Gideon's preference for brunettes was well known and well documented.
I felt the Bentley pull over and to a halt.
Angus got out of the car to give us privacy, leaving the engine and air- conditioning running.
I looked out the window and saw the Crossfire beside us.
"About the type thing - " Gideon's head fell back to rest against the seat.
He took a deep breath.
"Corinne was surprised by you.
You weren't what she'd expected."
My jaw tightened at the mention of Gideon's former fiancee.
Even knowing that their relationship had been about friendship and loneliness for him, not love, didn't stop the claws of envy from digging into me.
Jealousy was one of my virulent flaws.
"Because I'm blond?" "Because .
you don't look like her."
My breath caught.
I hadn't considered that Corinne had set the standard for him.
Even Magdalene Perez - one of Gideon's friends who wished she were more - had said she'd kept her dark hair long to emulate Corinne.
But I hadn't grasped the complexity of that observation.
My God .
if it was true, Corinne had tremendous power over Gideon, way more than I could bear.
My heart rate quickened and my stomach churned.
I hated her irrationally.
Hated that she'd had even a piece of him.
Hated every woman who'd known his touch .
his lust .
his amazing body.
I started sliding off him.
"Eva."
He stayed me by tightening his grip on my thighs.
"I don't know if she's right."
I looked down at where he held me, and the sight of my promise ring on the finger of his right hand - my brand of ownership - calmed me.