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“Well, you know,” Vaughn smiles this mischievous grin at me, “I can always make anything you can’t find.” He tips my chin up with his finger.
I smile, trying my hardest not to let my mind run away with the fact he’s touching me.
“And besides, you don’t have to have all the answers right now.” His finger remains under my chin, his face mere inches from mine. “Close your eyes.”
I do exactly as he says, as quickly as I can. “Ok.”
“Now, picture your dream kitchen. I know you’ve got it all up here in your mind.” He taps my temple.
I do.
I’ve had the same ideas for a kitchen since I was a little girl. Cabinets the same color as Vaughn’s eyes. And when I was younger I always pictured him being there too.
But now I know he never will be. As soon as this renovation job is done I’ll probably go another ten years of rarely seeing him again.
He finds the attendant and pulls out his phone to get the exact measurements. “I think doing the cabinets will be the easiest part.” He smiles over his shoulder at me.
As I watch him talk with the associate of the store about everything he’ll need for the kitchen, I can’t help loving the feeling of being here with him. It’s nice and easy.
Not like last night where it was all stiff and distorted.
After I pay, we return to his truck. “You hungry?” he asks.
I hop into the passenger’s side of his truck. “I could eat.” I skipped lunch today since my stomach decided to become a rollercoaster because I was seeing him today.
“Let’s grab a quick bite then head over to your place.”
“Perfect. As long as we’re back in the city around eight.”
“Hot date?”
I laugh. “Yeah, with Gwen.”
“Yeah? How’s she doing?”
I fill him in on Gwen’s life since high school. How we were roommates in college. How she moved back here just like me and works for some advertising firm. She likes the hours but hates the job.
“What are you two getting into tonight?”
“We’re meeting my friend Colby later at the Groove.” Which is a snazzy little club that I love hanging out at.
He starts the engine, pulling out of the spot. “Colby, huh?”
“Yeah.”
Vaughn doesn’t say anymore about my plans tonight, but just asks me where I want to eat. We decide on a little cafe, and while we eat, Vaughn is not much company.
And then, we head to my house so Vaughn can get a little work done.
Eight
Vaughn
* * *
While we wait for the cabinets and countertop to be delivered, which they said won't be for a few days, I decide to prep the kitchen and get it all ready for the installation.
“I’m gonna put in a good hour or two here. Will you be ok?”
She smiles, showing me her laptop. “I plan on working.” Her smile drops.
“If you need anything…” I don’t finish off my sentence, because I’m still kind of fuming about the plans she has with Colby. Who the fuck is this guy? And more importantly, is he good enough for her?
She smiles, and it damn near knocks me off my feet. “Thank you.”
I head off in the direction of the kitchen before I do something silly, like kiss her.
God, I definitely wanted to when we were in the store, when I told her to close her eyes and picture her dream kitchen. For some reason, I wanted her to say she imagined me in her kitchen, cooking dinner.
Yes, I’d cook for her.
I’m actually an ok chef.
No seriously.
The result of being raised by a single mom, I guess.
After I’m positive I have everything in place to get this project started, I lose myself in removing the standard cabinet doors and hardware to make way for the new ones I’ll be replacing them with. But, while I work, I can’t keep my mind from going back to Colby.
Colby.
I’d love to know more about him. What have I been doing all my life? Why have I not been getting to know Paisley on a much deeper level?
I remember why. Because she deserves so much better than me. She deserves it all.
It’s the main reason I’ve stayed away for so long.
The reason I’ve never taken my friendship with her to another level.
Not to mention the fact her brother and father would probably kill me if I ever tried anything with her.
Doesn’t stop me from wanting her though.
The sound of my power tools finally quiet the thoughts of Paisley as I finish up. Once I’m done, I find Paisley on the front porch stoop, tapping away at her computer.
“I’m about done in here.”
She closes her laptop. “Ok, perfect. I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Want to see the destruction?”
She smiles that lazy smile of hers, and sets her computer aside. She follows me back into the house. “Wow. It’ll look so good once the new doors come.”
