Despite the alarms flashing in the back of his mind. Despite the part of him that knew better…
The card.
The offer.
Her.
He didn’t regret any of it.
CHAPTER 8
Dangerous Ground
Gideon stood by the windows, tall and unreadable, the desk behind him scattered with open files and unopened questions.
His mind circled back to yesterday. The way Arden had walked into the club like she already belonged, meeting every challenge with that quiet fire. Holding himself in check felt like damming a storm.
Logic told him to regret it.
Bringing Arden Rivers into his world was a risk; not just to his carefully curated existence, but to her.
His family’s world had a way of devouring the unprepared, twisting strength into weakness.
And Arden? She was anything but weak.
The thought landed hard. Refused to settle.
Beneath the caution, something darker stirred. Quiet. Unrelenting. Untouched, even by last night’s workout.
She had that rare combination of raw talent and fearless defiance that made the room feel electric.
She didn’t stumble into this. She chose it.
And he respected that. More than he should.
More than he could afford.
The quiet creak of the door broke his reverie.
Without turning, he knew who it was. Only Dan would dare walk in without knocking.
“You know,” Dan said, voice easy with the weight of long history, “I haven’t seen you this off-balance since your grandfather left you the company.”
Gideon set his glass on the desk with measured care, focused on the city lights. “I’m not off-balance.”
“No?” Dan crossed the room, bracing a hand on the desk. His gaze flicked to the untouched bourbon—Henry’s favorite—then back to Gideon. “Then why do you look like a man trying to outmaneuver his own heartbeat?”
When Gideon stayed silent, Dan’s smirk tilted. “Damn. Still thinking about her, then?”
“She starts tonight.”
“And that’s all it is?” Dan pressed. “I’ve known you since college. I’ve seen you pull off mergers with less hesitation.”
Gideon didn’t respond.
Dan dropped into the chair across from him. “You think hiring her was the smart move?”
“She earned it.” His voice held, though something in it frayed beneath the surface.
