Reflected in You(72)

"She didn't love me enough."


My breath left me in a rush.


Because I didn't know what had given him such tormenting nightmares, I'd wondered if maybe she'd loved him too much.


It was a relief to know that wasn't the case.


It was awful enough that his father committed suicide.


To be betrayed by his mother, too, might be more than he could ever recover from.


"How much is enough, Gideon?" His jaw tightened.


His chest expanded on a deep breath.


"She didn't believe me."


I came to a dead stop and pivoted to face him.


"You told her what happened to you? You told her and she didn't believe you?" His gaze was trained over my head.


"It doesn't matter now.


It's long done."


"Bullshit.


It matters.


It matters a lot."


I was furious for him.


Furious that a mother hadn't done her job and stood by her child.


Furious that the child had been Gideon.


"I bet it hurts like f*cking hell, too."


His gaze lowered to my face.


"Look at you, so pissed off and upset.


I shouldn't have said anything."


"You should've said something earlier."


The tension in his shoulders eased and his mouth curved ruefully.


"I haven't told you anything."


"Gideon - " "And of course you believe me, angel.


You've had to sleep in a bed with me."


I grabbed his face in my hands and stared hard up into his eyes.


"I.


Believe.


You."


His face contorted with pain for a split second before he picked me up in a bear hug.


"Eva."


I slung my legs around his waist and wrapped my arms around his shoulders.


"I believe you."


* * *


When we got back to the house, Gideon went into the kitchen to open a bottle of wine and I perused the bookshelves in the living room, smiling when I came across the first book in the series I'd told him about, the one where'd I'd picked up his nickname, ace.


We sprawled on the couch and I read to him while he played absently with my hair.


He was in a pensive mood after our walk, his mind seemingly far from me.


I didn't resent that.


We'd given each other a lot to think about over the last couple of days.When the tide came in, it did indeed rush up under the house, which sounded amazing and looked even more so.


We stepped out onto the deck and watched it ebb and flow, turning the house into an island in the surf.


"Let's make s'mores," I said, while leaning over the railing with Gideon wrapped around my back.


"On that portable patio fireplace."


His teeth caught my earlobe and he whispered, "I want to lick melted chocolate off your body."


Yes, please .


I teased him, "Wouldn't that burn?" "Not if I do it right."


I turned to face him, and he picked me up and sat me on the wide handrail.


Then he stepped between my legs and hugged me around the hips.


There was a wonderful peace that accompanied the twilight and we both sank into it.


I ran my hands through his hair, just as the night breeze did.


"Have you talked to Ireland at all?" I asked, thinking of his half sister who was as beautiful as their mother.


I'd met her at a Vidal Records party, and it became evident pretty quickly that she was hungry for any word or news about her eldest brother.


"No."


"What do you think about bringing her over for dinner when my dad's in town?" Gideon's head tilted to the side as he observed me.


"You want to invite a seventeen-year-old to dinner with me and your dad."


"No, I want your family to meet my family."


"She'll be bored."


"How would you know?" I challenged.


"In any case, I think your sister hero-worships you.


As long as you pay attention to her, I'm sure she'll be thrilled."


"Eva."


He sighed, clearly exasperated.


"Be real.


I haven't the slightest idea how to entertain a teenage girl."


"Ireland's not some random kid, she's - " "She might as well be!" He scowled at me.


It struck me then.


"You're afraid of her."


"Come on," he scoffed.


"You are.


She scares you."


And I doubted it had anything to do with his sister's age or that she was a girl.


"What's gotten into you?" he complained.


"You're stuck on Ireland.