I settled into the leather seat back and reached for Gideon's hand, giving it a squeeze.
"Would you feel better if Cary and I left town for the weekend? Maybe a quick trip to Vegas?" Gideon's gaze narrowed.
"Am I a threat to Cary? Is that why you won't consider Arizona?" "What? No.
I don't think so."
Shifting in the seat, I faced him.
"Sometimes it takes an all-nighter before I can get him to open up."
"You don't think so?" he repeated my answer, ignoring everything but the first words out of my mouth.
"He might feel like he can't reach out to me when he needs to talk because I'm always with you," I clarified, steadying my mug with two hands as we drove over a pothole.
"Listen, you're going to have to get over any jealousy about Cary.
When I say he's like a brother to me, Gideon, I'm not kidding.
You don't have to like him, but you have to understand that he's a permanent part of my life."
"Do you tell him the same thing about me?" "I don't have to.
He knows.
I'm trying to reach a compromise here - " "I never compromise."
My brows rose.
"In business, I'm sure you don't.
But this is a relationship, Gideon.
It requires give and - " Gideon's growl cut me off.
"My plane, my hotel, and if you leave the premises you take a security team with you."
His sudden, reluctant capitulation surprised me silent for a long minute.
Long enough for his brow to arch over those piercing blue eyes in a look that said take it or leave it.
"Don't you think that's a little extreme?" I prodded.
"I'll have Cary with me."
"You'll forgive me if I don't trust him with your safety after last night."
As he drank his coffee, his posture made it very clear that the conversation was done in his mind.
He'd given me his acceptable options.
I might've gotten bitchy about that kind of high-handedness if I didn't understand that taking care of me was his motivation.
My past had vicious skeletons, and dating Gideon had put me in a media spotlight that could bring Nathan Barker right to my door.
Plus, controlling everything around him was just part of who Gideon was.
It came with the package and I had to make accommodations for that.