“Call the police and find out what they know.” She allowed her lips to part just enough that he would notice, and she was gratified when she saw his throat convulse in a hard swallow.
He looked away, down at the cluster of flowers he still held. “Fiona, it’s not that easy—I’m not sure what grounds we—you’d have to have for asking. But,” he held up a hand as she began to protest, “I’ll try it. Okay, I’ll try it—but can we just drop it for tonight?”
Beaming, she nodded, pushing her hair back behind her shoulder. “Thank you Gideon. I really appreciate it.”
He smiled at her then—a slow, taunting one that sent a rush of heat through her. All at once, the distraction of playing amateur detective was not enough to ward off that heavy emotion—the emotion that was easing into need….
It was Fiona’s turn to swallow and she turned away, crossing her arms in front of her. She would not melt into his embrace again. She needed some space…before he got too close and she got lost.
“Let’s grab something to eat,” Gideon suggested, his hands settling on her shoulders from behind.
She was fumbling for an excuse when a soft buzz vibrated near his waist. His hands left her shoulders and he pulled the sleek phone from his trousers.
“Hi.” His familiar greeting told her it was someone he knew casually. There was a pause, then he flickered a look at her, then away. “Uh…well, all right. No, that’s all right…I’m sure you did. Where are you?” He was quiet again for a moment, then replied, “Okay. Give me at least forty-five minutes and I’ll be there. I’m…not in town.”
He disconnected the call and slipped the cell back into his pocket. “Fiona, I’m sorry—that was a friend of mine who’s stranded with a broken down car and asked if I could help out. I need to take off. Can we hook up later for something to eat?”
“No thanks, Gideon,” she replied, sensing that he was uncomfortable about the situation and wondered if the “friend” was a woman.
Rachel.
She felt her stomach tighten, then ease slightly. It shouldn’t bother her—he’d told her they were friends and that anything beyond friendship was over. She could handle this.
After all, all she and Gideon had done was sleep together. Once. Hell, if her mother had tried to put the ball and chain on every man—or woman—she’d slept with, Claudia would be living with more lovers than Fiona could fathom.
But still…the uneasiness moved in her stomach and settled there like a bowling ball. A big, murky green one.
She’d be brave and elegant. She twisted her fingers into her skirt, hiding them in the flimsy rayon folds. “I’m kind of tired after yesterday’s excitement, and I’m just going to head home—I’m staying at Ethan’s here in Wicks Hollow—and try to get to bed early.”
“Well, all right.” He still looked like something was bothering him. She could have made a comment to relieve his concern—that she understood, that it was no problem—but, perversely, she didn’t. “You’re going to close up now, aren’t you? I don’t want to leave you here alone.”
“What, do you think a skeleton might leap out and grab me?” she countered, smiling slightly. “I’ll lock up if you’ll just give me a minute. I don’t want you to keep your friend waiting, but I appreciate you staying around.”
Moments later, he bid goodnight to her at her yellow VW, leaving her with a kiss that left her breathless…and with trembling knees.
Twelve
It was past dark,but lights illuminated the Wicks Hollow streets, so Fiona wasn’t nervous about walking along by herself. After Gideon left, she’d pulled her car out of the secluded back alley and drove down to The Roost, a dive only a few blocks from Trib’s, to grab a quick dinner.
As she sat at the bar’s counter—sticky from years of spilled beer and cocktails—and ate what the place called a veggie burger (something frozen with the consistency of cardboard), she refused to let herself dwell on the image of Gideon picking up Rachel at seven o’clock at night.
Just in time for dinner.
“Oh, Gideon, I’m just starving. Maybe we should stop at a fancy-schmancy restaurant and share a bottle of very expensive wine now that we’re together.”She could just hear Rachel’s cultured voice and low, throaty laugh.
Stop that, Fi.
The problem was, she’d met the elegant, self-assured, polished woman…so it was no hardship for Fiona’s mind to conjure up all types of images and scenes—detailed and very disturbing.
Why should she trust Gideon anyway? Why should she even care?
Because I don’t lie.
And his hand—that elegant, sexy, powerful one—had told her the same. He didn’t lie. He was honest and filled with integrity.
Despite the meal she was picking at, her stomach felt hollow—like she hadn’t eaten for days.
A short time later, as she walked the block to her car after the unsatisfying meal, Fiona realized she’d left Ethan’s house key back at the shop. She’d been so determined to leave when Gideon did—blithe and uncaring that the man she’d hadahhh-mazing sex with was rushing off to help his friends-with-benefits-friend, that she’d neglected to grab the ring with her brother’s key.
