His observation clicked with me. “You’re right. That makes me feel better.”
I didn’t know Shelley Graves, not really. But in the few interactions I’d had with her, she’d struck me as being intelligent and street-smart. I hadn’t factored her into the equation, and I should have. It was odd to be in a position where I both feared who she was and appreciated it.
“You set up for your dad?”
The reminder brought some of the jitters back. “Everything’s ready. Except me.”
His eyes softened. “Any idea how you’re going to handle him?”
“Cary went back to work today, so we’ll celebrate with champagne and then head out to dinner.”
“You think he’s going to be up for that?”
“I don’t know if I’m up for it,” I admitted. “It’s screwy to be making plans to drink Cristal and kick up my heels in the middle of everything going on. But what else can I do? If my dad doesn’t see I’m okay, he’s not going to get over finding out about Nathan. I have to show him all of that ugliness is in the past.”
“And you need to let me handle the rest,” he admonished. “I will take care of you, of us. Focus on your family for a while.”
Stepping back, I grabbed his hand and led him toward the couch. It was weird being home so early after going in to work. Seeing the brightness of the afternoon sun beating down on the city outside the windows had me feeling out of step, reinforcing the notion that we’d stolen time to be together.
I sat, curled my legs, and faced him, watching as he settled beside me. We were so alike in many ways, including our pasts. Did Gideon need to get everything out in the open with his family, too? Is that what he’d need to fully heal?
“I know you have to get back to work,” I said, “but I’m glad you came home for me. You’re right—I needed to see you.”
He lifted my hand to his lips. “Do you know when your father’s heading back to California?”
“No.”
“My appointment with Dr. Petersen would’ve made tomorrow a late night for us anyway.” Gideon looked at me with a slight smile. “We’ll find a way to be together.”
Having him near … touching him … seeing him smile … hearing those words. I could get through anything as long as I had him next to me after a long day.
“Can I have five minutes?” I asked.
“You can have whatever you want, angel,” he said softly.
“Just this.” I slid closer and curved into his side.
Gideon’s arm came around my shoulders. Our hands linked together in our laps. We formed a perfect circle. Not as glittering as the rings we wore on our fingers, but priceless all the same.
After a moment, I felt him lean into me. He sighed. “I needed this, too.”
I hugged him tighter. “It’s okay to need me, ace.”
“I wish I needed you a little less. Just enough to make it bearable.”
“What would be the fun in that?”
His soft laugh made me fall even harder for him.
GIDEON had been right about the DB9. As I watched the parking attendant pull the sleek metallic gray Aston Martin to a stop in front of me, I thought it was pretty much Gideon on wheels. It was sex with a gas pedal; so much brute elegance it damn near made my toes curl.
I was scared as hell to get behind the wheel.
Driving in New York was nothing like driving in Southern California. I hesitated before accepting the keys from the bow-tied attendant, debating the wisdom of just calling for a town car.
The burner phone started ringing and I fumbled for it quickly. “Hello?”
“Just do it,” Gideon purred. “Stop worrying and drive it.”