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Now she was mad at me

I watched the porch door slam behind her as I stared up at the inn from the boards, my suitcase by my side

I should leave

I knew it

But tucked into e was apparently due back in town at the end of the week

What the hell I was going to do until then I had no clue

I’d have to find somewhere cheap to stay because cash floas kind of a problem

And it turned out news traveled really fast

Walking down the boardwalk, suitcase in hand, trying to figure out what to do, I saw Iris opening up Antonio’s and I waved to her

She glowered at me, stuck her chin in the air, and turned her back on me

Hurt, I almost stumbled over my own feet

“What did you do?”

I jerked hn inout of nowhere

“Huh?”

“Well, even I get a hello out of Iris” He smirked at me “What did you do?”

“Cooper and I broke up last night”

He raised an eyebrow “And you’re still here? Everyone will know by tonight”

“II can’t leave just yet” My mouth trembled as I tried to hold in my tears I’d already cried h I cleared e Beckwith As soon as he gets here, that gets done and I’ll be gone” To what and whereI had no idea

Vaughn scrutinized me for a moment and then his eyes dropped to my suitcase He frowned “Miss Hartwell kicked you out?”

I heard the disbelief in his voice “No I left She’s pretty ht now”

He looked at ?”

It occurred to ood idea about local rates “Do you knohere the nicest but cheapest place is?”

He made a face “Ouch, no time for pride, huh?”

“If you’re going to be an asshole, get out of my way”

Vaughn chuckled “I’ an asshole I’ve justI’ve been there”

“Oh, I’m sure with all of your money, you’ve been there Yeah, I can see that”

He tskedto help”

“By s at me about my lack of pride?”

“No” He stepped closer to lacial superiority “You can stay at my place”

I shookon the boardwalk” I didn’t want to chance bu into Cooper

“My place, not my hotel And my place isn’t on the boardwalk It’s on the outskirts of town”

Confused by his generous offer, I said suspiciously, “Why?”

“I spend hts inempty”

“But why? Why are you helping me?”

My question made him look away He stared out at the water “Let’s just say I knohat it’s like to be the heartbreaker, the villain”

I sucked in a breath at the label “How do you know I broke up with Cooper; that it wasn’t hi?”

Finally Vaughn looked back at me The shrewdness in his eyes had never unsettled me more “Because any fool can see he’s in love with you”

I winced

“Doesn’t o”

“When the woo unless she wants to leave”

I surveyed him, happy to be distracted fro from experience?”

“Didn’t I just say I was the heartbreaker?”

“That doesn’t answer my question”

“Do you want a free place to stay or not?”

I thought about it It would be incredibly helpful not to have to pay for accommodation Plus, he’d said his house was on the outskirts It sounded far enough away from town to be perfect “Yes Thank you”

“Where is your car?”

My car

Right

“Oh U lot”

“So you’re wandering on the boardwalk, why?”

Feeling sheepish, I shrugged “I wasn’t thinking”

Sohn’s features “You sure you’re up for driving?”

“Yes” I nodded quickly “Honestly, I’m fine”

“Well, a bigger lie you’ve never told,” he said dryly and then gestured over his shoulder with his thu lot You can follow me out to the house”

“Okay”

He gaveaway

“Vaughn!”

He stilled, shooting me a look over his shoulder

I sed past a new lump of emotion in my throat “Thank you”

If I wasn’t hn Tremaine looked uncomfortable with my thanks He made no reply and instead just walked away

Some of my worries eased, I turned around to head back down the boardwalk toin her doorway, ar at me

She was probably wondering what I was doing talking to Vaughn

I didn’t atte it wouldn’t be welcome he was mad at me