He’d been busy staring off into space, lost in thought. Now, however, he blinked repeatedly, slowly looking me over. Even though I’d seen him naked, being in front of him in my flouncy lingerie had me hesitating. So stupid. Much too late in the day for me to be getting embarrassed. On the plus side, the corset turned my extra flesh into a fabulous hourglass. Something Vaughan definitely seemed to notice. I wasn’t seeking any sexy times. Though, some honest male appreciation for my womanly assets felt nice. Onward and upward and all that.
“I tried to clean up the bathroom a little,” I said, pulling out a seat. “Hung my dress up to dry.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks for the coffee.”
“No worries,” he said in a gruff voice. “Hope you take it black. I haven’t been here for a while so there’s no sugar or creamer.”
“Black’s fine.” I took a cautious sip of the brew. Ah, coffee. My one true friend (beside vodka). There must have been some beans hiding in the freezer, because it wasn’t half bad. I’d have suffered through a cup of crappy instant; it was nice not to have to, however. Small pleasures mattered. “That tastes amazing.”
A grunt.
With caffeine pumping through me, I started to feel more myself. Less Miss Havisham sitting in her tattered dress and more modern capable woman. I shook off the shit, sat up a little straighter.
“Vaughan, I really am sorry about all of this, dumping my problems on you.”
“I know.” He didn’t meet my eyes due to still noticing my assets. Maybe he’d zoned out, what with being so tired, and that just happened to be in the vicinity where he’d been looking when it happened.
“It bears repeating. You’ve been great about it, really.”
Another grunt.
Had to admit, curiosity filled me about this man. Wonder what he was like when he wasn’t sleep deprived and dealing with a trespassing runaway bride. Was he the sort of person who smiled a little or a lot? I couldn’t tell. For someone who made her living reading people and talking them into buying big houses, today I officially knew shit.
“You didn’t even get to have your shower,” I said.
A one-shoulder shrug. “Later.”
“I promise after I finish this coffee, I’ll get out of your way.”
“No rush.” Still no eye contact.
I shifted in my seat.
He really was appealing in his way. His lips were neither thick nor thin. Just nice. It would be good to see them curved in a smile. To know I hadn’t entirely trashed his day with my drama.
“This really is a lovely house,” I said. “You don’t spend much time here?”
“No.”
“Shame.”
Maybe he’d been all talked out and didn’t want a conversation. Fine by me. But I don’t think that’s what was going on. He’d zoned out, all right. I highly doubt it was due to tiredness, however.
I cocked my head, studying him. “Vaughan?”
“Yeah?”
“Nice weather we’re having, isn’t it?”
“Great.”
“It is. It’s so great,” I enthused. “Love the weather.”
Handsome face blank of expression, his fingers remained curled unmoving around his half-full cup of coffee. If it wasn’t for his monosyllable responses and the whole chest moving with each breath thing, I’d have wondered if the man had croaked. And it wasn’t my makeup-smeared face or crazily knotted hair he was gawking at. In fact, I don’t believe he ever got that far.
Seemed my would-have-been-neighbor was a tit man.
I have to admit my Elomi bridal lingerie was exquisite. I’d been so certain it would wow Chris, spur him into some post-matrimonial lustfulness. What a joke. A strap-on might have been a better idea.
“I just wanted to say thanks again for being so understanding about all this,” I said.
“Sure,” he told my boobs.
“You’ve been great.”
“Mm.”
“Other people wouldn’t have been so understanding.”
“Assholes,” he said, lips pressed tight in disapproval. I’m sure my breasts appreciated his support immensely.
I drank my coffee, waiting for him to get bored of them. And then I waited some more. Wasn’t happening. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, the only sound in the room. While I couldn’t claim innocence regarding his groin, at least I hadn’t gawked at him to this degree. I’d been discreet(ish).
“Vaughan?”
Nostrils flared on a deep breath. “Huh?”
“You’re staring.”
“What?”
“My breasts.” I waved a hand around the pertinent parts of my anatomy. Though I’m reasonably certain he already knew where they were. “These things, Vaughan. The baby feeders and pillows of sin. You’re staring at them.”
His startled gaze jumped to my face.
“I wouldn’t mention it, but it’s been a while now and I’m beginning to get a little uncomfortable.”
“Shit,” he muttered, as realization hit. He turned his face away.
“Don’t get me wrong. Since you’re probably the only one who’ll ever see me in this, it’s kind of nice to see some appreciation. But yeah, getting awkward.”
“Sorry, Lydia.”
“It’s okay.” I tried to hold back a smile. Tried.
Brows drawn down, he concentrated good and hard on drinking his coffee. “Didn’t realize I was doing that.”
“It’s fine. You like boobs. I get it,” I said, inspecting the girls. “They are kind of out there in this corset.”
“Yeah.”
“And to be fair, I did see you in all your glory not so long ago.”