10. Ivy #3
“So I’m supposed to believe you fell in love with me in just a few days?” I confront him, going for the jugular.
Vaughn chuckles, his ears turning red.
“Wow, I didn’t think you’d be cutthroat about it.”
“You thought I was na?ve and easy to fool.”
“Not at all,” he rushes to placate me. “I just… I’ve never felt this way before. You don’t strike me as the type of girl who does things for a casual reason. You look like you live your life with your heart leading the way. How can you get in a marriage without being loved back?”
Being loved back?
Does he know?
“Listen Vaughn…” I start, but to my surprise he holds up and steps back.
“No, if you’re going to reject me from a mile away, then I reject your rejection,” he says seriously, making me chuckle.
“Is that how it works?”
“You heard the explanation of my Family. We don’t do normal.”
“Apparently so,” I say, with a slight smile. “But seriously, Vaughn… no offense, but I just need some time to gather myself and on that, I should thank you for pushing back the deadline.”
“And…” he prompts.
I look up at his oh-so handsome face, and I can’t help but smile for real this time.
“ And I’m going to be very honest with you. I’m not in the frame of heart or mind to find something in me to return your sincerity.”
I expect him to be disappointed but instead, his smile widens, his dark eyes looking like they have stars in them.
“Ivy, you don’t have to do anything or work to reciprocate my intention,” he says as if amused by my silliness. “These next two weeks, I’ll win you over! I’ll heal your heartbreak!”
And there it is! Confirmation of my suspicion that Vaughn does know.
“What?”
Vaughn only smiles slightly. “It’s hard not to notice when those eyes show annals of history between you and my cousin. Everything you feel for him is so clearly displayed in your eyes whenever he’s mentioned.”
I gasp, like I’ve just been sucker punched.
“That’s an exaggeration,” I mutter, feeling awkward once again.
“Maybe, but I do notice things.”
I chuckle humorlessly, feeling embarrassed. “Then aren’t you worried that I’ll accept your cousin’s advances?”
“Not really.”
“Confident much?”
“I just have a hunch about the kind of person you are.” He smirks. “Which brings me to a decision I made that won’t be changed in this lifetime.”
“What decision?” I ask hesitantly.
Vaughn looks down at me, maintaining some serious eye contact.
All the Easton kids I’ve met so far have the same resilience of steel, natural confidence, and major aura, but that still does not prepare me for the brazen words Vaughn says next.
“Ivy, use me.”
“What?” I screech, stepping back from him.
What did he just say?
“You heard me. Use me,” Vaughn says. “I don’t know what you want to do or why, and I don’t need to know. I’m offering myself, my resources, and everything in my power to you. Use me as a knife, a shield, a canon. Do whatever you want to do, what you need to do, through me.”
It’s as if the entire ground is shaking. I don’t even know what to say.
“It doesn’t matter what. Even if it’s to make my cousin suffer, I’ll help.”
“Can you make your cousin suffer?” I question seriously.
“Just because no one has dared to in the past, doesn’t mean this time is the same.” A hard glint flashes in his eyes as he speaks. “My cousin has lost favor with Grandfather. He’s isolated within the core of the Family. His day has come.”
My heart kicks and thunders in my chest with a hard beat that almost takes my breath away.
What does that even mean that his day has come?
“So you don’t have to worry about retaliation. I’ll make sure it never happens, so from now on, I’m yours to use.”
All I can do as I stare at Vaughn as the blood in my veins starts a riot.
I think my jaw is on the ground and at any second, a violent wind is going to sweep the soul that just left my body away to Antarctica or something.
Vaughn smirks slightly then he takes a step closer to me, but he doesn’t crowd me in.
He leans down to whisper in my ear.
“You told me you don’t want to be anyone’s puppet,” he starts softly. “So let me be the puppet and you be the puppet master.”
Vaughn straightens, with a wolflike grin on his handsome face.
“He’s not capable of giving you what you desire, but I can give it to you on a silver platter.”
I must look like a cartoon character from the way I mutely stand there and blink, as my mind races.
“See you soon. Dress to the nines!”
“Wait, what? Why?” I call after him as he turns to leave. “Am I meeting your family tonight?”
“Not yet. Right now, I need to go handle something I’ve been working on for years.
When I’m done, I’m taking you out for a celebratory dinner,” he says with confidence and a hint of mirth.
“After tonight, you and I will have enough time to get to know each other, so when you do make your decision, I know it’ll be what you want. ”
A celebratory dinner?
What’s happening tonight and why do I feel like whatever’s happening is targeted at Emmett?
Something horrible is about to happen… Do I warn him?
He owes me a baby!