Page 5 of Wham, Bam, Marry Me, Ma’am
Chapter 3
Vaughn
Good girl.
I sit at my desk, wound like a top. No, not a top. Like a ticking time bomb. Destructive and deadly. Month after month, repressing my urges, desires, my base-level instinct to claim the woman I've fallen desperately in love with, and one moment of weakness implodes it all.
I clench my jaw so tight my teeth crack against each other.
Good girl?
The pencil I'm holding snaps in my hand, my rage intensifying when a sharp splinter slices into my palm. The pain is a reminder that I'm losing control. Enough. She is either reporting me to HR, or she didn't even hear me. I have to hope for the best.
I try to force myself to focus on the reports in preparation for the meeting in less than an hour, but I can't concentrate on my work.
The thought of Rachel leaving the company because I can't keep my feelings for her under control is suddenly more terrifying than having her continue working here.
I carry my distraction into the meeting, trying not to look at Rachel, but unable to keep my mind off her.
"No, Vaughn." The irritation in West’s voice calls me out for not paying attention. "Clinton and Barrett are going to Festival Valley to test out some of the camping designs we put together with Ludlow, Price, & Warner."
"Yes, of course." I turn to Rachel but keep my eyes on the papers in front of me. "Rachel will book you at the new resort there."
"Uh, Vaughn." Barrett clears his throat. "I'm staying with Ethan, and Clinton will be testing the equipment."
I stare at him blankly, and Barrett rears back slightly.
"It's camping equipment, so he's going to becampingwith it," Barrett says slowly, like I'm a fool. And I am. A fool in love with a woman who drives me wild with her dark brown eyes.
"Right. Clinton, let Rachel know if you need help with a...getting a permit to camp," I say awkwardly, and Rachel gives him a little wave.
Clinton nods at Rachel. "Will do. I'll watch the weather. We need it cold but not dangerous, so we might have to play it by ear. Tentatively, we'll go the first week in May."
"Yes. Make sure it's safe. Paul, thank your team for their work on this." I nod at the head of Ludlow, Price, & Warner, sitting at the table across from me, and he raises an eyebrow. I furrow my brow, irritated by my distraction and everybody finding it humorous. "What?" I ask, exasperated.
"We're on the call, Vaughn. Appreciate your thanks." Hunter's amused voice comes over the speaker.
"Yes, the third time since we started the meeting. That's got to be a record." Mark chimes in.
The room chuckles, and I blow out a breath. Well, this is great. Fuck me.
"Alright, we're about done for today. Anything else from Hunter and Mark, or can we disconnect on our end?" Barrett looks around, and everyone nods, calling out their goodbyes to the guys on the call. Clinton excuses himself as well.
I reach for the paper Weston slides across the table with the updated financial numbers for the quarter, and Rachel gasps.
"Sir, are you bleeding?"
I blink at her. Every time Rachel calls me sir, I want to bend her over a table and make her come like it's my job. After much too long of a pause, I glance down and see a bit of blood has smeared across the paper. "It's nothing. I broke a pencil earlier. I'll get the splinter out later."
Barrett gives me a queasy look. "You need to get it out. You don't want it getting into your blood stream."
I glance at West who grins at me. When we were younger, West and I convinced Barrett if he didn't let us remove a splinter, it would go deeper into his body and pierce his heart. Apparently, we were a little dramatic about the whole thing. Might have done some permanent emotional damage since he still has an irrational fear of splinters.
"Yeah, Vaughn. And you're getting blood on our nice table," West shoots back.
Rachel swats him, and I glare at her perfect hand touching my brother's shoulder. She gets up to rummage through the back cabinet.
Rachel looks like the sexy librarian of my dreams today. Her long dark hair is half up, and she's wearing her reading glassesfor the meeting. They emphasize her large brown eyes and the swell of her cheekbones. She turns to dig deeper through the cabinet, and her heart-shaped ass calls to me. The fitted skirt puts it on display, begging for my hands. Her top has a high collar and long sleeves but is see-through, revealing a peek of lace on the tight camisole underneath. It's molded to her perfect tits. Even the sneakers make her look sexy. Although, barefoot this morning clearly had me losing my mind too.
