The concern in his eyes, the gentle way he enfolded me in a hug, gave me strength. He’d known this meeting with Brett wouldn’t go well. That I would be upset and needy. That I would need him.
And he was there. I didn’t know how, and I didn’t care.
My fingers dug into his back, practically clawing at him.
“Shh.” His lips brushed against my ear. “I’ve got you.”
Raúl appeared beside us with my bag in hand, his stance conveying a protectiveness that added to the shield Gideon’s body gave me. The riotous panic inside me began to ease. I wasn’t freefalling anymore. Gideon was my net, always prepared to catch me.
He led me down the steps to where the Bentley waited, with Angus standing ready to open the back door. I slid inside and Gideon joined me, his arm wrapping around me when I curled into him.
We were right back to where we’d started that morning. But in a matter of hours, everything had changed.
“I’ve got this,” he murmured. “Trust me.”
I lifted my nose to his throat. “They want to use the footage, don’t they?”
“They won’t. No one will.” There was a razor-sharp edge to his words.
I believed him. And I loved him more than I ever thought possible.
—
WHAT an afternoon. I avoided thinking about Brett by working hard on game console comps, including GenTen; my mind was firmly on Gideon when five o’clock rolled around.
It wasn’t just PhazeOne that worried me anymore. It was also me, the girl I’d once been. The sex tape could do more damage to the Cross name than anything a rival company could do.
I texted Gideon. I hoped for a quick answer but didn’t expect one. Are you in your office?
He replied almost instantly. Yes.
Heading home, I typed back. Want to say bye first.
Come up.
I released the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. See you in ten.
Megumi was already gone when I passed reception, so I reached Gideon faster than I’d planned on. His receptionist was still at her station, her long red hair hanging sleekly around her shoulders. She gave me a curt nod and I gave her a smile, unfazed.
Scott wasn’t at his desk when I got back there, but Gideon was standing at his, his hands on the desktop as he perused documents spread out in front of him. Arash was seated in one of the chairs, his posture relaxed and easy as he spoke. Neither of them wore a coat, and both of them looked mighty fine.
Arash glanced at me as I came closer, and Gideon’s head came up. My husband’s eyes were so blue, the hue struck me even across the distance between us. His face remained austerely handsome, so classically Gideon, and yet his gaze softened at the sight of me. My mouth curved when he beckoned me with a crook of his finger.
I entered his office and held out my hand to Arash when he stood. “Hey,” I greeted him. “You keeping him out of trouble?”
“When he lets me,” the lawyer replied, catching my hand and pulling me in for an air kiss on my cheek.
“Back off,” Gideon said dryly, his arm sliding around my waist.
Arash laughed. “This new jealous streak of yours is vastly entertaining.”
“Your sense of humor is not,” Gideon shot back.
I leaned into my husband, loving the feel of his hard body against mine. There was no give to him, no yielding. Except when he looked at me.
“I’ve got a meeting in thirty,” Arash said, “so I’ll head out. Thanks for Friday night, Eva. I’d love to do it again sometime.”
“We will,” I told him. “For sure.”