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I struggled for something to say. Vaughn seemed comfortable not saying much. That’s what the silent broody types did. They wallowed in the silence. I studied his profile as we walked. It was half-clipped in shadows.
I measured time by the click-clack of my heels.
Vaughn stopped. “Want to try this place?”
I looked at the bar he nodded toward. It wasn’t very busy.
“Sure. A night cap sounds good.”
He held the door for me as he ushered me inside. There was a baseball game on one of the overhead screens.
“I’ll order for us.” He squeezed me into a booth with leather seats. “Do you want another glass of wine?”
I ran my tongue over my teeth. “Surprise me.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He turned for the bar and I watched as he ordered. He placed a handful of bills on the counter and returned with the two drinks.
“Here’s your surprise.”
I looked suspiciously at the dark liquid. “Is it bourbon?”
“You’ll have to try it.” He took a swallow.
I followed his lead. The initial sip was strong at first. My throat burned, but then I tasted the sweetness. My limbs started to warm.
I flinched when I heard my phone vibrate through my purse. I peeked inside the bag to see who it was.
Garrett had sent a text.
Stop worrying. I had a great day. I’ll call you soon.
It was the first time I had heard from my brother since the call yesterday. I tucked the bag in the corner of the booth.
“Something wrong?” Vaughn pried.
I shook my head, but suddenly changed my mind. “Actually, yes.”
“What’s going on?” It was a simple gesture, but his hand slid to my knee and closed over my leg. There was more heat in his touch.
“Remember when you called last night and I wasn’t quite myself?”
“Yes. I was worried about you.”
I looked at the brim of the glass as my finger made a circle around it. “It was because of my brother.”
“Is he ok?” Vaughn’s brow furrowed together.
“It’s just if I tell you, I’m worried you’ll think differently about me.”
“Why would I do that? It’s about your brother.”
“Because it’s not the kind of thing you talk about with someone you’re casually seeing.” Shit. I didn’t mean to drop our status into the middle of this. “It’s not that—I—”
His fingers dug into my thigh. “Emily, I’m not going to change my mind about you.”
My chest seized. It was the way he looked at me with those piercing eyes. Or how his gaze drifted to my lips. Or how with his hand on my leg I felt almost as connected to him as I did in bed.
“He, umm, he … Garrett has bipolar disorder.” I waited for Vaughn’s expression to change, but it didn’t. “And right now he’s going off his meds voluntarily. It’s one of his protests. He moved out without talking to my mother and is trying to be part of a start-up business at the beach.”
