“Yes.” Andy tucked his thumbs into his police officer Batman-thingy utility belt. “Under no conditions should you try to approach any of the family, or step foot on any of the family’s properties, including any and all commercial interests. Understood?”
“It’ll be entirely my pleasure to never set sight on those idiots again.” And then some. “But what about my things? They’re all over at the big house.”
“Mrs. Delaney has assured me she’ll see to the prompt delivery of your personal effects.”
“How kind.” My brows descended, my trust for Samantha in the negatives. My options, however, were nonexistent. So currently, I had my bridal lingerie and nothing more. Apart from Vaughan’s shirt and goodwill, of course.
“I hate to impose further,” I said, reaching up for the tequila to take another sip. “But would it be all right if I crashed on your couch tonight once we’re done hanging?”
“Spare room’s all yours.”
“Thank you.”
“And I told Ray he could send any paperwork here until you get something else sorted,” said Vaughan, once more taking possession of his own liquor. This time he downed a whole mouthful, no problem. Impressive. Masculine, manly and stuff. He’d probably catch up to me in no time.
“Thank you for talking them down,” I said.
Another chin tip.
“If that’s all, ma’am, I better get a move on.” Over by the table, Officer Andy stood tall, looking totes competent and stuff.
“Are they gone from out front?” Gah, I sounded so timid. “Not that I’m afraid of them. It’s just, it’s been a long day.”
“They’re gone.” Vaughan handed me back the bottle with a smile. “Took your douche ex-fiancé off to the emergency room to get his nose set.”
“I broke it?”
“That’s my bet.” We exchanged grins.
With a deep breath, I relaxed for what seemed like the first time in days, resting my head back against the cabinet. “I have no home or job. But I have my liberty.”
“I’ll leave you two to celebrate,” said Officer Andy.
“Thanks, Andy.” The men started clapping each other good and hard on the shoulder as guys do. “Good to see you again.”
“You too.” He hesitated. “Damn shame about Nell and Pat.”
“Yeah.” The smile on Vaughan’s face faded.
“You, ah, wouldn’t know if she’s dating again yet, would you?”
A long pause.
The happy on Vaughan’s face had disappeared without a trace. So much for cool, calm, and collected. I wondered who Nell and Pat were. Obviously people important to him.
“See you later, Andy,” he said in lieu of answering the question.
The message was delivered just fine. “Right. Night.”
“Night.” I waved. “And thank you.”
He didn’t respond. The officer got gone while Vaughan watched with eyes distinctly flat and unfriendly. Had it been me, facing his cold front, I’d have run. Instead, I attempted diversion.
“Thanks for not kicking me to the curb.” I held out the bottle to him, shaking it gently.
Mouth still grim, he wandered back into the kitchen, sitting on the floor at my side. “You’re welcome.”
“I’ll cook you breakfast.”
“There’s no food in the house.”
“Damn. All right, if Samantha has delivered my purse by morning, I’ll buy you breakfast.”
“Deal.”
We passed the bottle back and forth in silence for a while. My head grew progressively fuzzier, all of the emotion of the day’s events softening to a “meh.” For now, I was all humiliated, hurt, and raged out. The knuckles on my right hand stung like a bitch and if I started mentally picking apart all of the what-ifs and could-haves again I’d go insane.
The light over the dining table emitted a soft golden glow, leaving the rest of the house in shadow. It seemed even quieter and emptier as the night set in.
“How long has it been since you’ve been here?” I asked.
“We played at a small festival a few years back. Not since then.”
“You’re in a band?”
“I was. We broke up a couple of months back.” He’d leaned his head against the kitchen cupboards, eyes closed. “We’d been together for ten years, based down in L.A. mostly.”
“What instrument do you play?”
“Guitar.”