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I felt him watching me from the other side of my Dad’s back yard. Even amongst the other guests, and my Dad’s team I felt his gaze between my shoulder blades. I was talking to Ava, who I’d come to really like, and when I turned my head Vaughan smiled. He was talking to Aiden, but he was staring at me the entire time. We hadn’t seen each other since Thursday and although he’d tried to see me on Saturday (yesterday) I told him I was busy. There was something to be said about anticipation though so I used the time to primp and prep, full body wax included. I’d even had my nails done. By the time Maddy and I arrived at my Dad’s house my body was humming and the thought of seeing Vaughan after two days had me more than a little giddy.

I turned my attention back to Ava and she gave me a knowing smile. “He’s a catch, honey bee. I hope you’re not going to let him get away.”

Before I could tell her I had no intention of doing that my Dad sidled up to us, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. We were celebrating his birthday just the way he liked it - a barbecue, his family and his team. And now Ava. He seemed genuinely happy to have us all together, and after seeing the way she treated my Dad I knew accepting her was the right thing to do. I’d spoken to my Dad on Thursday, after he’d laid into my brothers for being “immature dipshits”.His words. He apologized for not telling me sooner and I apologized for being a spoilt brat. I cried, he kissed the crown of my head like he always had and we let it go with the intention of moving forward.

“How are my girls?” His grin stretched across his face, making his salt and pepper mustache wriggle.

“We’re fine,” replied Ava. “Kenzi and I were just admiring all the hot guys.” She winked at me, and I tucked my lips around my teeth to smother my laugh. She was teasing my Dad and he fell for it, the big oaf.

“You shouldn’t be admiring anyone,” he grumped. He looked at me. “And neither should you.”

“Oh hush, Kenzi is gorgeous. Not her fault if the guys can’t stop staring.”

“He’d have to get through five of us Davis men before he gets to her.” His voice was a deep rumble, reminding me of Tom Selleck from the television series, Blue Bloods.

“I think he already has,” replied Ava. Man, this was going to be awkward. My Dad didn’t know about Vaughan, and obviously my brother’s had been nice enough - or smart enough - to keep it to themselves. Not that I could surmise how my Dad would feel about me and Vaughan anyway. He didn’t take much of an interest in Alex when I brought him home and in hind sight he was right not to. Alex proved to be everything my Dad and brothers didn’t want for me.

Fortunately, I was saved from whatever my Dad was going to say when Natalie hooked her arm through mine and asked if we could have a quick chat. She was glowing in her navy and white stripped maxi dress that hugged her growing belly.

“Promise you won’t be mad.” She turned me to face her once we’d stepped into the living room. I pursed my lips. Whenever Nat said something like that I knew I wasn’t going to approve of whatever she’d done. I loved her to death, and she was my family, but she was also a Nosy Nelly.

“What did you do?”

She bit her lip and then turned her gaze to the foyer just as the front door swung open. It was Alex.

“Seriously Nat?”

She shrugged and whispered, “I don’t know what happened between you two, but he asked me if I’d help him get you to talk to him. So just hear him out, okay?”

Granted, I hadn’t really told anyone that Alex and I hadn’t worked out, Natalie included, but I couldn’t help my annoyance. I felt ambushed and having Alex here in the same space as Vaughan made me strangely anxious. Vaughan made it clear to me the night he fetched me in Denver that he didn’t like Alex much and until then I’d chalked it down to some manly, testosterone-filled pissing contest, but after what happened with Alex, I realized Vaughan’s aversion wasn’t completely unfounded.

Alex cleared his throat, and Natalie scurried off like the meddling mommy-to-be she was. He at least had the decency to look apologetic.

“Hey.” He didn’t smile, and neither did I.

“Hi.”

“Can we talk somewhere more private?” he asked. I looked back, feeling my skin tingle. Vaughan was watching us through the living room windows, and I caught his frown before leading Alex to the living room. I hadn’t spoken to Alex since the morning he left me at the Sheraton and I’d ignored all of his texts and calls all week. Childish? Maybe. But you can’t really end something that never really started. We hadn’t labeled what we were, and I certainly didn’t think of him as a boyfriend. The potential I once saw was dimmed by what it felt like to be with Vaughan. Not that I could tell Alex that. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who would take lightly to that kind of admission.

“I came to apologize,” he started, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I shouldn’t have left you the way I did.”

I regarded him until I figured it was best to just let it go. It was a week ago, and I certainly hadn’t been harboring any hurt feelings over it.

“Don’t worry about it. I had someone else come get me.”

His brows furrowed and as his expression turned sour, I felt the presence behind me.

“Everything okay?”

Vaughan.

Alex looked between the two of us and shook his head derisively. “I knew I was right.”

“Right about what?”

“Has something been going on between the two of you since we started dating?” The accusation in Alex’s voice chaffed me almost as much as his inference that we were a couple.

“That’s none of your business.”