Reflected in You(110)

"Hey," I said, when he answered.


"If you get bored - " "If?" He snorted.


"Remember that folder of information you compiled on Gideon? Can you make me one of those on Dr.


Terrence Lucas?" "Okay.


Do I know this guy?" "No.


He's a pediatrician."


There was a pause, then, "Are you pregnant?" "No! Jeez.


And if I were, I'd need an obstetrician."


"Whew.


All right.


Spell his name for me."


I gave Cary what he needed, then looked up Dr.


Lucas's office and made an appointment to see him.


"I won't need to fill out any new-patient paperwork," I told the receptionist.


"I just want a quick consult."


After that, I called Vidal Records and left a message for Christopher to call me.


When Mark came back from lunch, I went over and knocked on his open door.


"Hey.


I need to ask for an hour in the morning for an appointment.


Is it all right if I come in at ten and stay 'til six?""Ten to five is fine, Eva."


He looked at me carefully.


"Everything okay?" "Getting better every day."


"Good."


He smiled.


"I'm really glad to hear that."


We dived back into work, but thoughts of Gideon weighed heavily on my mind.


I kept staring at my ring, remembering what he had said when he'd first given it to me: The Xs are me holding on to you.


Wait.


For him? For him to come back to me? Why? I couldn't understand why he'd cut me off the way he had, then expected me to take him back.


Especially with Corinne in the picture.


I spent the rest of the afternoon going over the last few weeks in my mind, recalling conversations I'd had with Gideon, things he'd said or done, searching for answers.


When I left the Crossfire at the end of the day, I saw the Bentley waiting out front and waved at Angus, who smiled back.


I had issues with his boss, but Angus wasn't to blame for them.


It was hot and muggy outside.


Miserable.


I went to the Duane Reade around the corner for a bottle of cold water to drink on the walk home and a bag of mini chocolates to enjoy once I got through my Krav Maga class.


When I left the drugstore, Angus was waiting just outside the door at the curb, shadowing me.


As I turned the corner back toward the Crossfire to start the trip home, I saw Gideon step out to the street with Corinne.


His hand was at the small of her back, leading her toward a sleek black Mercedes sedan I recognized as one of his.


She was smiling.


His expression was inscrutable.


Horrified, I couldn't move or look away.


I stood there in the middle of the crowded sidewalk, my stomach twisting with grief and anger and a terrible, awful feeling of betrayal.


He looked up and saw me, freezing in place just as I had.


The Latino driver I'd met the day my father arrived opened the back door and Corinne disappeared into the car.


Gideon remained where he was, his gaze locked with mine.


There was no way he missed me lifting my hand and flipping him the bird.Abruptly, I was struck by a thought.


I turned my back to Gideon and moved off to the side, digging into my purse for my phone.


When I found it, I speed-dialed my mom, and when she answered, I said, "That day we went out to lunch with Megumi, you freaked out on the walk back to the Crossfire.


You saw him, didn't you? Nathan.


You saw Nathan at the Crossfire."


"Yes," she admitted.


"That's why Richard decided it would be best to just pay him what he wanted.


Nathan said he'd stay away from you as long as he had the money to leave the country.


Why do you ask?" "It didn't hit me until just now that Nathan was the reason why you reacted the way you did."


I faced forward again and started walking quickly toward home.


The Mercedes was gone, but my temper was rising.


"I have to go, Mom.


I'll call you later."


"Is everything all right?" she asked anxiously.


"Not yet, but I'm working on it."


"I'm here for you, if you need me."


I sighed.


"I know.


I'm okay.


I love you."


When I got home, Cary was sitting on the couch with his laptop on his thighs and his bare feet on the coffee table.


"Hey," he called, his gaze still on his screen.


I dumped my stuff and kicked off my shoes.


"You know what?" He looked up at me from beneath a lock of hair that had fallen over his eyes.


"What?" "I thought Gideon took a hike because of Nathan.