“That’s it? You don’t sleep with her?” Fiona didn’t believe that for a minute—and her suspicion was rewarded when his eyes flitted away, then back to her. He began to make some sort of mumbly noise that she took to be an excuse, and she stopped him. “I don’t sleep with men who sleep with other women—when Idochoose to sleep with a man. So, forget it, H—Gideon. You’re wasting your time.”
With that, she stood up and stalked past him, brushing close enough to feel the warmth of his arm and the sexy, musky scent that clung to him.
* * *
“Not only did I tell him where to stick his stiff rump after he admitted they weren’t exactly platonic,” Fiona told her friend Carl Pelham, “but I also had to shut down Mr. Kiss-as-Many-Babies-As-Possible-For-a-Vote when we got back to my place.”
Carl’s deep laugh rumbled through the telephone. “I’m sure you had no problem whatsoever doing that. Fiona, you are the Master—er, I mean Mistress—of Shut-Down. The poor bastard probably didn’t have a chance.”
“Well, you know power doesn’t do a thing for me, and the guy’s good looking—in a politician-y sort of way…butsonot my type.”
“Did you let him in for a nightcap?”
Fiona snorted. “No. I figured once he stepped foot in my house, I’d be fighting off Mr. Octopus, based on the way he’d been gawking all night. You should have seen his face when H. Gideon dragged me off to read me the riot act.”
“Ahh, H. Gideon. Have you found out yet what the H is for? And is he really that much of a jerk?”
“I don’t know about the H yet. I keep asking and he won’t budge. But I can’t deny he’s a good kisser. I mean…a really good, knock-your-socks-off, seeing-shooting-stars kisser. And he seems to be loosening up a little. I think he actually smiled at me once the other day.” He sure had…and it had sent her veins tingling all the way to her fingers.
“But, Carl, darling, you know me…I’m not into any kind of relationship or responsibility.” As she spoke the words she’d uttered so many times before, Fiona suddenly realized she didn’t feel any power behind them any more. Her stomach felt heavy at the thought. When had that happened?
“Yep. I know. You just like to hang around with the guys. No responsibility, no ties, no commitment—hell, you sound just like one of us. Wanna come over and watch some football?” Carl chuckled dryly into the phone. “I promise not to make you cook for us this time.”
Fiona tried to laugh back, but it stuck somewhere between her lungs and throat. Was she really that transparent? That shallow?No responsibility, no ties, no commitment…
“Hey, Fi, you still there?” Carl, one of her oldest and dearest friends—which was why he could be so blunt with her and she’d still love him—sounded concerned. “Hey, you know I’m just giving you shit, you know. Fi?”
“Just like I do to you, I know. It’s just that…well, with this shop thing…I feel like I might want to turn over a new leaf. Make something worthwhile out of my life—something long-term.” She hadn’t known she felt that way until the words came jumbling out. “I think I never wanted permanency because I hadn’t found a place or thing that called me tobepermanent. But there’s something about this little shop that calls to me…that really makes me want to be there.”
Well, despite the weird and creepy light.
“There’s one thing about you, Fi. Once you set your mind to something—once you actuallycommit—I know, you hate that word—to putting your all into it, you do it. If you’ve got your mind made up that you want to make the shop work, then I’ve no doubt you will.”
She smiled, her cheek moving against the phone receiver. He was right. She might be flighty and noncommittal at times, but once she jumped, she was in all the way.
“By the way, did you tell your lawyer guy about your not-interested-in-sex deal?”
“Yep. Went over like a lead balloon, to quote Robert Plant.”
“Keith Moon, you mean.”
“Whatever.” Fiona tapped her fingernails on the table. “Anyway, he didn’t understand, of course, but then, he’s a guy.”
“Yep. Guys don’t understand not wanting to have sex if the kissing’s as good as you said it was. Probably shocked the hell out of him.”
“Oh yeah.” Fiona smiled again at the thought, then sobered as a rash of heat flashed through her. The chemistry between themhadbeen amazing.
And, if she had to be honest, she hadn’t seen any chemistry between Gideon and Rachel Backley…which was the only reason she semi-believed him that there was nothing between them but some friends-with-benefits benefits.
Regardless, she had no intention of being tied down, responsible for, or committed to a man at this point in her life—and, she realized, she might never feel that urge. Claudia certainly never had.
“I’ve got a hard enough time managing my own life. You know I’m as low-maintenance as they come.” She ignored Carl’s scoff from the other end of the phone line.
“Yeah, well, you know, some day you’re going to be eating those words, Fioney-pony. You’re going to fall flat on your face for some guy who’s the exact opposite of every one you’ve ever dated. So, anyway, thanks for the reminder to pick up some extra plates and napkins. I’ll see you in about an hour for the party. I’ll have my best suit on, plus my charm, and be ready to woo all those lady customers of yours.”
She was glad to hear a lighter inflection in his voice. “Thanks so much for agreeing to help out, Carl, and for listening today. See you in a bit.”
It was Tuesday morning, three days after the political fundraiser where she’d seen Gideon and his date, and she stood in the middle of her shop. As she hung up the phone, Fiona looked around with eagle eyes and a churning stomach. She would open the doors for business as Charmed Antiquity in less than two hours, hopefully welcoming in a new, refurbished clientele.
