his.
“You know… ” They
had reached the elevator and she watched as Vaughn pushed the up button. “You
don’t have to lead me around like this.”
The elevator door opened with a soft
swish, Vaughn stepped in pulling her gently in next to him. Hadleigh tried to
step away, create some much needed space between
them. The elevator wasn’t small but with Vaughn next to her it felt miniscule.
She managed to take two small steps to the left before Vaughn shifted over and
filled that space.
“Careful.” He admonished,
those gold eyes glowing with heat. “We don’t want people getting on and
separating us do we?”
Hadleigh glanced at the overhead
display dubiously. “It’s an express elevator.”
“Still.” Vaughn rested his warm arm
lightly against her own. “Better safe than sorry. It’s your first day on the
job, can’t have you getting lost.”
“So I have the job then?”
“The job was yours the moment Flynn
hit the mat. Nice moves by the way.” Vaughn hit the button for the top
floor. Seeming content to stand there in silence, just holding her hand
as they waited for the elevator to rise to the 85 th floor .
Chapter Seven
Hadleigh wasn’t sure exactly where
she thought Vaughn was taking her, but his own apartment on the 85 th floor was not one of them. She had assumed that perhaps there was a restaurant
or staff canteen up there. Instead she found herself seated at a bench in his
personal kitchen watching whilst he grilled chicken and chopped salad
ingredients. He’d tried to push a glass of wine on her when they first entered
but she’d insisted upon soda. Whilst he went about getting things together she
studied the kitchen, a gleaming modern affair, with lots of bench space,
hardwood floors and every mod con one could wish for. She wondered if he knew
how to use all that equipment, he certainly seemed confident enough, all his actions so far capable and quick.
Vaughn divided the salad between two
plates, added the now slightly cooled chicken pieces, drizzled a mysterious
liquid over the chicken and for a final flourish threw a handful of cashews on
top of each salad as a garnish. “ Wa-lah , my famous
chicken and cashew honey mustard salad.” He handed her a plate and fork,
taking a swig from his own soda as he took up a standing position across the
kitchen bench from her and commenced digging into his own salad.
To say Hadleigh was a little stunned
would be an understatement. She didn’t think a man had ever gone to the trouble
of cooking a meal for her. Even Declan was a disaster in the kitchen, barely
managing edible sandwiches when it was his turn to organise a meal.
“Thanks, this looks wonderful.”
She dug in, more to give herself the opportunity to look away from those
intense dark gold eyes of his which seemed lit from behind with avid interest.
“You don’t talk much?” He commented.
“I’m lousy at small talk. Lucky for
me that’s not why you hired me.”
“Which raises a question, where did
you learn to move like that?”
“Mostly my Dad, he’s been training
me since I could walk to work in the family business.”
“What’s the family business?”
Hadleigh paused for a moment.
“Security.”
“Did you enjoy the work?”
“Still do … I’m just taking a break
for a month or so.”
“So you’ll only be with us short
term?” Vaughn’s tone was neutral but there was an edge to it that Hadleigh
couldn’t quite interpret.
“Yeah, I hope that’s okay. My … Aunt
is a huge fan of the show. She was concerned when she read online about
Serena’s departure and asked me to take some holiday time and see if I couldn’t
help your show make it through the season.”
“You must really love your Aunt.”
Hadleigh couldn’t help but laugh out
loud. “Actually to tell you the truth I’m slightly terrified of her.”
Vaughn froze, it was the first time
he had seen her laugh and it was all he could do not to launch himself
“You know… ” They
had reached the elevator and she watched as Vaughn pushed the up button. “You
don’t have to lead me around like this.”
The elevator door opened with a soft
swish, Vaughn stepped in pulling her gently in next to him. Hadleigh tried to
step away, create some much needed space between
them. The elevator wasn’t small but with Vaughn next to her it felt miniscule.
She managed to take two small steps to the left before Vaughn shifted over and
filled that space.
“Careful.” He admonished,
those gold eyes glowing with heat. “We don’t want people getting on and
separating us do we?”
Hadleigh glanced at the overhead
display dubiously. “It’s an express elevator.”
“Still.” Vaughn rested his warm arm
lightly against her own. “Better safe than sorry. It’s your first day on the
job, can’t have you getting lost.”
“So I have the job then?”
“The job was yours the moment Flynn
hit the mat. Nice moves by the way.” Vaughn hit the button for the top
floor. Seeming content to stand there in silence, just holding her hand
as they waited for the elevator to rise to the 85 th floor .
Chapter Seven
Hadleigh wasn’t sure exactly where
she thought Vaughn was taking her, but his own apartment on the 85 th floor was not one of them. She had assumed that perhaps there was a restaurant
or staff canteen up there. Instead she found herself seated at a bench in his
personal kitchen watching whilst he grilled chicken and chopped salad
ingredients. He’d tried to push a glass of wine on her when they first entered
but she’d insisted upon soda. Whilst he went about getting things together she
studied the kitchen, a gleaming modern affair, with lots of bench space,
hardwood floors and every mod con one could wish for. She wondered if he knew
how to use all that equipment, he certainly seemed confident enough, all his actions so far capable and quick.
Vaughn divided the salad between two
plates, added the now slightly cooled chicken pieces, drizzled a mysterious
liquid over the chicken and for a final flourish threw a handful of cashews on
top of each salad as a garnish. “ Wa-lah , my famous
chicken and cashew honey mustard salad.” He handed her a plate and fork,
taking a swig from his own soda as he took up a standing position across the
kitchen bench from her and commenced digging into his own salad.
To say Hadleigh was a little stunned
would be an understatement. She didn’t think a man had ever gone to the trouble
of cooking a meal for her. Even Declan was a disaster in the kitchen, barely
managing edible sandwiches when it was his turn to organise a meal.
“Thanks, this looks wonderful.”
She dug in, more to give herself the opportunity to look away from those
intense dark gold eyes of his which seemed lit from behind with avid interest.
“You don’t talk much?” He commented.
“I’m lousy at small talk. Lucky for
me that’s not why you hired me.”
“Which raises a question, where did
you learn to move like that?”
“Mostly my Dad, he’s been training
me since I could walk to work in the family business.”
“What’s the family business?”
Hadleigh paused for a moment.
“Security.”
“Did you enjoy the work?”
“Still do … I’m just taking a break
for a month or so.”
“So you’ll only be with us short
term?” Vaughn’s tone was neutral but there was an edge to it that Hadleigh
couldn’t quite interpret.
“Yeah, I hope that’s okay. My … Aunt
is a huge fan of the show. She was concerned when she read online about
Serena’s departure and asked me to take some holiday time and see if I couldn’t
help your show make it through the season.”
“You must really love your Aunt.”
Hadleigh couldn’t help but laugh out
loud. “Actually to tell you the truth I’m slightly terrified of her.”
Vaughn froze, it was the first time
he had seen her laugh and it was all he could do not to launch himself
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