Book 1 - Page 46 (1/2)
A sneaking suspicion niggled at me. ”You planned it. You planted the story.”
”Not entirely true,” he said smoothly. ”The photographer happened to be there. I just gave him a picture worth printing, and told PR to make it clear who you are and what you are to me.”
”Why? Why would you do that?”
”You have your way of dealing with jealousy and I have mine. We're both off the market and now everyone knows it. Why is that a problem for you?”
”I was worried about your reaction, but there's more...There are things you don't know and I - ” I took a deep, shaky breath. ”It can't be that way between us, Gideon. We can't be public. I don't want - d.a.m.n it. I'll embarra.s.s you.”
”You couldn't. It's not possible.” He brushed a loose lock of hair off my face. ”Can we talk about this later? If you need me - ”
”No, it's okay. Go.”
Cary came over. Dressed in baggy black cargo pants and a V-neck white unders.h.i.+rt, he still managed to look expensive. ”Everything all right?”
”Hi, Cary. Everything's fine.” Gideon squeezed my hand. ”Enjoy your lunch and don't worry.”
He could say that because he didn't know better.
And I didn't know whether or not he'd still want me once he did.
Cary faced me as Gideon walked away. ”Worry about what? What's wrong?”
”Everything.” I sighed. ”Let's get out of here, and I'll tell you over lunch.”
”Well,” Cary murmured, looking at the link I'd forwarded from my smartphone to his. ”That's some kiss. The dip was a great touch. He couldn't look more into if he tried.”
”That's the thing.” I took another big gulp of water. ”He did try.”
He shoved his phone into his pocket. ”Last week you kept shooting him down for only wanting your v.a.g.i.n.a. This week he's publicizing that he's in a committed, pa.s.sionate relations.h.i.+p with you, and you're still unhappy. I'm starting to feel bad for the guy. He can't win for trying.”
That stung. ”Reporters are going to dig, Cary, and they're going to find dirt. And since it's juicy dirt they're going to splash it all over h.e.l.l and back, and it's going to embarra.s.s Gideon.”
”Baby girl.” He set his hand over mine. ”Stanton buried all that.”
Stanton. I straightened. I hadn't thought of my stepfather. He'd see the disaster coming and keep a lid on it because he knew what the revelation would do to my mother. Still...”I'll have to talk to Gideon about it. He has a right to be warned.”
Just the thought of that conversation made me miserable.
Cary knew how my brain worked. ”If you think he's going to cut and run, I think you're wrong. He looks at you like you're the only person in the room.”
I poked at my tuna Caesar salad. ”He's got a few demons of his own. Nightmares. He's closed himself off, I think, because of whatever's eating at him.”