Reflected in You(5)

Pack cool and light.

Arizona's got dry heat."

"What?" I blinked at his retreating back as it disappeared into his office.

"Arizona is where your business is?" "Unfortunately."

Uh .

whoa.

Instead of risking my shot at coffee, I postponed arguing and continued on to the kitchen.

I passed through Gideon's spacious apartment with its stunning prewar architecture and slender arched windows, my heels alternately clicking over gleaming hardwood and muffled by Aubusson rugs.

Decorated in dark woods and neutral fabrics, the luxurious space was brightened by jeweled accents.

As much as his place screamed money, it managed to remain warm and welcoming, a comfortable place to relax and feel pampered.

When I reached the kitchen, I wasted no time in shoving a travel mug under the one-cup coffeemaker.

Gideon joined me with his jacket draped over one arm and his cell phone in his hand.

I put another portable mug under the spout for him before I went to the fridge for some half-and-half.

"It might be fortunate after all."

I faced him and reminded him of my roommate issue.

"I need to knock heads with Cary this weekend."

Gideon dropped his phone in the inner pocket of his jacket, then hung the garment off the back of one of the bar stools at the island.

"You're coming with me, Eva."

Exhaling in a rush, I added half- and-half to my coffee.

"To do what? Lie around na**d, waiting for you to finish work and f**k me?" His gaze held mine as he collected his mug and sipped his steaming coffee with too-calm deliberation.

"Are we going to argue?" "Are you going to be difficult? We talked about this.

You know I can't leave Cary after what happened last night."

The multibody tangle I'd found in my living room gave new meaning to the word clusterfuck.

I put the carton back in the fridge and absorbed the sensation of being drawn to him inexorably by the force of his will.

It'd been that way from the beginning.

When he chose to, Gideon could make me feel his demands.

And it was very, very difficult to ignore the part of me that begged to give him whatever he wanted.

"You're going to take care of business and I'm going to take care of my best friend, then we'll go back to taking care of each other."

"I won't be back until Sunday night, Eva."

Oh .