Page 51 of The Breakdown

“I do. And I’ve shared my knowledge, trust me. What they’ll do with that knowledge, I can’t say.”

“Well, hopefully they’ll give the case to someone other than the cousin.”

“One can hope.”

“Is that even ethical? To investigate a relative?”

“I don’t know. But it didn’t seem to scare him away from the case.”

“I would complain, Vaughn. That just doesn’t sound right.”

“I did.”

“Good.”

“But now I fear I’ve got another man upset with me. A man who has influence in these parts. I might end up regretting complaining.”

“Let’s hope not.”

Thunder boomed loudly and Natalie startled. “Maybe we’d better go inside.” She stood and lightning flashed directly overhead and another crack of thunder came, along with a downpour of cold rain. She and Vaughn hurried into the bungalow, closing the door behind them.

“Is it me or did that come really quickly?” Vaughn asked. “Or was I just too preoccupied today to notice all the buildup?”

“You had a lot on your plate.”

“I did, didn’t I?”

Natalie set her mug on the kitchen counter. “You most definitely did.” She welcomed Vaughn farther inside. “I’ll go get us some towels.” She breezed into the bathroom and returned with two towels. She handed one to Vaughn and busied drying herself with the other. Then she grabbed her cup of tea and led the way into the cozy living room. “Please, have a seat.”

Natalie sat in the leather armchair as Vaughn stood awkwardly next to the couch, holding her mug as well as her towel and her hat. “I don’t know. I should probably get back to Miracle. I don’t want her to be alone tonight. Not after all she’s been through.”

Natalie stood, placing her mug on the small side table. She felt panicked and spoke quickly. “No, don’t go. Not yet.”

Vaughn looked confused. Natalie explained.

“You always…leave. We never really get a chance to talk.”

“I have things to do. A ranch to run.”

“I know,” Natalie said as she walked to her. “But it seems like it’s more than that. It seems like you avoid me.”

Vaughn stared at her in silence, her hands going slack by her side. She noticed that she was spilling her tea onto the dark tile and she hurriedly righted the mug and apologized. “I’m sorry. Here, I’ll clean it up.” She knelt to dry up the spill with her towel, pushing her hat aside on the tile, but Natalie knelt too, stopping her.

“It’s okay,” she said.

“No, it’s not. I should’ve been paying more attention.” She wiped at the spill as if she’d spilled nuclear waste. Natalie, this time, stopped her by gripping her hand securely in her own.

“Vaughn. It’s okay. Really. It’s just tea.”

Vaughn stopped and looked into her eyes. Natalie felt her breath catch as she searched the windows of her soul. What she saw there both awed and fascinated her. Love, loss, desire, all of it brimming and swirling together in a hurricane of fear and confusion. She reached out, wanting to quell that inner storm. She grazed her cheek with her fingertips. Whispered to her.

“Vaughn. It’s okay.” She drew closer. Touched her lips, shared her breath. She closed her eyes, pressed into her, against her, their lips caressing. Lightly, deftly, like the touch of a feather, both of them so tentative, like they were afraid to even breathe.

Natalie grew dizzy, both from the feel of Vaughn’s warm lips, and from the lack of oxygen from holding her breath. She trembled as she reached up and held Vaughn’s face. Trembled again as she felt Vaughn shake and inhale a quick, shaky breath.

“Natalie,” she whispered and the kiss deepened, Vaughn parting her lips to tug on Natalie’s. Natalie responded by doing the same, tasting Vaughn fervently, feverishly, clinging to her shirt with her hands. They stood, fused together, feeding, dying of thirst for one another. Vaughn pulled her closer, tightly against her and moaned into her. “Natalie,” she said again.

“Oh, Vaughn,” Natalie breathed as Vaughn attached herself to the sensitive skin of her neck. Natalie leaned back in offering, giving herself completely, melting beneath her hot and hungry mouth. Vaughn grabbed her hips and lifted her with ease and led them onto the couch, where she lay Natalie down and crawled atop her.