One Christmas Wish by Brenda Jackson

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ON SUNDAYEVENINGVaughn parked behind the Green Fig. The backside of the building was larger than he’d expected. She had a driveway with a few spots for parking. The rest of the outdoor space was fenced off and converted into a yard for her goddaughter. It was grassy, with flower beds and a play area that included a swing set, a tall slide and a seesaw.

He walked up the steps and there were two back doors. One had the name of the restaurant painted on it and a sign that said the entry was for employees and deliveries. The other was a regular exterior door that was solid and painted a light shade of blue with a transom window above it.

He rang the doorbell and waited with his arms full of gifts for the ladies, more than a little anxious to see Sierra again. He hadn’t arrived back in Catalina Cove until late last night after having spent the last couple days in Baton Rouge to support the passage of an important bill needed to protect the waterways. The vote had been close but the bill had passed nonetheless.

Although this section of town was a couple of blocks from the gulf, a cool breeze permeated with the scent of the ocean ruffled his clothes. This was the type of day you would want to go out in your boat and enjoy the beauty of the waterways and gulf.

The door opened and he pulled in a deep breath when Sierra appeared. He had missed her and now seeing her made that realization more profound. “Hello, Sierra.”

“Hello, Vaughn. Welcome back to the cove. Come in.”

He stepped inside the cozy entryway. He saw Teryn, who was wearing a pretty yellow dress, peek out from behind Sierra with a huge smile on her face. “Hello, Mr. Vaughn.”

Vaughn smiled, surprised the little girl had remembered him. “And hello to you, Teryn.”

He turned his attention to Sierra. “These are for you.” He handed her a large vase filled with fresh flowers. Then to Teryn, he leaned down to her level and handed her a smaller version of the flowers he’d given Sierra. Instead of a vase, her flowers were in a beautiful wicker basket.

“And these are for you, Teryn.”

The little girl’s eyes lit up and she grinned happily as she took the flowers. “They are so pretty. Thank you.”

“Thanks for my flowers as well,” Sierra said when Vaughn straightened back up to his full height. “Our apartment is this way.” She turned to lead him toward the stairs.

He tried not to recall he’d been up these stairs before. That night last week when he had carried Sierra up to her apartment and placed her, fully clothed, on her bed before leaving.

“I can get up the stairs faster than you and Goddy, Mr. Vaughn.”

Vaughn’s attention was brought back to the present as Teryn laughingly raced up the stairs ahead of them.

“Be careful, Teryn, and remember what I’ve told you about running up the stairs.”

The little girl slowed down immediately. Vaughn smiled when he saw that although she was no longer rushing up the stairs, she was taking them two at a time, which put her way ahead of them anyway.

Sierra smiled over her shoulder at him. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with her.”

Vaughn returned the smile and said, “You’re going to do just what you’re doing now. Love her and continue to take good care of her.”

“Thanks.” She quickly broke eye contact with him and continued up the stairs.

He walked behind her, trying not to notice the sway of her hips. She was wearing a pair of mauve-colored slacks and a pretty light pink blouse. He thought the color combination looked good on her and the perfume she was wearing smelled nice.

Although she had smiled when she opened the door, he had not missed the fact that she’d avoided eye contact with him as much as she could. She came across as a little unsure of how they should interact after the other night. It was important to him that she still feel comfortable with him and know that what happened was nothing for her to be self-conscious about.

“Welcome to our home, Vaughn,” Sierra said when they reached the landing.

He hadn’t really noticed how big the place was the night he’d come up here to put her in bed. He’d left right after he put her down. Now he was really getting a view, and the place was spacious.

The living room had a comfortable-looking sofa, a wingback chair, coffee table and several potted plants. There was a huge bay window that would have given her a glimpse of the gulf, if the view wasn’t blocked by other buildings.

He was certain if you stood in a particular spot and looked between two of the buildings, you could see a bit of the water. He liked the decor. She had selected a seaside theme with ocean colors and a misty gray. On one of the tables sat a ceramic bowl filled with seashells.

He looked over at Sierra, with Teryn standing by her side. It was as if both were curious about what he thought of their home. “This place is amazing.”

“It’s beautiful,” Teryn said, as if her words could describe it better.

“Yes, it is beautiful,” he agreed.

“Thanks,” Sierra said, grinning. “The prior owner used the upstairs as a place for storage. I decided it would be perfect for me and Teryn. I had it remodeled into a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath apartment. It has this living room and a spacious eat-in kitchen with a window that looks down into Teryn’s play yard. My sister is an interior designer and pulled everything together for me. I told her the theme I wanted and she went from there.”

“She did an outstanding job. I love the colors and it’s beautiful how everything flows together.”

“Come see my room, Mr. Vaughn,” Teryn said and tugged his hand to pull him toward a room off the living room. Her bedroom was clearly a little girl’s room and reminded him of how Zara’s bedroom once looked.

“I’m going to put my flowers right here,” Teryn said, placing the basket of flowers on her dresser next to a huge stuffed animal. “Where are you going to put your flowers, Goddy?”

Vaughn turned to Sierra, who was standing in the doorway still holding her vase of flowers. “I’m not sure, Teryn. Where do you think I should put them?”

“Right in here,” the little girl said, racing past Sierra and out of the room. Sierra followed and so did Vaughn. They entered Sierra’s bedroom. Vaughn’s attention was immediately drawn to the king-size bed he’d put her on that night. It had looked so warm and inviting—and still did. He liked the colors of chocolate and lime green in here. Walking over to the window he noted there was a better view of the sea, one that wasn’t obstructed by buildings.

“You’re right, Teryn. This is the perfect place,” she said, quickly setting the vase on her dresser and turning to leave. It was as if the two of them in her bedroom made her nervous.

She showed him the guest bedroom, which had a beachy theme of ocean blue and white. The bedspread had a print of seashells with matching curtains. Then, they returned to the living room.

“How was your trip, Vaughn?” Sierra asked, as she and Teryn settled on the sofa.

Vaughn sat across from them in the wingback chair. “It was productive. An important bill shippers needed to get passed seemed in limbo last week. It was imperative we reminded a few politicians why it was important, not only to the cove but other waterways in Louisiana, to get that bill passed.”

“We’re eating chicken today,” Teryn said, as if to make certain she was included in the conversation.

“We are?” he asked her, smiling.

“Yes, and I helped Goddy make it. We also made a cake.”

“What kind of cake did you make?” he asked.

“Chocolate. That’s my favorite.”

He grinned. “That’s my favorite, too.” Then he asked, “Whose idea was it for the blue front door?”

Teryn excitedly raised her hand. “Mine! It’s blue for my mommy and daddy. They’re in heaven, way beyond the blue sky,” she said, spreading out her arms. “So I asked Goddy if we could have a blue door the color of the sky.”

Sierra stood. “I’m sure you have a lot to do today, so we can go ahead and eat now,” she said.

Vaughn figured Teryn’s words probably left Sierra a little emotional. “Where can I wash up?” he asked, standing as well.

“There’s a bathroom down that hall,” she said, pointing.

“Thanks.”

SIERRAHOPEDBYthe time Vaughn returned she would have regained her composure. When he appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, she hadn’t. He stood there with his shoulder leaning against the doorjamb. He had removed his leather jacket and the entire package he presented was too good to ignore. It was hard to take her eyes off him. Everything fit. Almost too well. His button-up shirt and the pair of jeans he wore... She’d never admired the fit of jeans on a man more than on Vaughn. The denim stretched perfectly across a pair of taut thighs.

“Need my help with anything?”

She blinked, realizing he’d spoken to her. She nervously licked her lips. “Anything like what?”

“Anything,” he said in a deep, husky voice. “I even know how to set the table.”

“I’m doing that.”

They both turned to look across the room at Teryn. For a moment, Sierra had forgotten she was in the kitchen with them, busily setting the table and having fun doing it. “Teryn’s got that covered, but if you’d like, you can open that bottle of wine.”

“Sure.”

He crossed the kitchen to the counter and she watched every step he took, unable to pry her eyes away. She quickly pushed a strand of hair out of her face and blew out a deep breath. This kitchen had grown hotter in just a few seconds, and she knew why.

Other than an occasional repairman, Vaughn was the first man who’d taken up space in her kitchen since she’d moved in here. And she had to remember why he was here. He had gotten a huge promotion at work and she had invited him here to celebrate...as an alternative to them going out.

Inviting him here was just a simple way of showing him how happy she was for him. That’s what friends do for each other, and she considered him a friend. She pushed aside the thought that suddenly flared through her mind, that what had happened between them the other night in her office was not something “friends” would do.

As if he felt her staring at him, he glanced up from opening the wine and met her gaze. Immediately, a surge of sexual energy passed between them and caught her; she had to fight back a groan. She was aware of him in every part of her body. She didn’t want this. She didn’t need this, but at the moment, she couldn’t fight it.

“How does it look, Goddy and Mr. Vaughn?”

Sierra snatched her attention from him to Teryn, who was excited with how she had set the table. Swallowing, Sierra said, “I think it looks beautiful.”

“And I think it looks beautiful, too,” Vaughn said.

Sierra watched as Teryn’s smile widened, and she felt good knowing what a happy child her goddaughter was. The flowers Vaughn had brought for her and Teryn were a nice gesture and had made Teryn even happier. She appreciated his kindness in that regard.

Drawing in a deep breath, she said, “I’m ready to serve dinner, if everyone will be seated.”