Reflected in You(4)

He was a man who claimed his possessions utterly, fought off his competitors with ruthless precision, and would never allow any harm to come to me.


I was his safe place, which made me rare and invaluable to him.


Gideon glanced at his watch.


"Time to go, angel."


He fetched his jacket, then gestured for me to precede him through his luxurious living room, where I grabbed my purse and the bag holding my walking shoes and other necessities.


A few moments later, we'd finished the descent to the ground floor in his private elevator and slid into the back of his black Bentley SUV.


"Hi, Angus," I greeted his driver, who touched the brim of his old- fashioned chauffeur's hat.


"Good morning, Miss Tramell," he replied, smiling.


He was an older gentleman, with a liberal sprinkling of white in his red hair.


I liked him for a lot of reasons, not the least of which was the fact that he'd been driving Gideon around since grade school and genuinely cared for him.


A quick glance at the Rolex my mother and stepfather had given me told me I'd make it to work on time .


if we didn't get boxed in by traffic.


Even as I thought this, Angus slid deftly into the sea of taxis and cars on the street.


After the tense quiet of Gideon's apartment, the noise of Manhattan woke me as effectively as a jolt of caffeine.


The blaring of horns and the thud of tires over a manhole cover invigorated me.


Rapid-moving streams of pedestrians flanked both sides of the clogged street, while buildings stretched ambitiously toward the sky, keeping us in shadow even as the sun climbed.


God, I seriously loved New York.


I took the time every day to absorb it, to try to draw it into me.


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.


"Okay," I agreed.


"Which hotel is yours?" "I have a few.


You can take your pick."


He turned his head to look out the window.


"Scott will e-mail you the list.


When you've decided, let him know and he'll make the arrangements.


We'll fly out together and return together."


Leaning my shoulder into the seat, I took a drink of my coffee and noted the way his hand was fisted on his thigh.


In the tinted window's reflection, Gideon's face was impassive, but I could feel his moodiness.


"Thank you," I murmured.


"Don't.


I'm not happy about this, Eva."


A muscle in his jaw twitched.