Cooper’s words echoed around and around in Vaughn’s head as he made his way back to his hotel. His head was down, his eyes on his feet.
“You’re either in or you’re out. Make a choice and stick to it.”
Deep down he knew Lawson was right. He had to make the decision to sever his connection to Bailey for good. The thought terrified him.
And that made him question everything.
Maybe—
“Ow!” a female screeched in his ear as he collided with a sharp elbow.
He caught the slim arm in his hand and steadied the woman it belonged to. Shock moved through him as he found himself looking into Bailey’s eyes.
But this wasn’t Bailey.
He let go of the woman and she tottered on the boards in her red high heels. Her reddish blond hair was straight and long, and she flipped it over her shoulders as she eyed him like he was a hunk of red meat and she was starving.
Which was appropriate since she didn’t look like she’d had a meal in a while.
Her large boobs were barely concealed by the skintight dress she wore, a dress that showed off sharp hip bones and an altogether waiflike figure.
The woman eyed him with lust in her eyes but Vaughn was unaffected. She was attractive enough in an overly made-up way, but he didn’t like dating women who clearly starved themselves to look good. Naturally slender, curvy, voluptuous, Vaughn had no preference; as long as a woman was confident and healthy he’d find her sexy.
This woman appeared to be neither but he found himself arrested by her face.
It was her eyes.
And her nose.
They were Bailey’s.
“I beg your pardon.” He apologized for barging right into her.
“Oh, don’t worry.” She waved him off. “I was admiring this new hotel.” She gestured up at Paradise Sands. “It wasn’t here the last time I was. It’s surprising. It adds much-needed class to the place.”
Vaughn frowned. “You don’t like Hartwell?”
Her eyes raked over him. “I’m liking it more now.”
He gave her a benign smile, not wanting to be rude in any way in case she was a guest. “Are you staying at the hotel?”
“No. I’m staying with my sister. You wouldn’t know what the rates were here, though, would you?”
“Yes.” He held out his hand as he realized who this was. “I’m Vaughn Tremaine. The owner. And you are . . . Bailey Hartwell’s sister?”
Her eyes widened, and he could almost see the dollar signs replacing her irises. He knew the type. His father taught him to spot her kind from a young age. And he was sure he’d heard jokes being thrown around about Bailey’s younger sister; that she was a gold digger making her way through all the rich men in Europe.
It was probably Iris who had said it. Maybe even Bailey herself.
“I am. I’m Vanessa.” She kept a hold of his hand, and stepped in closer to him. “Do you know my sister well?”
Yes, she’s the best sex I’ve ever had and she’s currently ruining my life. “We’re acquainted.”
“Isn’t she a bore?” She rolled her eyes. “I just dropped my luggage off at her dinky little house. Would you believe she wants me to sleep on the couch?” She said the word like it was dirty. “I thought I’d check out your hotel.”
“Why don’t I guide you inside and you can talk to reception?”
“Oh.” She pouted. “Can’t you help me out? Personally?” She brushed her fingers over his lapel.
Vaughn felt a rising panic, and extricated himself from her grasp. “That’s a little below my pay grade.”
The last thing he needed was rumors reaching Bailey’s ears that he was flirting with her sister. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d found himself caught between two sisters and considering how disastrously it ended last time, he really wasn’t up to replaying that scenario.
A flirtatious gold digger Vanessa Hartwell may be but she was at least smart enough to read the situation. Her whole demeanor changed. The flirtatiousness vanished and she straightened. “Well, I don’t know if it will suit me anyway. I’m used to a certain class of accommodation. Perhaps the Grand would suit me better.”
He smirked at her. “Yes, well, Paradise is a five-star hotel, and the Grand is a four-star, so I imagine you’re right. The Grand would suit you better.”
Her mouth fell open in astonishment at his insult, and Vaughn began to stroll toward his hotel laughing to himself.
And then a thought occurred to him. Hadn’t Bailey said her siblings had no interest in the inn? And that she didn’t have much of a relationship with Vanessa?
So what was the woman doing in Hartwell?
And how much trouble was she looking to cause Bailey?
Vaughn scowled at the thought. Bailey had been through enough this year without her sister creating problems for her.
He spun around to find Vanessa giving him the evil eye. He ignored it. “What are you doing here?”
She crossed her arms over her huge bosom and lifted her chin in haughty defiance. “Why is it any business of yours?”
“I make what happens on this boardwalk my business, that’s why.”
Vanessa raised an eyebrow at his warning tone. “Well then, you should know I intend to become more involved with my inn.”
“You mean Bailey’s inn.”
Something flickered in her expression. “It’s my inn, too. And frankly from what I can see Bailey is making a dreadful mess of it. The décor is horrific, and that woman she has working for her is . . . well . . . she needs to go. I’ll have that place shipshape in no time. We’ll give you a run for your money with your fancy five-star hotel.”