A quick intake of breath and wide stare. The corners of her mouth drooped. Damn, it was amazing how quickly he could step in the manure. Like he was going for accuracyandspeed.
He touched her shoulder, stopping her as she shrugged out of her white coat. "My bad. Stupid thing to say. Sorry."
"All right." She didn't offer an explanation, and it wasn't his business to ask for one.
When she hung the white coat on a hook behind the door, the flash of her work slacks and blouse on her petite frame distracted him from his frustrating thoughts of the past and instead grounded him firmly in the present. The definition of disappointment was when a thick wool coat hid her from view again.
"Ready?" She paused and glanced at him before she grabbed a pile of papers. Some slipped to the floor. Did her hands shake as she picked up the papers and replaced them on the desk? Not that it mattered to him.
"Of course." He motioned for her to precede him out the back door of the clinic.
In the dark, empty lot, he scanned the surrounding area, senses on alert. His gift flared again, and he didn't fight it, bracing against the headache and unclenching a fist as the ability reached out. Something dangerous had to be out here, but what? Maybe his power had gone haywire, like how Shelby and Garrison's abilities had changed. Would he end up in a coma, like his sister, if his power shifted enough?
Mariah's key beeped to unlock that stupid mini Cooper. He peeked inside the open front door and groaned, imagining his knees up to his chest in the seat.
She tossed her satchel into the passenger seat and turned back around.
"So, interested in another try for a meal together?" The words burst out of him.
Dark brows flew up, and she sucked in a breath. "You sure? Because... things were a bit..."
Right. He had been a real prince.
Damn it, this woman wasn't like the others. She wasn't out to use him and betray him like his sister-in-law. Wouldn't get to know him because of his connections. Vaughn needed to deal with his past mistakes, move on, and quit taking out his gun-shy state on Mariah. Starting now.
"Have I mentioned that I'm sorry?"
"Yes, about three minutes ago. Hey, people have bad days, especially when someone they love is ill. I get it." The quick grip of her hand on his arm meant more to him than he cared to admit.
"Would you be interested in the bagels and coffee idea I originally proposed after our run-in with Wyatt Brand?"
She took a breath, making her coat fabric shush. When she exhaled, a plume of vapor drifted up into the cold night.
"So?"
"Oh." Crossing her arms, she leaned a hip against the edge of the vehicle. "I could go for a bagel and coffee. Any snack, really."
The woman had thrown him a golden opportunity.Don't mess it up. "Well, I didn't want to be too forward with food choices."
"Bagelsarepretty extravagant." Her scrunched nose made his heart flop. "Hope you're a big spender, because I might get an everything bagel. Oh, and if it's your treat, I'll definitely order super fancy coffee."
The breath he had been holding finally released. He could play along. "Hold on a minute. We might need a spending limit on the drinks." What the actual hell? Vaughn attempting to flirt was like watching a grizzly bear perform ballet.
"All right, then. Fine. Super duper fancy coffee and bagel can wait until another time. I'll stick with the basics." Was that a flush on her cheeks or a response to the cold air? Hard to tell with the parking lot lighting.
"It's a deal." Hell, he'd buy her imported Irish coffee where the plant grew only on the shady side of the hills and was picked by left-handed leprechauns, if that's what she wanted.
"How about tonight?" she asked.
Damn it. Bad enough that he had to miss training time to be here with Shelby today, but he also had to avoid eating junk like bagels and sugary coffee. He still had another ten pounds to lose by Friday night. Even thinking about it made his stomach growl.
"Sorry, no."
"Tomorrow night?"
"Um, can't."
"How about Friday?"
