“Hello, Eva.” His voice was flavored with a soft rasp that had my toes curling. “It’s good to see you.”
I blinked up at him, not having to fake my astonishment at all. “Uh, hi. Gideon.”
“Doesn’t she look delish?” Ireland asked, making no attempt at subtlety.
Gideon’s eyes never left my face. “She always does. I need a minute of your time, Eva.”
“Sure.” I shot a what-the-f**k look at Cary and let Gideon lead me to a corner of the tent. We’d taken a few steps when I said, “Are you mad? Please don’t be.”
“Of course I am,” he said evenly. “But not at you or him.”
“O-kay.” I had no idea what that meant.
He stopped and faced me, raking a hand through his gorgeous hair. “This situation is intolerable. I could stand it when there was no other choice, but now …” His gaze was fierce on my face. “You’re mine. I need the world to know that.”
“I’ve told Brett that I’m in love with you. Cary, too. My dad. Megumi. I’ve never lied about how I feel about you.”
“Eva!” Christopher came up to me and pulled me into him for a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so glad Brett brought you. You know, I had no idea you two used to be an item.”
I managed a smile, hyperaware of Gideon’s gaze. “It was a long time ago.”
“Not that long.” He grinned. “You’re here, aren’t you?”
“Christopher,” Gideon said, by way of greeting.
“Gideon.” Christopher’s smile didn’t waver, but he noticeably cooled. “You didn’t have to come. I’ve got this covered.”
They were half brothers but had so little in common physically. Gideon was taller, bigger, and undeniably dark in both coloring and demeanor. Christopher was a handsome man with a sexy smile, but he had none of Gideon’s sizzling magnetism.
“I’m here for Eva,” Gideon said smoothly, “not the show.”
“Really?” Christopher looked at me. “I thought you and Brett were working things out.”
“Brett’s a friend,” I replied.
“Eva’s personal life is none of your business,” Gideon said.
“It shouldn’t be yours, either.” Christopher looked at him with such hostility it made me uncomfortable. “The fact that ‘Golden’ is a true story, and that Brett and Eva are here together, is a great marketing angle for Vidal and the band.”
“The song is the end of that story.”
Christopher frowned and reached into his pocket, pulling out his smartphone. He read the screen, then scowled at his brother. “Call Corinne, will you? She’s going nuts trying to reach you.”
“I talked to her an hour ago,” Gideon said.
“Stop giving her mixed signals,” Christopher snapped. “If you didn’t want to talk to her, you shouldn’t have gone over to her place last night.”
I tensed, my pulse leaping. I looked at Gideon, saw his jaw tighten, and remembered how I’d waited for a reply text from him. He’d been at my place when I got home, but he’d never explained why he hadn’t texted me back. He certainly hadn’t said anything about going to Corinne’s apartment.
And hadn’t he said he wasn’t taking her calls?
I backed away with my stomach in knots. I’d felt off all day, and facing the simmering dislike between Gideon and Christopher was too much on top of it. “Excuse me.”
“Eva,” Gideon said sharply.
“It was good seeing you both,” I murmured, playing my scripted part before turning away and heading the few feet over to Cary.
Gideon caught up with me after only two steps, gripping me by the elbow and whispering in my ear. “She’s calling my phone and work all the time. I had to talk with her.”