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Vaughn inspected the interior through the slashed convertible top. “It was a good call. They could’ve come back to tear up the seats.”
Cara Lee took off after Morgan and Gage showed up since she was hoping to catch the yoga class after the one she usually took. After Morgan and I changed into our own clothes and called the cops, we spent an hour and a half taking care of all the red tape involved with making sure her insurance would cover the damage. Gage and Vaughn weren’t much help since they spent most of the time looking like they were ready to kill someone.
About a millisecond after we were back in the condo once the tow truck left with the Mini, the guys vented their anger.
“I can’t believe that garage was wide fucking open,” Vaughn grumbled.
“Or that not one of the goddamn cameras down there is actually working,” Gage seethed. “What the fuck is that about? It’s LA, for fuck’s sake. Cameras are a necessity.”
Morgan and I looked at each other in agreement but kept our mouths shut. It wouldn’t do any good to explain how the company who’d bought the building last year was on top of collecting our association fees but not much else.
“You aren’t staying here,” both men announced in unison.
The way Vaughn looked at me said he was serious.
“I’m sure it’ll be—”
“No,” Gage said firmly, cutting Morgan off. “Your safety isn’t guaranteed here, and that’s nonnegotiable for me.”
“For me too,” Vaughn grumbled. “No one with a speck of honor would leave you here. Both of you,” he added after a second.
“He’s right,” Gage said. “You can’t stay here.”
“Fine,” I sighed, about ready to throw my hands up in frustration. I didn’t like the idea of being run out of our home, but they had a point. Our condo didn’t feel particularly safe at the moment. “We’ll go to my parents’ house.”
“No!”
Again, both men spoke at the same time.
“You’re staying with me,” Gage announced.
“And you’re staying with me,” Vaughn told me.
I was flat-out stunned by his offer—which was worded more like a demand. There was no way I was having this discussion in front of other people, so I dragged Vaughn down the hallway into my bedroom.
As soon as the door closed behind us, I put my hands on my hips and whisper yelled, “We’ve known each other for less than twenty-four hours, and you admitted to me on the way here that I’m the first woman you’ve ever had stay even one night at your house. We don’t know much about each other, and we slept together without having sex, so I don’t think you’re addicted to me. Despite all that, you want me to move in for an unknown amount of time? You’d better have a damn good reason for me or else I’m just going to pack a bag and head over to my parents’ house.”8VaughnI knew that my reasons were going to seem ridiculous, but none of that changed how much I wanted her with me. I was going to do whatever it took to make sure she was safely ensconced at my house.
“We both agreed we liked waking up together this morning,” I reminded her.
Allie frowned as she dropped her hands from her hips and crossed her arms over her chest. “We did,” she agreed. “Whatever is going on between us, I want to explore it. I just think it would be smarter for me to stay with my parents as opposed to staying with you. We don’t know anything about each other, Vaughn.”
“I’m thirty-four, no medical issues, love whole milk, margarine makes me gag, and I prefer coffee over tea. I have a day maid during the week, but I still do my own laundry because the idea of someone else touching my boxers skeeves me out. I also run five miles on the treadmill every morning, eat tacos every Tuesday, and have seen every one of the Harry Potter movies at least twenty times. Now tell me about you.”
“Be serious,” she scolded.
“I am,” I said firmly. “Tell me about you, Allie. I want to know everything.”
“Everything?” she asked dryly.
“I said what I meant, and I meant what I said,” I answered. “Don’t drag your feet—hit me with some Allie facts.”
“Ugh, fine. I’m twenty-seven, and like you, I hate margarine. My favorite food is macaroni and cheese, followed closely by bacon—and I feel like I hit the jackpot when there’s bacon on top of my mac and cheese. I was mad that Rachel chose Ross instead of Joey at the end of Friends, but I loved that Carrie ended up with Big in the last episode of Sex and the City. I hate morning TV with a passion—too much fake enthusiasm—and I’ll take Dunkin’ Donuts coffee over Starbucks every day of the week. My favorite color is yellow, the sound of people chewing with their mouths open makes my blood run cold, and I’ve seen each Harry Potter film a minimum of twenty times because I get sucked in every single time I see them on.”
