Scandalous by Donna Hill Page B

caressed her cheek. “There’s so much more that I want to offer you, Vaughn,” he said passionately. “I want you to believe that—always.”
    â€œI do, Justin,” Vaughn whispered urgently. She placed a feather-light kiss on his palm. “I do.”
    Â 
    The cozy townhouse was filled with the tangy aroma of simmering seafood. The sensuous sounds of Sarah Vaughn mingled with the tantalizing scent.
    â€œIf this tastes half as good as it smells,” Justin said, adding a cup of diced mushrooms to the wild rice, “you’ll have my vote for life.”
    â€œWell, if that’s all it takes to get elected, I’d better get busy whipping up a batch for the voters.”
    Justin stroked her back as she sliced the tomatoes, and cucumbers, then sprinkled chopped sweet peppers as garnish. “We can eat in about ten minutes.”
    â€œGreat. I don’t think I can take the anticipation a moment longer. My stomach is calling out to me,” he chuckled. “Loudly.”
    Vaughn smiled sympathetically. “Why don’t you go in the living room and relax a minute? I have everything under control in here.”
    â€œAre you sure? I don’t mind.”
    â€œTake advantage of being a guest. This is your last time. From here on out, it’s equal work for equal food,” she teased. Vaughn smiled, her eyes reflecting her hopes for their future.
    â€œI like the sound of that.” Justin pecked her playfully behind her ear and headed for the living room.
    From his position on the couch, Justin could see Vaughn’s movements in the kitchen. It gave him a warm feeling of security inside. It had been so long since he’d had a real home-cooked meal, and even longer since he’d shared it with someone who mattered to him. He’d enjoyed being married, although it had been short-lived. He liked the whole notion of having someone to share your life, your dreams, your emotions with. He wanted it again. He wanted the chance to start over, to make a new life and have a family. He wanted that chance with Vaughn. And if by some miracle he ever found his daughter, he couldn’t think of any other woman he’d want to share that joy with.
    â€œDinner is served,” Vaughn announced in an exaggerated accent.
    â€œHey, that’s a pretty good imitation of the staid English butler,” Justin chuckled, pushing himself up off the couch.
    â€œI try. But I think you have me beaten with Dracula.”
    Justin smiled and took his place at the table. Vaughn had, at some point, lit a scented centerpiece which gave the room the soft scent of jasmine.
    â€œLet’s forget formalities,” Vaughn said suddenly, the shimmer of mischief dancing around her lips. “Just dig in. Last one to empty his plate gets to do the dishes!”
    â€œYou’re on,” Justin challenged, and commenced to filling his plate with wild rice and topping it with a huge portion of the delectable casserole, drowning it in sauce. He added a heaping bowl of garden salad and snatched three slices of bread before Vaughn could wink.
    She laughed out loud and shook her head in amazement as she watched Justin plow through his plate of food.
    He looked up innocently, the fork suspended between his mouth and the plate. “I never back down from a challenge,” he stated simply, and proceeded to finish off his plate of food.
    The scrumptious meal was interrupted periodically only by brief comments on the state of the world, the weather, the concert they were missing, and their mutual interest in sports. Justin was careful to steer clear of anything too personal, or the reason why she’d wanted to speak with him. He felt confident that she would reveal what was troubling her as soon as she was ready. If there was one thing he’d learned about her, it was that Vaughn couldn’t be pushed into anything.
    Finally, Justin took a defeated breath and pushed back from