Book 1 - Page 92 (1/2)

”What is there to say?” Magdalene tossed out.

We all loved him. We were all available to him. In the end, he would make a choice between us.

”You should know, Eva,” Corinne began, looking at me with those clear aquamarine eyes, ”he's told me how special you are to him. It took me some time to gather the courage to come back here and face you two together. I even canceled a flight I had booked a couple weekends ago. I interrupted him at some charity event he was giving a speech at, poor guy, to tell him I was on my way and to ask for his help getting settled.”

I froze, feeling as brittle as cracked gla.s.s. She had to be talking about the advocacy center dinner, the night Gideon and I had s.e.x for the first time. The night we'd christened his limo and he'd immediately withdrawn; then left me abruptly.

”When he called me back,” she continued, ”he told me he'd met someone. That he wanted you and me to meet when I got into town. I ended up chickening out. He's never asked me to meet a woman in his life before.”

Oh my G.o.d. I glanced at Magdalene. Gideon had left me in a rush that night for her. For Corinne.

Chapter 21

”Excuse me.” I pushed back from the table and searched for Gideon. I saw him at the bar and went to him.

He was just turning away from the bartender with two gla.s.ses in his hands when I intercepted him. I took my drink and gulped it down, my teeth aching as the cubes of ice knocked against them.

”Eva - ” There was a soft note of chastis.e.m.e.nt in his voice.

”I'm leaving,” I said flatly, stepping around him to set my empty gla.s.s on the bar top. ”I don't consider that running, because I'm telling you in advance and giving you the option of coming with me.”

He exhaled harshly and I could see that he understood my mood. He knew I knew. ”I can't leave.”

I turned away.

He caught my arm. ”You know I can't stay if you go. You're upset over nothing, Eva.”

”Nothing?” I stared at where his hand gripped me. ”I warned you I get upset and jealous. This time, you've given me good reason.”

”Warning me is supposed to excuse you when you get ridiculous about it?” His face was relaxed, his voice low and calm. No one looking from a distance would pick up on the tension between us, but it was there in his eyes. Burning l.u.s.t and icy fury. He was so good at putting those two together.

”Who's ridiculous? What about Daniel, the personal trainer? Or Martin, a member of my stepfamily?” I leaned closer and whispered, ”I've never f**ked either of them, let alone agreed to a marriage! I sure as h.e.l.l don't talk to them every d.a.m.n day!”