and said she wanted to introduce you to someone, and you left me standing there."
"Christ."
His eyes blazed.
"Not this again."
I swiped angrily at a tear that slid down my cheek.
He growled.
"You think I went with her because I was overcome with the need to be with her and get away from you?" "I don't know, Gideon.
You ditched me.
You're the one with the answers."
"You ditched me first."
My mouth fell open.
"I did not!" "The hell you didn't.
Almost the second we arrived, you took off.
I had to hunt you down and when I did, you were dancing with that prick."
"Martin is Stanton's nephew!" And since Richard Stanton was my stepdad, I thought of Martin as family.
"I don't care if he's a damned priest.
He wants to nail you."
"Oh my God.
That's absurd! Stop deflecting.
You were talking business with your associates.
It was awkward standing there.
For them as well as me."
"That's your place, awkward or not!"My head jerked back as if he'd slapped me.
"Come again?" "How would you feel if I walked away from you at a Waters Field and Leaman party because you started talking about a campaign? Then, when you found me, I was slow dancing with Magdalene?" "I - " God.
I hadn't thought of it like that.
Gideon appeared smooth and unruffled with his powerful frame lounging against the door, but I could sense the anger vibrating beneath that calm surface.
He was riveting always, but most especially when he was seething with passion.
"It's my place to stand beside you, and support you, and yes, just fucking look pretty on your arm sometimes.
It's my right, my duty, and my privilege, Eva, just as it's yours in reverse."
"I thought I was doing you a favor by getting out of the way."
His arched brow was a silent, sarcastic comeback.
My arms crossed in front of me.
"Is that why you walked off with Corinne? Were you punishing me?" "If I wanted to punish you, Eva, I'd take you over my knee."
My gaze narrowed.
That was never going to happen.
"I know how you get," he said curtly.
"I didn't want you jealous over Corinne before I had a chance to explain.
I needed a few minutes to make sure she understood how serious you and I are, and how important it was to me that you enjoy the evening.
That's the only reason I walked away with her."
"You told her not to say anything about you two, didn't you? You told her to keep quiet about what she is to you.
Too bad Magdalene screwed that up."
And maybe Corinne and Magdalene had planned it that way.
Corinne knew Gideon well enough to anticipate his moves; it might've been easy for her to plan around his reaction to her unexpected appearance in New York.
Which shed a whole new light on why Magdalene had called me today.
She and Corinne had been talking at the Waldorf when Gideon and I spotted them.
Two women who wanted a man who was with another woman.
Nothing was going to happen for them while I was in the picture, and because of that, I couldn't rule out the possibility that they might be working together.
"I wanted you to hear it from me," he said tightly.
I waved that off, more concerned about what was happening now.
"I saw Corinne get into the Bentley, Gideon.
Right before I came up here."
His other brow rose to match the first.
"Did you?" "Yes, I did.
Can you explain that?" "I can't, no."
Injured fury burned through me.
I suddenly couldn't bear to even look at him.
"Then get out of my way, I have to get back to work."
He didn't move.
"I just want to be clear on something before you go: Do you believe I fucked her?" Hearing him say it aloud made me flinch.
"I don't know what to believe.
The evidence sure - " "I wouldn't care if the 'evidence' included you finding me and her naked in a bed together."
He uncoiled so swiftly, I stumbled back in surprise.
He stalked closer.
"I want to know if you think I fucked her.
If you think I would.
Or could.
Do you?" My foot began to tap, but I didn't retreat.
"Explain the lipstick on your shirt, Gideon."
His jaw tightened.
"No."
"What?" The flat-out refusal sent me into a tailspin.
"Answer my question."
I studied his face and saw the mask he wore around other people but had never worn with me.
He reached his hand toward me as if to brush my cheek with his fingertips, then pulled back at the last minute.
In that brief instant in which he pulled away, I heard his teeth grind, as if not touching me was a struggle.