Chapter 24
24
HOPE
T he next morning, I found Daphne in the kitchen.
She sipped her coffee and almost choked when Vaughn and I exited the hallway at the same time.
I grabbed two mugs and headed for the coffee machine. “It’s not what it looks like.” Except it kind of was. I jerked my chin toward Vaughn and poured the first cup. “This one takes his job way too seriously and camped on the floor of my room.”
Daphne nodded like she approved of the arrangement and bit into a slice of toast. Thankfully, she was a heavy sleeper, and her room was at the other end of the house; otherwise, she’d have heard us.
Dee took in Vaughn’s disheveled hair and clothes. “Sleep well?”
“No.” He leaned against the counter and folded one ankle over the other. “I don’t really sleep all that much anyway.”
I handed him a coffee, and he stared straight at my tits. Probably should’ve changed out of my pajamas or at least put on a bra.
Peeking inside the cooler bag on the counter, I found it full of medicines and vaccines. “Going somewhere?”
Daphne dusted crumbs from her fingers. “There’s been a measles outbreak in a couple of inland villages.”
About once a month, Dee made road trips to remote towns, allowing people and their pets to receive treatment without having to travel the long distance to the nearest clinic. She covered all the costs herself, and I figured this was her way of making peace with her past mistakes. While she was gone, I stayed and looked after the pack. When she returned, it was always with a half dozen new strays and plenty of stories about what had been happening in the villages.
“How long will you be gone?” I asked.
“Four or five days.” Dee rinsed her plate in the sink. “Don’t forget Enrique’s coming by later in the week to build the new cages. There’s money in the coffee tin if he needs to buy extra materials.”
We were expanding the rescue to accommodate more strays. It was heartbreaking when we had to turn dogs away, but with the new cages, we could take a few more.
Vaughn bristled at the mention of Enrique. “I don’t want him working here.”
“Why not?” I asked. “We need those cages installed before Dee returns with more dogs.”
He sipped his coffee. “He’s a risk. How well do you really know him?”
“Well enough to know you’re overreacting. And if you can’t protect me from one man who’s never caused any trouble in Playa de la Palmera, then why are you even here?”
Grim resembled a statue as he glowered at me, nostrils flaring. This wasn’t about Enrique posing a threat. Vaughn was jealous. I shouldn’t enjoy stirring him up so much, but what had happened between us last night didn’t give him the right to act possessive.
Vaughn’s serious expression cracked, and he smiled with mock sweetness. “You know what? Maybe it’s a good thing he’ll be spending some time here. I can get to know him better.”
By get to know him better , I imagined he meant intimidate the crap out of my friend. For one reason or another, he’d had it in for Enrique from the get-go.
I stabbed a finger toward his smug face. “No, you won’t.”
He shrugged. “You can’t have it both ways, Gatita. Either keep him away from me or don’t.”
Vaughn’s phone rang. He checked the screen, then moved outside to take the call.
Daphne braced one hand on her hip. “Would you rather I stayed home with everything that’s going on?”
“No. You go.” I watched Vaughn through the window. “I’ll be fine.”
She gave me a confused look. “I can’t figure out if you kids are getting along or not.”
I scrunched up my nose. “I suppose he’s all right when he’s not being a dick.”
Dee smirked. “The prince of darkness is sleeping in your room now?”
“Don’t start.” I held up my hand.
“I didn’t say anything.” She didn’t need to, though, because my crazy redheaded housemate limped her way from the room, whistling the opening chords to Ginuwine’s “Pony.”
Titan nudged my hand with his snout, so I gave him a pat. “Don’t you start, either. I already know what you think of him.”
The sliding door opened, and Vaughn entered while returning the phone to his back pocket. “That was my brother, Owen. Told him I don’t need him after all.”
I folded my arms and nodded. “Good.”
“Now, how can I help with the dogs?”
I blinked a few times before responding. “You want to share the morning chores?”
“Did you think I’d sit around and watch while you do all the work?”
Actually, yeah. I still wondered if this was some trick and at any second he’d laugh in my face and spend the next hour making fun of me as I shoveled shit and cleaned cages.
I pointed outside. “You can start by mucking out the pens and giving the dogs fresh water.”
“I can do that.” Vaughn nodded. “Come on. Get dressed so we can start.” He clapped his hands, prompting me to guzzle the last of my coffee and follow his orders.
After changing into a pair of cutoff denim shorts and an old T-shirt, I worked side by side with Vaughn, going through my morning tasks. He even helped by applying eye ointment to Daisy and repairing the door hinges on one of the pens. Frankly, it surprised me that we worked together so well.
Jobs completed, Vaughn and I took the more energetic dogs to the beach for exercise. It was sweet how he gave each of the pack some love, doing his best to remember their names and telling them they were all good boys and girls. Seeing Vaughn so relaxed and carefree around the dogs made something tighten in my chest. He might be a jerk to people, but his kindness to animals made me think a little less harshly of him. Maybe if I’d been through whatever he had, I’d be bitter with humanity, too.
When we reached yesterday’s swim spot, I stopped and asked, “Are you coming in?”
Vaughn wore an uncomfortable expression. “I’ll sit this one out.”
“That’s a shame.” I stripped out of my T-shirt and shorts, leaving myself in only a red triangle bikini. The two-piece made my boobs look huge and left little to the imagination. “Who’s going to save me if I get another cramp?”