans or asparagus?” he asks when we make it to the produce section.
“Neither.” I scrunch my nose. “The only vegetable I like is a potato.”
“You’ve never had mine.” He drops a pack of asparagus into the cart. “I cover mine in bacon and butter.” He winks at me before he goes back to cruising the aisles again.
Okay, that doesn't sound half bad. I watch him as he stops to inspect different things but I notice he’s always alert. He’s been that way since he got that phone call in the library. He’s trying to hide it but he’s more tense than he was before. But to be fair, I tend to notice everything about Vaughn. My crush on him is growing no matter how hard I try and fight it.
“I think we’re good.” He places his hand on my back as I push the cart toward the checkout. I can see two guards trying to blend in, but like Vaughn, they stand out because of their size. They aren't as big as him, but you can’t miss them either.
“Has something changed?” I ask as we unload the cart for the cashier to ring us up. His eyes move to the guy scanning our items and I know he doesn't want to talk about it in front of him. He probably doesn't want to talk about it at all, so I stay focused on school and let him deal with other things, as he keeps calling it.
I nod in understanding and change the subject. “I don’t know how you’re going to cook all this in my kitchen but you better make it happen. I’m starving.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the candy bar I saw him hiding in the library. He hands it to me and I smile. “You’re giving it to me?”
As I take it, his fingers brush against mine and the graze of his touch against me sends heat through my whole body.
“For you? I'd give you my only candy bar.” Our eyes lock and it’s silly, but it makes my insides turn to mush.
“There’s a whole rack of candy behind you,” the cashier says, breaking into our moment.
“Thanks, Colin,” Vaughn says dryly.
“No problem.” The young kid beams at Vaughn, not understanding his sarcastic tone. Vaughn turns around and grabs an assortment of candy, then drops it to our already giant grocery pile.
“We have enough food to last us a month,” I sigh. I don’t think it’s going to fit in my kitchen.
“You’d be surprised.”
“Well, don’t be surprised when it all goes to my ass,” I tease, and Vaughn’s eyes travel down my body.
“I think I could handle more of you.” He smirks.
I roll my eyes but turn my head so he doesn’t see me blush. He’s such a flirt and I’m a sucker for it too. I’m sure it’s how he is with everyone but I can’t help but enjoy it more than I should.
“How are we going to get all this back to my place?” I hadn't thought that far ahead when Vaughn was filling the cart, but we’re only a few blocks away.
“I got it.” Vaughn gives the cashier the money for the groceries before picking them up all in one swoop.
They dangle off one of his giant arms as the other comes around and guides me out of the store. He gives the guards a chin lift before I see his eyes glance around. I could be wrong but I think there are more guards than I realized and I wouldn't put it past the Warsaw men to have a dozen of them on me. My sister’s husband would do anything for her, and if that means having an army watch me then so be it. I’d be concerned with what something like that cost, but after talking to my sister and doing some digging I discovered none of them are ever going to be hurting for money. If they want to hand out jobs to people, who am I to stop them?
We make it back to my place in no time and Vaughn never lets me help him with the bags. I finish the candy bar just as we walk in and he goes straight into the kitchen.
“Was it good?” he asks as he drops the bags down onto the counter.
“It made me hungrier, I think,” I huff, falling back onto the sofa. I didn't do much moving around today because all I really did was study. Still somehow I feel worn out, at least in my head. I should probably get back at it.
“Watch TV.” He walks over to the coffee table and picks up the remote. I never watch the thing and only turn it on sometimes so the house isn't so quiet.
“I should study.” I look over to my backpack that’s on the floor.
“Rest your mind.” He flips through the channels and stops when he lands on The Mummy. I perk up as he sets the remote down and goes back into the kitchen.
“This is my favorite movie,” I say, more to myself than to him.
“I figured you’d like that one. It’s why I picked it.” I glance over at him and see he’s unloading the groceries.
“Why?” I ask. I turn to watch him instead of the movie, and who can blame me?
“Between all the history books and what I saw on that Kindle of yours.”
“You looked at my Kindle?!” I shout like he’s been digging through my underwear drawer.
“There’s nothing wrong with a little romance.” He turns to look at me with a smug smile. “Do you write?” His question catches me off guard.
He’s a lot better at reading me than I realize. Vaughn plays the laidback brother with a carefree attitude and jokes, but he doesn't miss a thing. I think part of it might be an act, like when a woman plays dumb to get more information out of someone.