Page 39 of Forever Mine

Chapter 14

Scott

Vaughn had been annoyed with me for several days. Our schedules didn’t allow us to discuss why she was upset, but I guessed the reason.

She didn’t want me to meet Angel face to face.

I didn’t understand what harm it would do, but I suppose if I were a single mother I’d be more in tune with her concerns. She sounded harassed when we spoke earlier this morning and though she offered to pick me up, I opted to take a cab. After she gave me directions, I spoke with the cabbie I used when Charles wasn't available.

When I got to Vaughn's house, a short and softer version of her opened the door. “Hello, can I help you?”

“Yes, thanks. I’m here to see Vaughn.”

She cleared her throat and her eyes widened. Then she smiled. “Scott, right?”

“That’s me.” I held out my hand, and we introduced ourselves. Then, she stepped out of the doorway and waved me inside. Maxine led me to a seat and made small about how I was adjusting until Angel burst into the living room ahead of Vaughn.

She stood in front of the sofa and held out a hand. “Hi, I’m Angelica. I wanted to meet you.”

Other than greeting Vaughn with a wink, I focused on Angel. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you too.”

She was a doll-like version of her mother with large, bright eyes. Angel perched beside me on the sofa and tipped her head back. “You talk funny. Where are you from?”

“Miami.”

When her mother and grandmother shushed her, I held up a hand to restrain them. “It’s okay. I’m good.”

Angel was just being a kid, and reminded me of my niece, Olivia, who always had unlimited questions. While Vaughn gathered several bags we were taking with us, Angel drilled me on my reason for being at the conference where I met her mommy. I didn’t get a reprieve on the ride, because Angel pointed out places of interest, including KFC and Island Grill.

Now, a couple of hours later, she was talking to another kid who was at the beach with her parents. The two girls squatted in the sand, building a lopsided castle.

I thought Maxine was coming to the beach with us, but she didn't. Of course, I couldn’t ask if she lived with Vaughn out of blue because I didn’t want to come across as inquisitive.

I looked back at Vaugh, who sat beside me on the blanket she’d spread under an almond tree. The sand wasn't exactly as pristine white as the Seven Mile Beach in Negril, which I'd only seen on television, but it was good enough for me. The wind in my hair, the sun on my skin, and Vaughn at my side, was a welcome change of pace from what we'd been doing since I landed in Jamaica.

Apart from the sip and paint evening, the gaming lounge, and the sports bar, we’d gone to a trendy club where they performed dub poetry. The combination of the drums and the female poet’s voice and style was different from anything I’d experienced. This was part of the reason I asked Vaughn to show me around. I wanted to see the island from the perspective of a local. Plus, I simply wanted her company.

My broken engagement didn’t inspire confidence in any woman when I met her, but in a few weeks, she’d changed my way of thinking. If I wasn’t careful, I'd be in trouble all over again.

Vaughn poked my arm, pulling me from my thoughts. “Why’re you frowning so hard?”

I used the excuse of combing the hair out of my face not to answer while I shifted my thoughts and unknotted my facial muscles. “Nothing, I’m just thinking about me being here, and us.”

“What about us?”

Vaugh’s eyes widened to the size of gaming tokens, which didn’t surprise me. She was as wary of this relationship business as I was, but in her case, I wasn’t sure why. From the little she’d said about her ex, I figured he was a controlling ass. I ignored Vaughn’s discomfort and leaned against the tree. “I made a smart choice to hook up with you. I’m seeing the island in a way I wouldn’t have, if I hadn’t allowed you to browbeat me into working with you.”

“Seriously, that has you frowning?” Vaugh wrinkled her forehead and leaned away from me. Then, she moved her head side to side. “You're such a liar.”

Her laughter was low and husky and did things to me that forced me to pull my legs up so she wouldn’t see what was obvious if she cared to look. It didn’t help that she wore a two piece and a wraparound that drove me nuts every time she shifted her legs.

“If I recall correctly,” She sent a glance my way. “I barely made the offer before you were on it like a mealy bug on a bush.”

I pretended to be offended. “I can’t believe you’re dissing me like this. Me. The foremost expert in animation and—”

“Doesn’t matter.” She dismissed my faux indignation. “You still jumped on what I was offering before I finished asking.”

I let her words settle between us. When I wriggled my eyebrows, Vaughn’s lips twitched, and she slapped my arm. “You have a nasty mind.”

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