God, she didn’t know. What she did know was that he wasn’t pulling away, or making excuses to leave her at the table to schmooze, or ignoring her presence like she was just a shadow beneath the gleaming chandeliers.
Yes, he was making an effort, and she honestly felt proud to be standing beside him; however, her husband naturally drew attention, and that meant all the eyes in the room were now on him. On her. On the image of perfect couple they were portraying.
And she could feel the judgement like a curse mark on her skin.
They weren’t perfect, not even a little, and that had become glaringly clear that night Gideon had ripped her heart out, revealing the truth of their marriage.
Yes, he’d explained that, that he wanted a cold arrangement for lack of trust between them, but that it had turned into something more once he realized how he truly felt.
Could she really believe that?
But seeing him now, looking like power and masculine perfection in a black-on-black tux, you’d never guess the man was terrified of anything let alone his true emotions.
“Let them look; you’re gorgeous, and I am so fucking honored to have you standing next to me, baby,” Gideon proclaimed, his voice even and clear, like he was making a point to those around them.
Was he a mind reader now?
She stiffened at first, but as the meaning and the intention of his words sank in so did the warmth of his sincerity.
Unfortunately, the warmth disappeared at the chilly blast from the gaze of the woman slinking toward them, her body wrapped in Dior, her hair perfect, her makeup flawless, and her expression predatory.
Beside her, Gideon tensed, dropping her arm to wrap his around her body, pulling her securely into his side as though to keep her there—for appearances? For safety? For the promise he made to never let her leave his side that night?
As Isabella approached, Kendra couldn’t help but notice Adrian across the room standing next to a pissed off looking Cora, who was resplendent in an ice-white sleeveless evening gown that made even Kendra’s breath catch. Adrian snapped something to Cora who narrowed her eyes at him, turned, and headed toward the bathrooms, leaving Adrian standing there, rage vibrating from his massive body. Obviously, he and Cora were having problems, and more than anything Kendra wantedto take the opportunity to go to her friend and see what happened, but also part of her wanted to stay beside Gideon.
He might be an asshole, he might have hurt her, he might have lied to get her to the altar, but he was stillhers.
Also, the sickest part of her wanted to be up front and center for the freight train derailment she felt was coming. She gripped Gideon’s arm tighter, threw back her shoulders, lifted her chin, and followed her husband into Winter Gala “Hunger Games.”
The other woman wasted no time being a class-A bitch.
“Gideon,amore mio, I was so happy to hear you would be here this evening—I’ve been so lonely without you,” Isabella purred as she leaned into kiss Gideon’s cheek. At the last moment, Gideon pulled back. He braced a hand against Isabella’s shoulder and took a step back, Kendra moving with him.
Isabella, stunned, blinked at him then pouted, her deep red lips a garish complement to the sapphire blue of her dress. The woman was dressed to kill with elegance in a gown fit for Mafia royalty.
“Isabella,” Gideon drawled cooly, his voice cold marble. “Where is your father?”
From the way the woman’s eyes narrowed, she didn’t appreciate Gideon’s tone, nor how he’d ignored her greeting.
“Is that any way to greet your future wife,amore mio?” Isabella cooed, and Kendra’s blood filled with ice.
Before she could react, Gideon growled, the sound vibrating through him and into her. “I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last wet hole on earth,” he snarled.
Isabella’s crimson smile slipped as she flashed her teeth. “Oh, darling, we both know that’s not true, especially since we both know how unhappy you’ve been the last three years.”
The floor must have collapsed beneath her because it felt like her knees gave out.
Her husband told her that? Isabella knew about their marriage, at least enough to know that Gideon was unhappy with his wife, with Kendra.
Gideon turned to Kendra, slid his finger under her chin, and forced her head up until she met his gaze. The green was darker than she’d ever seen it, and it made something inside her twist.
“Kendra, I need you to trust me, okay?” he murmured, a plea just on the edge of his voice. Swallowing the desire to run, she gave him a single subtle nod, but the smile that came in answer stunned her to her core. It was big, bright with unfettered joy, and heated with banked desire. “Thank you, baby.”
“But I want a full explanation at how she knows so much about us, Gideon,” she whispered back.
He hesitated, his gaze flashing, his lips pinching, but he then he nodded.
Dropping a quick kiss to her lips, he turned back to Isabella, who was glaring at Kendra like she wanted to plant a bullet between her eyes.
