abruptly, unable to explain that when a man flirted with
her it always felt false, as if he were secretly making her the butt of some private
joke. She returned her attention back to Vaughn, a little perturbed to find he
still had her right hand clasped securely in his. She tried a small
experimental tug but he only smiled, a flash of white teeth that made her
stomach dip and her mouth water. “I’m going to need that hand back.”
Vaughn loved the way those clear
grey eyes focused so intently upon him. Damn he loved everything about her,
that plump kissable mouth, that perfect straight nose, even the way she’d
frowned at Nate had been downright delicious. Now that he had the opportunity
to study her up close he found he couldn’t stop looking.
“My hand ..? ”
Hadleigh reminded him again.
“You look hungry.” He announced
suddenly. “Are you hungry?”
Hadleigh shrugged, slightly off
balance by the change in topic. “I could eat.” Let’s face it she could
always eat but she wasn’t going to tell the golden god that.
“I think I’d better feed you. And
whilst we’re eating we can talk.”
He flashed those pearly whites again
and she noticed the faintest gold burr of a five o’clock shadow along his
jawline. For a split second she contemplated reaching out to test whether it
would be rough or soft under her touch. Okay maybe he was right, her blood sugar must be low or something. Frowning once again she tugged harder
on her hand but Vaughn retained a firm but gentle grip on her. This man was a
complete enigma. Men did not casually hold her hand.
“Okay so it’s settled. I’m
going to feed Hadleigh and you guys can … be elsewhere.” Vaughn didn’t really
care where they went or what they did as long as they left him alone with
Hadleigh.
Rafe held up a hand in protest.
“Vaughn we really need to get Hadleigh fitted out.”
This caught Hadleigh’s attention.
“No way am I wearing those sparkly purple shorts!”
For a moment there was complete
silence in the room as seven men contemplated the thought of Hadleigh wearing
tight short shorts. Vaughn caught a glimpse of his team mates ’
expressions and fought the urge to strike every one of them down. Gosh if he
felt like that with his own men, no way could he deal with Joe public getting
the opportunity to leer at Hadleigh. He doubted there was enough swampland in
all of Florida to deal with the bodies. “You’re right, no shorts for
you.”
Ouch, Vaughn said it so vehemently
it stung Hadleigh’s ego a bit. It was one thing for her to be insecure about
the size of her butt. It was another thing when a man so whole heartedly agreed that it was huge.
There were mutters of ‘Killjoy’ and
‘No fair’ from the men but other than that they seemed disinclined to make a
big deal out of it.
Rafe cleared his throat, swallowing
a grin. “Actually I was referring more to the earpiece and armour. We’re not
exactly overstocked with vests that will fit Hadleigh’s … measurements.”
Hadleigh rolled her eyes. A
moment ago every man in the room was contemplating her butt, now every single
eye was locked on to her cleavage. She hadn’t received so much male attention
in well … forever. “Hey!” She clicked her fingers. “Eyes here!” She
pointed to her face, secretly amused that several of the men had the grace to
blush. Not Vaughn though, she caught a glimpse of anger flashing like fire in
those burnished eyes. Great, no doubt he was unamused, already reconsidering
the idea of bringing Hadleigh into the mix.
Giving his men a hard golden look he
growled. “Go! Be busy.” Turning his head he gave Hadleigh a warm sunny smile.
“Come on you, we’ll go eat and talk.”
Vaughn gave her hand a small tug
leading her over to the elevators. Trailing behind him Hadleigh couldn’t have
been more confused. One moment the man’s sending out death looks, the next he’s
got her knees melting again with that sexy smile of
her it always felt false, as if he were secretly making her the butt of some private
joke. She returned her attention back to Vaughn, a little perturbed to find he
still had her right hand clasped securely in his. She tried a small
experimental tug but he only smiled, a flash of white teeth that made her
stomach dip and her mouth water. “I’m going to need that hand back.”
Vaughn loved the way those clear
grey eyes focused so intently upon him. Damn he loved everything about her,
that plump kissable mouth, that perfect straight nose, even the way she’d
frowned at Nate had been downright delicious. Now that he had the opportunity
to study her up close he found he couldn’t stop looking.
“My hand ..? ”
Hadleigh reminded him again.
“You look hungry.” He announced
suddenly. “Are you hungry?”
Hadleigh shrugged, slightly off
balance by the change in topic. “I could eat.” Let’s face it she could
always eat but she wasn’t going to tell the golden god that.
“I think I’d better feed you. And
whilst we’re eating we can talk.”
He flashed those pearly whites again
and she noticed the faintest gold burr of a five o’clock shadow along his
jawline. For a split second she contemplated reaching out to test whether it
would be rough or soft under her touch. Okay maybe he was right, her blood sugar must be low or something. Frowning once again she tugged harder
on her hand but Vaughn retained a firm but gentle grip on her. This man was a
complete enigma. Men did not casually hold her hand.
“Okay so it’s settled. I’m
going to feed Hadleigh and you guys can … be elsewhere.” Vaughn didn’t really
care where they went or what they did as long as they left him alone with
Hadleigh.
Rafe held up a hand in protest.
“Vaughn we really need to get Hadleigh fitted out.”
This caught Hadleigh’s attention.
“No way am I wearing those sparkly purple shorts!”
For a moment there was complete
silence in the room as seven men contemplated the thought of Hadleigh wearing
tight short shorts. Vaughn caught a glimpse of his team mates ’
expressions and fought the urge to strike every one of them down. Gosh if he
felt like that with his own men, no way could he deal with Joe public getting
the opportunity to leer at Hadleigh. He doubted there was enough swampland in
all of Florida to deal with the bodies. “You’re right, no shorts for
you.”
Ouch, Vaughn said it so vehemently
it stung Hadleigh’s ego a bit. It was one thing for her to be insecure about
the size of her butt. It was another thing when a man so whole heartedly agreed that it was huge.
There were mutters of ‘Killjoy’ and
‘No fair’ from the men but other than that they seemed disinclined to make a
big deal out of it.
Rafe cleared his throat, swallowing
a grin. “Actually I was referring more to the earpiece and armour. We’re not
exactly overstocked with vests that will fit Hadleigh’s … measurements.”
Hadleigh rolled her eyes. A
moment ago every man in the room was contemplating her butt, now every single
eye was locked on to her cleavage. She hadn’t received so much male attention
in well … forever. “Hey!” She clicked her fingers. “Eyes here!” She
pointed to her face, secretly amused that several of the men had the grace to
blush. Not Vaughn though, she caught a glimpse of anger flashing like fire in
those burnished eyes. Great, no doubt he was unamused, already reconsidering
the idea of bringing Hadleigh into the mix.
Giving his men a hard golden look he
growled. “Go! Be busy.” Turning his head he gave Hadleigh a warm sunny smile.
“Come on you, we’ll go eat and talk.”
Vaughn gave her hand a small tug
leading her over to the elevators. Trailing behind him Hadleigh couldn’t have
been more confused. One moment the man’s sending out death looks, the next he’s
got her knees melting again with that sexy smile of
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